TurboTax vs. TaxAct 2026

TurboTax's packages are easy to use, and they come with plenty of professional tax support if you're willing to pay more. TaxAct may not have the same bells and whistles, but the company offers filing and tax support at a compelling price point.

How the costs compare

One note about prices: Providers frequently change them and often offer discounted services and packages toward the beginning of tax filing season. These markdowns tend to get replaced with surge pricing the closer we get to the tax filing deadline. We base our reviews on the list prices and not the discounts to reflect this. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to the provider's website.

What it’s like to use

The IRS, not the tax software you choose, determines how much you owe in taxes for the year. So, barring any programming error, you should get the same numerical “answer” no matter which tax software you use. What does vary: How easy it is to feed the software your information. That's why we look at features and ease of use — we want to know which offerings are least likely to make you want to pull your hair out.

TurboTax

TurboTax’s interface is like a chat with a tax preparer, and you can skip around if you need to. A banner running along the side keeps track of where you stand in the process and flags areas you still need to complete.

Embedded links throughout the process offer tips, explainers and other resources. And help buttons can connect you to the searchable knowledge base, on-screen help and more.

TaxAct

TaxAct has a similar look and feel, with an interview process guiding you along. You can skip around easily, and a banner running down the side keeps track of how far along you are.

Embedded links throughout offer tips, explainers and other resources, and the help center links to a searchable knowledge base. Though in our testing, we found some information to be outdated.

Both TurboTax and TaxAct allow you to switch from a different software provider and have a mobile app. Starting at the Deluxe tier, TaxAct offers tools to help you calculate the deduction value of donated items — a feature TurboTax no longer offers.

» MORE: Try our federal tax calculator

What kind of tax support you get

TurboTax and TaxAct offer in-line help and searchable knowledge bases, and tech support is available as well. Both providers also offer paid upgrades for tax support from knowledgeable pros.

TurboTax

TurboTax Expert Assist offers a one-on-one review with a tax pro before you file, as well as unlimited live tax advice. You can make an appointment or talk on the fly to a tax pro via one-way video (you see them, but they see your screen only).

TurboTax Expert Full Service does away with tax software altogether. Instead, you upload your tax documents and a human puts together your tax return. Prices start at $89 for basic federal returns, but final pricing depends on complexity — plus there are additional costs per state return.

TaxAct

TaxAct offers affordable help through its Xpert Assist service. Xpert Assist is $25 and allows you to get help from a pro any time throughout the filing process. You can either chat with an expert or book a call with one. You can also share your screen to help the experts better understand your question. TaxAct says its tax pros are CPAs, enrolled agents or lawyers.

The provider also recently introduced a $99 Xpert Full Service option, which may be a good choice for taxpayers who prefer a more hands-off approach to filing. With this service, a tax pro will prepare, file and sign your return for you; all you need to do is review and sign your completed return. Xpert Full Service includes one state return in the price.

Transparency — what's clear and what's not

When choosing which products to use and pay for, transparency can make or break the experience. We evaluated how each provider handles product comparison upselling and the ease of upgrading or downgrading.

Product comparison

TurboTax makes it difficult to compare its suite of packages. We could not find a page on TurboTax’s website that lines up each DIY package tier, its price, and the tax forms and situations it can handle. This can make it difficult for filers to determine which package best suits their needs.

TaxAct makes it easy to determine which package best fits your needs. The homepage of TaxAct’s website lines up all of its offerings side-by-side, including details like which tax situation each package covers, pricing of the tiers and how much it costs to add on a state return.

Downgrading and upgrading

TurboTax allows users to upgrade and downgrade within the software without having to contact customer service. In most cases, you can switch tiers by clicking the “Switch Products” button on the side panel of the screen, and your information will carry over to the return in the new tier. If the package you’re using doesn’t support certain information you’ve entered, you’ll get a pop-up explaining why you need to upgrade.

TaxAct doesn’t offer users the same smooth downgrading process that TurboTax does. There is no real way to downgrade your package if you’ve selected a pricier tier than you end up needing. Instead, you have to clear your return and start from scratch. As for upgrading, however, the process is fairly straightforward and very similar to TurboTax — if you enter information that isn’t available in your tier, you’ll get a pop-up saying you’ll need to upgrade before filing.

Ways to receive your refund

Both TurboTax and TaxAct let you receive a federal refund via direct deposit to a bank account, which is the fastest option. Other options they both offer include applying the refund to next year’s taxes or directing the IRS to buy U.S. savings bonds with your refund.

Both providers also let you use your refund to pay for your tax-prep fees (but there is a separate fee for that).

» MORE: See how to track the status of your tax refund

Help if you get audited

If you are audited, it’s important to know what kind of support you’re getting from your tax software. First, be sure you know the difference between “support” and “defense.” With most providers, audit support (or “assistance”) typically means guidance about what to expect and how to prepare — that’s it. Audit defense, on the other hand, gets you full representation before the IRS from a tax professional.

TurboTax gives everyone free audit support from a tax pro to help you understand what’s going on if you get that dreaded letter about your tax return. If you want audit defense, that’s available as an add-on for an additional $49.99.

TaxAct encourages filers to reach out to its customer service team for free audit assistance. When it comes to audit defense, TaxAct partners with ProtectionPlus to offer customers the service as an add-on for $49.99.

Which one is right for you?

TurboTax stands out when it comes to tools and integrations. But that doesn’t mean the provider’s overall offerings are the perfect fit for every user.

TaxAct’s paid packages cost less, and they come with affordable upgrades for human tax help support if you need it. This makes TaxAct a great one-stop shop for both seasoned and beginner filers who might feel at ease knowing that help is available should they need it.

TurboTax, on the other hand, has a long-standing reputation for its ease of use, including plenty of its own human support options at a cost. This may make the provider a better choice for those who are willing to pay a little bit extra for white-glove tax prep.

» Want all the details? Read our reviews of TaxAct and TurboTax.