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Kailey Hagen has been writing about small businesses and finance for almost 10 years, with her work appearing on USA Today, CNN Money, Fox Business, and MSN Money. She specializes in personal and business bank accounts and software for small to medium-size businesses. She lives on what's almost a farm in northern Wisconsin with her husband and three dogs.
TaxSlayer is hard to match when it comes to price. It's one of the only tax prep software to offer a truly free plan, and experienced filers with complicated taxes can file at a fraction of the cost other tax software charge. Read our full TaxSlayer review below to learn about everything it has to offer.
Best for: Competitive pricing
TaxSlayer is a good fit for: Experienced filers who are looking for a low-cost option, and those with simple tax returns who don't want to pay anything to file.
Federal: $0-$219 | State: $0-$64
Federal: $0-$34.95 | State: $34.95-$44.95
Check out some of the software's best features in this TaxSlayer review.
TaxSlayer is an online tax prep software, which means you can access it from any computer, smartphone, or tablet internet browser. The software also has mobile apps for on-the-go filing.
Once you've begun to work on your tax return, you can skip around between the various sections with ease. There are also links to help articles on every page if you aren't sure what to do next.
Many other tax software require you to pay more to access certain types of forms and claim certain deductions. With TaxSlayer, all of its paid plans include access to all tax forms. The only difference between them is the level of support you receive.
This makes TaxSlayer a popular choice among experienced tax filers, particularly those with more complex taxes. Rather than paying extra for a high-end package with another provider, tax filers can get an affordable rate with TaxSlayer and do it all themselves.
TaxSlayer's 100% accuracy guarantee promises that the company will pay for any penalties you owe due to an error with its software. However, you are still responsible for paying any additional taxes owed.
This is a pretty standard guarantee in the industry, and it's unlikely you'll need to call upon it. But it's still nice to know you won't ever be held responsible for errors caused by your tax software.
TaxSlayer's biggest competitive advantage is its affordable pricing. It's one of the only major tax preparation software to offer a truly free plan with no additional state return cost. And its Classic plan is one of the most affordable options out there for experienced filers.
TaxSlayer's Simply Free plan is the best for those with simple tax returns. If all you have is a W-2 and maybe an educational tax deduction or credit, you can file your state and federal tax return with this plan at no cost to you.
The TaxSlayer Classic and TaxSlayer Premium plans are identical in the services they offer. Both enable you to import a W-2, itemize deductions, claim all tax credits or deductions you're eligible for, and file all necessary tax forms. The difference between the two is support. Classic users only get access to TaxSlayer's free email and phone support, while Premium members get priority support, plus access to licensed tax professionals.
There's also a special Military plan, which is similar to the Classic plan, except there's no charge for filing a federal tax return. Each state tax return cost the standard price, though.
| Plan | Price (Federal) | Price (State) |
|---|---|---|
| TaxSlayer Simply Free | $0 | $0 |
| TaxSlayer Classic | $17.95 | $36.95 |
| TaxSlayer Premium | $37.95 | $36.95 |
| TaxSlayer Military | $0 | $36.95 |
LEARN MORE: TaxSlayer Self-Employed review
All TaxSlayer plans include free email and phone support, which is pretty standard in the industry. This should suffice if you're an experienced filer. But those who want help from a real tax pro should consider upgrading to the Premium plan. This includes live chat support, priority phone and email support, and access to licensed tax professionals.
Like most tax prep software, TaxSlayer also has a large FAQ library, including state-specific information, which is another option for those who run into questions on their taxes.
| Support Option | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone support | Yes |
| Email support | Yes |
| Help forums | No |
| Online chat | Yes |
| In-person branches | No |
| Access to licensed tax pros | Yes |
You might consider choosing TaxSlayer if:
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