Best Tax Software of March 2024 – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

TurboTax Deluxe is our pick for easy-to-use online tax software because its simple interface lets you easily navigate your tax return and enter all the necessary information. You can also import your tax documents directly into the platform.

As you prepare your tax return, TurboTax Deluxe offers many helpful tools, such as explainer videos, questionnaires to help you identify tax deductions and credits, and explanations for why you might owe taxes. We found this very useful for someone who feels mostly confident filing their taxes but wants some reassurance they’re doing it right.

TurboTax keeps you updated on your tax refund or liability as you add deductions and credits.
Source: TurboTax

The navigation menus direct you to specific tax categories, such as income, deductions and credits. But more importantly, TurboTax provides a list of items required to complete your tax return accurately.

TurboTax has a user-friendly interface that lets you easily navigate between categories to file your tax return. Source: TurboTax

While TurboTax is easy to use, it comes with one major downside: upsells. TurboTax constantly tries to sell add-on products throughout the filing experience, such as help and support packages to assist with audits or amended tax returns, and one-on-one time with specialists.

Most filers don’t need to pay for these extras to complete their taxes successfully, but the upsells may sow doubt in their minds that they need to spend extra to do so, and may force them to take time away from filing to opt out of each offer.

TurboTax also can be more expensive than its competitors, depending on the time of year. Its prices fluctuate and—without promotions or add-ons—currently range from $59 to $119 for federal income tax filing, plus an additional $59 for each state tax return.

You should, if you have more than a basic W-2 (if, for example, you itemize deductions and have investment income) and you feel comfortable filing your own taxes—but you also think you may need a little assistance here and there.