Depending on your forms and states, you may be able to file for $0. FreeTaxUSA's confirmed 2026 price is $0 federal plus $15.99 per state; professional preparation requires a separate quote.
Choose your forms, states and level of help to see one or two places we'd start.
Typical W-2 return / 1 state return / DIY
File it yourself
Federal + selected states
2026 return price confirmedWhy this fits You want DIY filing with one state, and this is a confirmed total for the return.
Federal filing is free at any income. You pay separately for each state return.
Check that it covers your particular forms and state returns.
File it yourself
Advertised federal + one state
Check 2026 availabilityWhy this fits You want to keep costs down; its advertised free offer may cover your return.
Excludes multiple, part-year and nonresident states.
Its advertised offer includes federal and one supported state return, including common investment and freelance situations.
You need the Cash App mobile app and an account. Check availability for 2026 returns and confirm your forms and state are covered.
Check the sourceYou want to file yourself with one state return. FreeTaxUSA has a confirmed 2026 price; Cash App is a free alternative to check.
Before starting, confirm that the provider covers your forms and check what the completed return will cost.
Want to see the rest? Compare prices, coverage and help across the full shortlist.
These examples assume one full-year state return. Your choices above also account for eligibility, extra states and other filing needs.
FreeTaxUSA has a confirmed $15.99 total for federal and one state. Cash App advertises free filing for supported returns; check its 2026 availability and state restrictions.
Compare the documents each can import and the adjustments you still need to enter. Paying for a higher tier is only useful if it saves work on your return.
You prepare the return, with professional help available. FreeTaxUSA's confirmed total is $60.98 with one state and Pro Support; request a TurboTax quote.
A preparer completes the return. Ask both providers whether they handle your forms and states, and agree on the full fee before work begins.
Before paying, check IRS Free File and free preparation assistance. Eligibility and available services vary.
| Provider / plan | Filing cost | Who it may fit | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeTaxUSAFile it yourself | $15.99Federal + selected states2026 return price confirmed | DIY filing for common individual returns. Details for FreeTaxUSACheck that it covers your particular forms and state returns. Federal filing is free at any income. You pay separately for each state return. Provider source | Visit provider |
| Cash App TaxesFile it yourself | $0Advertised federal + one stateCheck 2026 availability | One full-year state only; Cash App account required. Details for Cash App TaxesCheck that the free offer covers your forms and state return. Provider source | Visit provider |
| Credit Karma TaxNew Intuit DIY offering | $15Announced federal + selected states2026 launch price announced | Credit Karma membership required. Details for Credit Karma TaxNew offer announced October 20, 2026. Credit Karma membership is required. Verify supported forms, part-year returns, imports and add-on prices before starting. Provider source | Visit provider |
| Chime / aprilFile yourself inside Chime | $0 advertisedFederal + supported state filingCheck 2026 availability | Chime members; one income state only. Details for Chime / aprilFor Chime members. Filing is powered by april. Income from more than one state and overseas income are excluded; part-year coverage needs confirmation. Check coverageProvider source | Visit provider |
| TurboTaxFree Edition - check eligibility | Get a quoteFor your forms, states and helpConfirm 2026 total | Guided filing and paid expert help. Details for TurboTaxStock sales, rentals, freelance income and additional schedules may require a paid package. Provider source | Visit provider |
| H&R BlockFree Online - check eligibility | $0Displayed federal + selected statesConfirm 2026 total | Online filing or optional tax-pro review. Details for H&R BlockCheck the package for your forms and the level of help you want. Provider source | Visit provider |
| TaxSlayerSimply Free - check eligibility | $0If eligible; federal + selected statesConfirm tax year / eligibility | DIY filing; paid tax-pro help available. Details for TaxSlayerSimply Free includes one state, with age, income, filing-status and form restrictions. This is an offer to check, not a determination that you qualify. Provider source | Visit provider |
| TaxActFree - check eligibility | $54.99Displayed federal, states + selected helpConfirm 2026 total | Package depends on your forms and help. Details for TaxActDisplayed prices include the selected states and Xpert Assist when requested. Confirm the tax year, forms and final price before filing. Provider source | Visit provider |
| Jackson HewittOnline DIY | 2026 price pending$25 federal + all states for 2025Prior-year reference | Flat-fee reference for a prior tax year. Details for Jackson HewittThe $25 reference is for a 2025 return. Check the 2026 offer before comparing it with this year's prices. Provider source | Visit provider |
| KeeperStandard annual subscription | $199/yearAnnual plan; filing + bookkeepingCurrent plan; confirm tax year | Recurring annual bookkeeping and filing plan. Details for KeeperFor ongoing bookkeeping and filing. Standard is $199/year; Premium is $399/year for added complexity and services. Tax-pro review is not the same as having a preparer do every step for you. Provider source | Visit provider |
This comparison covers the 2026 return filed in 2027. We distinguish confirmed prices, announced offers, current rates without a confirmed tax year and prior-year references. Totals assume you pay filing fees directly and skip optional extras, unless selected. Keeper is an annual subscription. Prices may exclude sales tax.
