How Much Does TaxAct Cost in 2026?

Published on August 3, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 13 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

TaxAct is a U.S. tax-preparation platform owned by Taxwell. Its filing lineup includes TaxAct Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed, Windows desktop editions, Xpert Assist, and Xpert Full Service. The software prepares Form 1040 returns, state returns, Schedule C business filings, investment forms, rental-property schedules, deductions, and tax credits. Its closest commercial alternatives include TurboTax and H&R Block, while IRS Free File gives eligible taxpayers another route to guided federal filing.

As of July 2026, the listed online filing choices start at $0 for an eligible federal return and reach $109.99 for Self-Employed. Paid online editions add $64.99 for each state filed. TaxAct Desktop editions range from $44.99 to $164.99, and live or preparer-led help can push the final bill above $200.

The amount due is driven by the forms required, not the refund size or income alone. A W-2 employee may qualify for Free, a homeowner may need Deluxe, and stock sales or rental income can place a return in Premier. Schedule C business activity can require Self-Employed. The online product is charged per return, the desktop product is purchased for a tax year, and state filing or tax-professional access creates separate line items.

How Much Does TaxAct Cost in 2026?

Jump to sections

TaxAct can cost $0 for an eligible federal return or exceed $200 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 6.7 hours of work, before taxes) after a paid tier, state filing, and expert help are combined.

Important numbers

• Entry federal filing: $0 for eligible TaxAct Free returns
• Paid online federal tiers: $59.99 (about 2 hours of work at $30 per hour) to $109.99
• Online state filing: $64.99 per state with paid tiers
• Desktop editions: $44.99 to $164.99
• Unlimited Xpert Assist: $60

What you’re actually buying

TaxAct is software that collects income, deduction, credit, and household details, places the entries on federal and state tax forms, checks the return, and sends an electronic filing when the taxpayer approves it. The online version runs through a browser account. The desktop version installs on a compatible Windows computer and can suit a household preparing several federal returns.

The product is different from hiring a certified public accountant for a broad engagement. TaxAct’s do-it-yourself editions guide the taxpayer through data entry, but the user remains responsible for supplying records and answering the interview questions. Xpert Assist adds access to tax professionals, and Xpert Full Service moves preparation to a professional. TaxAct also differs from IRS Free File. The IRS program connects eligible taxpayers with participating software based on income and provider rules, rather than giving every taxpayer unrestricted free access. Mobile access is available through iOS and Android, but the purchased filing product and return complexity still govern the charge.

What we verified

• Checked the current federal tier amounts and the state filing charge.
• Confirmed the desktop edition amounts and included federal e-files.
• Cross-referenced the live assistance charge and service description.
• Verified the return review limitations in the service terms.

TaxAct vs alternatives

TaxAct sits between no-charge filing programs and higher-priced assisted preparation. A direct comparison needs the same tax situation on both products. A free edition that accepts a W-2 return is not comparable with a paid edition handling rental income, cryptocurrency sales, or Schedule C expenses. The company’s April 2026 pricing comparison uses paid consumer online amounts recorded on April 1, 2026. An independent May 2026 product review reported the same federal list amounts, but state and assistance charges differed by product and offer.

IRS Free File is a no-charge alternative for an eligible taxpayer. For the 2026 filing season, taxpayers with 2025 adjusted gross income of $89,000 (about 1.4 years of full-time work at $30 per hour) or less could use guided software through participating providers, according to the 2026 eligibility rules. Eligibility does not mean every provider accepts every return. Each partner can set added criteria within IRS rules. Filers above the income limit may use Free File Fillable Forms, but that route offers less guided help. Readers comparing commercial software can also review the published costs of TurboTax filing options and decide whether imports, interview design, expert access, or prior-year data are worth a higher checkout amount.

The online tiers

TaxAct’s July 2026 online page lists four do-it-yourself starting points. Free begins at $0, Deluxe at $59.99, Premier at $99.99, and Self-Employed at $109.99. Paid products list an added $64.99 for each state filed. Those figures apply to tax-year 2025 returns prepared during the 2026 filing cycle and can change before payment.

Online product	Federal starting charge	Return situations named by TaxAct
Free	$0	Eligible Form 1040 returns with limited forms and schedules
Deluxe	$59.99	Homeownership, dependent care, HSA items, deductions, and credits
Premier	$99.99	Investments, cryptocurrency sales, home sales, and rental income
Self-Employed	$109.99	Freelance, contractor, side-business, and Schedule C activity

The tier follows supported forms, not the size of a refund. Selling stock can move a return into Premier even when the trade produced a loss. A freelancer reporting business expenses can need Self-Employed even when the side business earned little. The published edition and form details place these situations in named products. A taxpayer can start entering information before paying, but the selected product charge becomes due when printing, e-filing, or viewing a PDF copy.

Desktop software

TaxAct Desktop is a one-time software purchase for the filing year. As of July 2026, Basic costs $44.99 and includes five federal e-files. Deluxe costs $139.99, Premier costs $149.99, and Self-Employed costs $164.99. Each of the three higher editions includes five federal e-files and one state return. The download products are built for Windows rather than browser use across any device.

The desktop format can produce a lower per-return software charge for a family preparing several federal returns. Five Deluxe federal e-files at $139.99 equal about $28.00 per federal return when all five are used. That arithmetic divides the cited edition charge by its five included federal e-files. The savings shrink when the household prepares only one return or needs several states. Desktop state returns carry a $10 e-file charge, except New York, under the published state return fee rule. Printing and mailing may avoid that electronic filing charge, but postage and delivery time remain. The desktop choice works best when the buyer has a compatible computer, wants local software, and can use the included filing allowance.

