I'm trying to plan ahead for next tax season and want to find some affordable tax filing software. Money's tight right now and I can't justify spending $100+ on tax software when my return is pretty simple.
I've heard about some cheap tax software options but I'm worried about quality. Are there any good tax software for beginners that won't break the bank? I basically just have a W-2, some student loan interest, and that's about it.
Also curious about tax software comparison 2025 - has anyone done a thorough comparison of the different price points and features? I want to make sure I'm getting the best value tax software for my situation.
For simple returns like yours, you have several good affordable tax filing software options:
1. Cash App Taxes - completely free for federal and state, no income limits
2. FreeTaxUSA - free federal, $15 per state
3. TaxAct Free Edition - free for simple returns
4. IRS Free File - if you qualify based on income
I've used all of these and they all work well for basic W-2 returns. Cash App Taxes has the best interface in my opinion. FreeTaxUSA is a close second and has been around longer.
When doing tax software comparison 2025, look at the total cost including state filing. Some are free" for federal but charge $40 for state, which defeats the purpose of looking for cheap tax software options.
I'll second Cash App Taxes for simple returns. I used it for my brother who's in a similar situation to yours. The whole process took about 30 minutes and cost nothing.
What I like about it for tax software for beginners is that it explains everything in plain language. When it asks about student loan interest, it shows you exactly where to find the number on your form and explains why it matters.
The only downside is they don't have phone support, but for a simple return, you probably won't need it. Their help articles are pretty comprehensive.
In my tax software comparison 2025 research, I've found that free" can mean different things. Some free versions only handle very simple returns (just a W-2, no deductions). Others are more generous.
For your situation with student loan interest, make sure the free version you choose actually includes Schedule 1 for adjustments to income. Some free versions make you upgrade to deduct student loan interest.
TaxAct's free edition does include student loan interest deduction. So does FreeTaxUSA. TurboTax Free Edition might try to upsell you when you enter student loan interest, so be careful with that one.
The best value tax software for you is probably FreeTaxUSA at $0 federal + $15 state, or Cash App Taxes at $0 for both.