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When the IRS starts accepting tax returns at the end of January, the tax season begins every year. But one of my little-known public secrets as a tax editor is that early in the tax season is also the best deal for taxpayers to expect to submit taxes online.
When the calendar shifts to late February and early March, popular services such as Turbotax, H&R Block, Taxslayer, and Taxact tend to increase the prices of federal and state earnings. The cost of providing tax return reviews or tax professional services that allow you to hand over forms to tax professionals may also increase.
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This story is Tax 2025CNET for the best tax software, tax tips and everything else you need to submit your return and track your refund.
As we approach the April 15 federal tax filing deadline, prices are expected to rise further as taxpayers are rushing to get taxes.
Waiting to the last minute to submit taxes can be expensive, especially if you intend to list fees or have complex tax situations such as freelancers, rent or investment income or money earned by cryptocurrency sales. Almost every tax service charges you more of these situations. Prices can easily lose $100, especially if you want help from a tax professional.
For some, the cost may be worth it. Services like TurboTax and H&R Block are the services of two of the CNET Editors’ Choice Drafts this year, providing the best user experiences for these companies on our best list in addition to a wealth of free tax resources, full service options and AI tools.
Can I also submit taxes for free?
Yes. A filer with a simple tax situation (W-2, education costs and some basic credits) is still free of charge throughout the tax season. Online services such as TurboTax, H&R Block, Taxslayer and Taxact won’t remove the free tier. However, be sure to compare the free application options to see if you are eligible for any.
In addition to using a tiered system tax service, consider using cash to apply tax filing, which will provide free federal and state returns regardless of your tax situation.
The IRS also offers two free filing options. The IRS Free File is a federal program that can be submitted to one of eight partners for free if you earn less than $84,000 last year. IRS Direct File is a proprietary tax filing service launched last year and also allows for free returns.
But, there is a trade-off. You may not get too much contextual tax help or real-time support from tax professionals who offer free services. If you choose the free level, make sure you submit your taxes yourself. Some options may also have form or salary restrictions.
Submit taxes in 2025 at a low cost
Don’t meet the free registration qualification? Consider Freetaxusa, which offers free federal returns, but charges $14.99 per state earnings. I used this service to submit returns this year. I’ve lost more quality experiences on FILNG in the past few years compared to H&R Block and Turbotax, but Freetaxusa offers a solid Q&A model that’s easy to browse. However, be prepared to enter all taxes manually.
Jackson Hewitt Online also allows you to submit taxes and multiple state returns for a flat fee of $25. None of these services has noticeable form restrictions.
Will CPA also increase the price?
If you are seeking tax help from an accountant, you will not be rising at the same price as the tax day. Jassen Bowman, an agent and tax expert recruited by the IRS, said certified public accounts have few raising prices during the tax season.
“But what you’re going to see is a critical date for more and more tax professionals,” he said.
If you don’t provide them with enough tax documents by the April 15 deadline, they may tell you that they need to submit an extension to give them more time to sift through the tax documents.
But money can talk. So if you are willing to pay a “high speed fee” to complete your taxes on time, some companies will bump into another customer for you after you pay the surcharge.
“The way to all of this is not to delay,” Bowman said. “Put your documents together as soon as possible and book your appointment now so you don’t conflict with the April 15 deadline.”
