Here’s a general overview of how TaxSlayer compares to other options. The Self-Employed plan is designed for tax filers who need to file separate returns for their personal and business tax returns. This plan is for freelancers, how to downgrade taxslayer small business owners, entrepreneurs and others who have 1099 income and require Schedule C filing. If you have a complex tax situation, TaxSlayer’s Premium plan provides the same features you’d get in its Classic tier.
- I’m sorry, but the only way to downgrade your online product is by using the “Clear and Start Over” feature.
- It offers personalized tax advice from a tax professional and enhanced features like phone support and live screen sharing while getting assistance.
- Yes, TaxSlayer has been around for more than 55 years and has supported more than 10 million electronically filed tax returns in 2022.
- All four of its service tiers — Basic, Advanced, Premium and Self-Employed — offer free federal filing.
All four of its service tiers — Basic, Advanced, Premium and Self-Employed — offer free federal filing. The cost to file your state return is also a uniform $14.99 per state across the board. Robert is a senior editor at Newsweek, specializing in a range of personal finance topics, including credit cards, loans and banking. Prior to Newsweek, he worked at Bankrate as the lead editor for small business loans and as a credit cards writer and editor. He has also written and edited for CreditCards.com, The Points Guy and The Motley Fool Ascent.
Who Should Consider an Alternative to TaxSlayer?
This offer is available for federal tax returns e-filed by April 15, which is the official deadline to file nationwide, unless you qualify for an extension. If you choose to DIY your tax filing, the cost for filing a federal return on TurboTax is up to $129, plus there may be an additional fee for state. If using TurboTax Live Assisted to have a live tax professional answer questions, fix mistakes and review your returns before filing, it’ll cost up to $219 for a federal return.
File your taxes, your way
Having limitless access to a tax professional who understands the nuances of business tax filing is also valuable. TaxSlayer Classic includes a comprehensive suite of tax return forms, schedules, deductions and credits that you might want to claim. Its W-2 and 1099 upload feature helps you save time on your tax filing by auto-filling applicable fields for you. Its Deluxe Edition service provides front-of-the-line priority assistance from a live tax expert via online chat. Instead of having one-on-one support built into certain tiers and priced accordingly, Deluxe Edition is an add-on service for $7.99. It offers personalized tax advice from a tax professional and enhanced features like phone support and live screen sharing while getting assistance.
TaxSlayer has an upload and import tax document feature, but it’s only accessible under a paid plan. Simply Free filers need to manually fill out their return which adds extra time to the process. That said, salaried W-2 employees can also use this software to save some cash. The software itself has a simple interface, but should be fairly easy to navigate if you’re comfortable filing your returns on your own. Plus, there is some online or phone support available if you run into issues and need basic assistance.
TaxSlayer Classic
You have the option of going through a guided Q&A process to identify the appropriate forms needed, or you can choose your own tax forms. A downside is that there’s no way of tracking your progress as you’re completing the return. It’s unclear what sections are coming up and how much further you have to go.
If you’re looking for hands-free DIY tax software for online filing and want comprehensive access to forms, deductions and credits, FreeTaxUSA can be a competitive option. TaxSlayer requires you to sign up for higher service plans for complex tax situations. https://turbo-tax.org/ Taxes can be a hassle to tackle on your own, but online tax software can help guide you through the process. Right now one of our favorite tax software options, TaxSlayer, is offering new customers a 15% savings on federal tax filings.
TaxSlayer Pricing
TaxAct’s Free plan only applies to filing your federal tax return, making its “Free” plan name a little misleading. TaxSlayer’s Simply Free plan includes a federal tax return and one free state tax return filing. 1099-workers or other self-employed filers who’ve filed their own tax returns in the past, and are comfortable with going through the online steps might also like TaxSlayer. The Self-Employed option is cheaper compared to competing DIY tax preparation software.
TaxSlayer Self-Employed
The downsides of TaxSlayer have to do with some user experience within its software. For example, it lacks transparency when it comes to your progress toward completion. Also, its Simply Free version doesn’t allow for uploading or importing tax documents to save time filling out your returns.
And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more. The plan also includes unlimited phone and email support access if you come across any questions while completing your return. This support is available for up to a year after the IRS accepts your return. Our research is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of personal finance services and products that best suit your needs. To help you in the decision-making process, our expert contributors compare common preferences and potential pain points, such as affordability, accessibility, and credibility. FreeTaxUSA has a completely different cost structure compared to TaxSlayer pricing.
Another standout feature is the ability to access a live person if you need help. Regardless of which plan you sign up for — including its free filing option — you can access unlimited free phone and email support. Compared to the cost of filing your returns through a professional tax preparer, TaxSlayer pricing is relatively affordable. CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers.
Although you get unlimited phone and email support, outside of the software, TaxSlayer’s website lacks useful customer support resources. Also, navigating its knowledge base isn’t intuitive, and query results aren’t targeted as well as they should be. TaxSlayer can get simple returns filed without much fuss, but other areas are more murky. Newsweek Vault users can save up to an additional 20% off on TurboTax. For example, if you want to upgrade or downgrade your TaxSlayer plan, searching “how do I change TaxSlayer plans” yields completely irrelevant search results, mostly about 529 plans. This experience can be frustrating for those who expect a smooth, yet hands-off experience.