Tax Software · pricing · Updated November 2026
TaxAct pricing (2026)
TaxAct's paid plans start at $45 per return (Unlimited Access) as checked on 2026-11-01, read from TaxAct's own pricing page; 5 plans. Best for Cost-conscious DIY filers comfortable without a mobile app. Every figure below links to its source and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Entry price: $45 per return (Unlimited Access)
- Free tier: Yes
- Compliance: HIPAA — · SOC 2 — · GDPR —
- Best for: Cost-conscious DIY filers comfortable without a mobile app; Homeowners and families (Deluxe 'Home & Family' tier); Investors and rental property owners (Premier 'Investments' tier); Self-employed and freelancers (Self-Employed 'Entrepreneur' tier); Filers who want optional expert access without committing to a higher-priced plan
As of · every figure below links to its source
TaxAct plans & pricing
| Plan | Price | Annual | Billing | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 per return | — | Flat monthly | Federal: $0. State: $39.99 per state. Covers W-2 income, standard deduction, earned income credit, child tax credit. Simple returns (Form 1040 with no complex schedules). | taxact.com |
| Deluxe | $59.99 per return | — | Flat monthly | Federal: $59.99. State: $39.99 per state. Branded 'Home & Family'. Covers itemized deductions, mortgage interest, childcare expenses, student loan interest. | taxact.com |
| Premier | $99.99 per return | — | Flat monthly | Federal: $99.99. State: $39.99 per state. Branded 'Investments'. Covers investment income, stock sales, rental income, cryptocurrency transactions. | taxact.com |
| Self-Employed | $109.99 per return | — | Flat monthly | Federal: $109.99. State: $39.99 per state. Branded 'Entrepreneur'. Covers Schedule C, self-employment income, business deductions, freelance and gig income. | taxact.com |
| Unlimited Accessformerly Xpert Assist Add-On | $45 per return | — | Flat monthly | Optional add-on available with any plan. Provides unlimited sessions with credentialed tax experts (CPAs and EAs) during the filing process. Add-on price is $45 regardless of plan tier selected. | taxact.com |
Last verified 2026-11-01. https://taxact.com (official site fetched directly; prices rendered live for 2025 tax year). State fee of $39.99 per state confirmed via SmartAsset best-tax-software comparison page. Note: some earlier-season comparison pages list lower promotional prices ($29.99/$49.99/$69.99); official site prices used as authoritative. Cross-checked against smartasset.com.
Price changes
Price on record
$45 per returnFirst on record 2026-06-27
A new dated entry is stamped here each time the price moves — the record builds itself.
Tracked since June 2026. No change record has cleared two sources yet, so nothing is published on the wire.
Corrections to this record
Changes we made to our own record of TaxAct, newest first: a figure read again on the vendor's page, a plan it no longer lists, a note. None of them is a price change by TaxAct. Every correction on the site is in the corrections log.
-
Xpert Assist Add-On → Unlimited Access. Listed on www.taxact.com as of 2026-09-27 as "Unlimited Access" at the figures the record holds; the page does not print "Xpert Assist Add-On": "Unlimited Access Contact us at any step during your return and as often as you like for guidance. Your questions will be answered quickly and accurately. Unlimited sessions Credentialed tax experts All consumer forms 100% U.S.-based tax experts $45.00"
Capabilities
Integrations: IRS e-file, W-2 direct import, QuickBooks import, Google Authenticator (MFA), Xpert Full Service (professional filing hand-off).
Key features: SmartFile AI in-product filing assistant; Step-by-step guided filing for all complexity levels; $100,000 accuracy guarantee; Maximum refund guarantee; IRS extension filing support; Prior year tax filing support; Unlimited Access: unlimited sessions with credentialed tax experts for $45; Xpert Full Service: complete return preparation by US-based professionals; MFA via mobile phone or Google Authenticator; TRUSTe Certified Privacy and Trustwave Trusted Commerce seals.
Plan limits: Free tier: state filing costs $39.99 per state (highest state fee among reviewed vendors); Free tier excludes investments, itemized deductions, self-employment, rental, HSA, adoption credits; Mobile app discontinued as of 2023; desktop/web only; Expert access (Unlimited Access) is a $45 add-on; Audit defense is a separate paid add-on.
Frequently asked questions
How much does TaxAct cost?
TaxAct's paid plans start at $45 per return (Unlimited Access), and it lists a $0 plan (Free); it has 5 published plans. Verified 2026-11-01.
What are cheaper alternatives to TaxAct?
Cheaper tax software than TaxAct (entry $45 per return) include FreeTaxUSA at $7.99 per return, TaxSlayer at $22.99 per return, H&R Block at $35 per return. Verified 2026-11-01.
Does TaxAct support HIPAA?
TaxAct's public pages do not say whether it supports HIPAA.
Does TaxAct have a free plan?
Yes — TaxAct publishes a free tier.
TaxAct vs alternatives
Compare all tax software · TaxAct alternatives · Open data · MCP
Cheaper tax software alternatives
- H&R Block from $35 per return
- TaxSlayer from $22.99 per return
- FreeTaxUSA from $7.99 per return
More tax software tools
Related categories
This standing as a plaque
TaxAct currently holds a bronze deskmark here — Rank 5 of 6 · Tax Software. Anyone may show it. There is nothing to apply for, nothing to pay, and displaying it changes no score: the standing comes from the published algorithm, which never reads commission data. We never ask anyone to show it, and its link carries rel="nofollow".
The image is drawn from our live data, so it follows the standing rather than freezing it: if TaxAct moves up or down a tier, the plaque on your own site says so at our next publish. Nothing is tracked beyond the ordinary web-server log that records any image request.