I’ve used TurboTax to file my taxes for several years. It’s the most popular DIY tax service, and also often the cheapest and arguably most straightforward. TurboTax has the filer in mind by utilizing an easy-to-use interface, offering available expert help, with different options for document auto-upload; helpful tips and information regarding tax requirements; and transparent, low-cost options for every type of filer.
The service makes it super easy for returning users by storing previous years’ information, allowing easy auto-upload, and remembering choices and previously used forms from years past. Doing my taxes as a returning user with TurboTax takes a fraction of the time of other tax services I have tested. (Need a jumping off point? I’ve got a guide on how to file your taxes online for extra help.)
Yes, You Can Actually File for Free
If you haven’t tried TurboTax, this is the best time to see if it’s the right fit for you (and be able to file for free). You can file both state and federal taxes for $0 right now. There are only a few requirements for this awesome free filing deal. You must not have filed with TurboTax before (and are switching from another provider), and you must file in the TurboTax mobile app by February 28. You’ll need to both start and file within the mobile app; this is only eligible on DIY (self-guided) tax services and excludes expert assist products. This means that it applies to Simple Form 1040 returns only (meaning no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A forms are eligible).
One of the downsides to TurboTax is that while it’s (in my opinion) the easiest-to-use interface with seamless auto-upload features, it can be a bit more expensive than similar competitors. I’ve used FreeTaxUSA in the past, when my income was lower and my taxes were simpler. The service is very similar in design to TurboTax, and while it is still a low-cost option, it’s not completely 100 percent free, as it charge $16 for filing a state return. Plus, when I tested the service last year, FreeTaxUSA gave me the highest amount of taxes owed from all services I tested.
TurboTax filed more than twice the number of free returns as FreeTaxUSA last year (based on the total number of federal and state returns filed in Tax Year 2024). And this tax season, more than 100 million people in the US are eligible for free filing with TurboTax. If you file your own federal and state returns using DIY TurboTax products, filing will be free if you use the mobile app until February 28.
Filing in Your Hands
Filing taxes can be confusing and potentially expensive. While I urge anyone who hasn’t filed with TurboTax to take advantage of the free federal and state filing deal through the mobile app, there are several options if you have filed with the service before or have more complicated returns that may require additional assistance.
There are three options for filers: DIY, where you file yourself with step-by-step instructions (the previously mentioned service eligible for the free filing deal); Expert Assist, where you get help from tax experts throughout the process and have the expert review it before submitting; or you can also get your taxes done completely by a local tax expert with Expert Full Service. Prices vary based on the chosen tier and when you file (the earlier, the cheaper, especially if you’re able to file before March).
The filing process starts out with a helpful questionnaire so that the program knows which sections are applicable to you, like dependents, assets, and education, so you’re not slogging through things that aren’t relevant. At the beginning, TurboTax also estimated the time it’d take to finish and asked how I filed last year—no other service I previously tested did either, which was helpful in estimating how long the process would take.