State filing and optional help

The state return is the first large addition for many online customers. A Deluxe federal return at $59.99 plus one state at $64.99 reaches $124.98 before sales tax or expert help. Two states raise that same combination to $189.97. The second figure uses $59.99 plus two charges of $64.99. Multi-state work can make the state portion larger than the federal software fee.

Xpert Assist adds unlimited access to live tax experts for $60. The service can include tax questions and a requested review, but the review is broad and does not include a full inspection of source documents. Full Service is a separate preparer-led option. The current preparer-led filing menu lists a federal starting charge of $99 with $69 covering all states. The final charge can differ with the tax situation. Paying software fees from a refund may bring a bank processing fee, so paying directly by card can avoid that added line item.

Hidden-cost check One paid online state adds $64.99. Xpert Assist adds $60. Desktop state e-filing can add $10 per return outside New York.

Three different cases

Simple W-2 filer. A taxpayer whose return stays within TaxAct Free can pay $0 for the federal product. Free eligibility is narrow and excludes added tax complexity. A state return may still produce a charge depending on the offer and filing route. Starting in Free does not lock the return there. Added forms can trigger an upgrade before printing or filing.

Investor with one state. A filer reporting stock or cryptocurrency sales may use Premier. At the listed July 2026 amounts, Premier federal filing at $99.99 plus one state at $64.99 totals $164.98. The investment forms, rather than income level alone, create the paid-tier requirement. A taxpayer with several brokerage transactions should also compare import support and review needs across products.

Freelancer adding live advice. Self-Employed at $109.99, one state at $64.99, and Xpert Assist at $60 produce a combined software and assistance amount of $234.98. This case has three separate drivers, Schedule C support, state filing, and expert access. A local preparer may charge more, but may also provide document review, planning, and representation beyond the software service. Broader market context appears in the published range for professional tax preparation.

Promotions, payment timing

TaxAct prices can move during the filing year. The consumer payment terms state that the charge due is determined at payment, printing, or e-filing and may change without notice. A promotional amount shown in January may not remain available in April or during the extension period. Referral links, membership discounts, and returning-customer offers can also create different totals for two filers using the same edition.

Customers can inspect the bill before submitting payment. Online users can open My Return Fees under Payment Information for an itemized list, as described in the checkout review instructions. That screen matters after an upgrade, a state return, or an assistance service has been added. Tax software is tied to a specific filing year, so it does not renew like an entertainment subscription with year-round access to new tax products. A later tax year requires a new product. Refund rights and guarantees are governed by service terms, eligibility rules, and the type of fee paid. Filing deadlines also matter. The regular deadline for 2025 individual returns was April 15, 2026, and an extension allows more time to file rather than more time to pay federal tax due.

A worked TaxAct total

Consider a homeowner with childcare expenses, one state return, and a desire to speak with a tax expert. TaxAct places homeownership and dependent-care situations in Deluxe. The listed federal starting charge is $59.99. One online state return adds $64.99. Unlimited Xpert Assist adds $60.

• Deluxe federal product: $59.99
• One state return: $64.99
• Xpert Assist: $60
• Combined amount before applicable sales tax: $184.98

The math is $59.99 plus $64.99 plus $60, which equals $184.98. The state return is the largest added line item by $4.99 over Xpert Assist. Removing live help lowers the filing amount to $124.98. Moving the same return to Full Service would change both the service scope and pricing basis, so it should not be treated as a simple add-on swap. Before paying, the filer should check the product name, number of states, assistance selection, refund-payment method, and any sales tax displayed at checkout.

Who this cost makes sense for

Makes sense if

• Your forms fit a named TaxAct tier and its checkout amount beats a comparable product.
• You need Premier support for investments, a home sale, or rental income.
• You can use several included federal e-files in a desktop edition.
• You want live tax questions answered without handing off full preparation.

Doesn’t make sense if

• You qualify for IRS Free File and a participating provider supports your return.
• You need year-round tax planning, bookkeeping cleanup, or document-level professional review.
• Your paid federal tier and several state returns exceed a preparer’s quoted fee.
• You own no compatible Windows computer but planned to buy the desktop edition.

Article Highlights

• TaxAct online federal filing starts at $0 and reaches $109.99 for Self-Employed.
• Paid online state filing adds $64.99 per state.
• Desktop editions range from $44.99 to $164.99.
• Xpert Assist adds $60.
• A paid tier, one state, and expert help can push the total above $200.
• The itemized checkout screen is the controlling bill because offers can change.

Answers to Common Questions

Is TaxAct really free?

TaxAct Free carries a $0 federal product charge for eligible returns. Added forms, schedules, state filing, or optional services can create a charge.

How much does TaxAct charge for a state return?

The July 2026 online paid tiers list $64.99 per state. Desktop editions can include one state program, with a separate $10 state e-file charge outside New York.

Does TaxAct charge every month?

No. Consumer tax software is purchased for a filing year or charged when a return is printed, viewed as a PDF, or filed. A new tax year requires a new product.

How much is TaxAct with expert help?

Xpert Assist adds $60 to an eligible do-it-yourself product. Full Service starts at $99 for qualifying federal returns and uses a separate preparer-led structure.