You can find a LibertyTax office and ask for a quote covering your forms, states and help.
Its separate online DIY plans currently display $47.95 to $87.95, plus $36.95 per state. Those are online reference prices; office preparation requires its own quote.
Before you pay
Free federal filing is available beyond simple W-2 returns. Check the forms, state coverage and eligibility.
It depends on where you file. FreeTaxUSA includes common stock-sale forms in free federal filing, and Cash App Taxes advertises free filing for supported stock and crypto returns. Other providers may require a paid tier. Check whether the package handles your imports, transaction count and any adjustments.
Check what your software can import before paying more for another package. FreeTaxUSA documents consolidated 1099 imports, including 1099-B data, but says 1099-DA and 1099-OID sections need manual entry. You still need to check that the imported transactions and adjustments are correct. Read its import details.
It can mean you can start entering information at no charge, then pay when you file. Your forms, state returns, support and filing date can change the final price. Check what the completed return will cost before choosing.
You may be able to, but there can be an extra charge. FreeTaxUSA currently lists $24.99 to pay filing fees from a refund. Open its price breakdown above to include that fee. Paying the filing fee with a card has no extra FreeTaxUSA charge. Check the current fees.
We would choose based on the forms you need, the help you want and the time the software can save you. An accuracy guarantee has terms and exclusions; it is not a measured error rate. IRS e-file testing covers specified scenarios, not every possible return. We have not independently benchmarked these providers’ calculations or filing speed. Read how IRS e-file testing works.
Check it before opening another account. Chime advertises free filing through april, subject to its coverage limits. Intuit’s new Credit Karma Tax offer announces free federal filing and $15 per state for 2026 returns. Those are separate offers with their own requirements, so we keep the account, coverage and availability details visible in the table.
Jonathan Chew writes this guide and contributes the FreeTaxUSA experience above. We use published provider information to compare the other options. Personal experience with one service does not establish that it is more accurate than another.
We selected 10 options that cover common U.S. individual filing needs: low-cost DIY software, free account-based services, expert assistance, full preparation and an annual service for freelancers. IRS Free File and volunteer preparation are shown separately because eligibility and partner offers vary. This is a researched comparison of published prices and coverage, not a hands-on review or an accuracy ranking.
The shortlist first accounts for unusual filing requirements and how much help you want. For DIY filing, we then consider free-filing eligibility, any requested year-round service, imports, existing accounts and state returns. We keep FreeTaxUSA’s confirmed price visible, and explain when another option is only an offer to check. Selling stock or earning freelance income does not automatically mean you need a paid upgrade.
FreeTaxUSA has published prices for 2026 returns. Credit Karma’s October 20 announcement gives 2026 launch prices, but form coverage and availability still need checking. Chime’s free offer, TaxSlayer’s rates, TaxAct’s federal prices and Keeper’s annual plans need confirmation for this filing season. Jackson Hewitt’s $25 reference covers 2025 returns. An incomplete or prior-year price does not establish the cheapest option. Sources were checked Nov 11, 2026.
We choose options based on your return, the service you want and the information we can verify. Free options and providers without an affiliate relationship remain in the comparison. Affiliate relationships are explained in the page footer and our affiliate disclosure. Your answers stay in this page; this page does not add them to provider links or send them to analytics.