TaxSlayer Review 2026: Pricing, Features, Ease of Use

TaxSlayer's pricing model sets it apart: The company charges according to the level of support you want, rather than according to a software package’s capabilities. In other words, the cheapest paid package handles all the same tax situations and forms that the more expensive package handles — what changes is how much help you can get.

If you’re a confident tax filer and don’t need a lot of support, you could save some money with TaxSlayer.

How much does TaxSlayer cost?

Price is a huge advantage for TaxSlayer. People who need advanced tax software, which can run $100 or more elsewhere, can especially benefit from the price difference.

You also might prefer TaxSlayer if you hate that bait-and-switch feeling people often experience when they get halfway through their tax returns and find out they have to upgrade because they need to fill out certain tax forms. TaxSlayer’s paid packages all handle the same forms — what determines the price is the level of support you want.

TaxSlayer's free version

TaxSlayer offers a free version that lets you file a simple Form 1040, but you can’t itemize deductions or file various other schedules. This means it probably won’t work for you if you plan to report business or freelance income, report stock sales or report income from a rental property.

And there are a few other requirements to qualify for free filing: Your taxable income must be $100,000 or less and you cannot claim dependents.

TaxSlayer doesn't offer desktop software, so if you don't want your return to reside in the cloud, you may want to consider another provider.

TaxSlayer's paid packages

Most tax providers charge you more based on which forms you need to file or which tax credits and deductions you want to claim. TaxSlayer takes a different approach, with all forms, credits and deductions accessible at every paid level.

The difference between them is the level of access you get to a tax pro. With the Classic tier, you get access to customer service agents who help with technical questions; the Premium tier gives you access to a tax professional who can answer more complicated tax questions; and the Self-Employed tier gives you access to tax professionals with expertise in self-employment taxes.

One note about prices: Providers frequently change them. Prices are accurate as of Dec. 4 and are based on information provided on TaxSlayer's website. Providers may 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 TaxSlayer’s site.

Transparency: What's clear — and what's not

As a customer, few things are more frustrating than having to dig for basic information about pricing and product features. Being able to understand what you need — and how much it will cost — should be table stakes. This year, we evaluated each provider on specific aspects of transparency, including how easy it was to compare product offerings before signing up, how easy it was to downgrade or upgrade packages once using the software and how intrusive upselling was throughout the filing experience.

Product comparison

TaxSlayer makes comparing which package you need easy. On the homepage of its website, you’ll see a lineup of all of its offerings, from Simply Free to Self-Employed. Below the package names, you’ll see an overview of which tax situations each one covers, the price of the package and how much it is to add a state return. This is a big plus compared with providers who make you surf through multiple pages to understand how different tiers stack up.

Downgrading and upgrading

If you’ve chosen a pricier package than you end up needing, the process of downgrading is a bit cumbersome but can be accomplished within the software. You’ll need to click on the Help & Support icon at the top of the screen, select “I have a technical question,” then “I have a question about my TaxSlayer selected package,” and finally click the “Switch package” button to choose a different tier. Note that there are certain cases in which this downgrading method won’t work, and you’ll need to start your return over to use a lower tier.

As for upgrading, the process is less user-friendly than it could be. For example, if you’re using the free version of the software and want to upgrade to a paid version, you have to click on the Help & Support icon at the top, select “I have a technical question,” click “my topic is not listed,” and then begin a live chat to upgrade your package.

In some cases, your package may be upgraded without your knowledge. In my experience, when I entered an income above the free version’s $100,000 limit, instead of getting a pop-up saying I needed to upgrade, the software did so automatically. I didn’t realize I was in the Classic version until later on in the filing process, which wasn’t ideal.

What it's like to use

How it works

TaxSlayer first asks if you’d like to be guided through the process or if you’d like to choose which forms to upload. If you choose the guided option you’ll answer a series of easy questions such as if you have any W-2s to enter, if you have interest or dividend income to report, and if you took money out of a retirement account.

Tax jargon is kept to a minimum, which makes the filing process fairly seamless. You simply answer questions and your return gets filled in behind the scenes.

Like with other tax software, you’ll answer questions about your income, deductions and health insurance, and fill in any state information.

What it looks like

TaxSlayer’s interface looks similar to other, more expensive versions on the market. There’s an interview process, and you can skip around pretty easily if you need to.

Embedded "learn more" links appear frequently to offer tips and explanations, but I sometimes found them to use complex language and be a bit lengthy.

If you need extra guidance, the Help & Support button is always present throughout the filing process. Depending on your package type, the help button may populate a database of articles answering FAQs, phone or email support, live chat, or access to human tax help. Similar to my thoughts on downgrading, I found this feature to get me to the information I needed, but with a few more steps than necessary.

Features and tools of note

• You can switch from another provider: TaxSlayer imports last year’s return from another provider, but only if it’s a PDF. You can import your 1040, W-2, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC and CSV files for stock transactions. You may also be able to directly import stock transaction data from your broker.

• Auto-import certain tax documents: You can import your W-2, 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC and 1099-B information directly into your return, which is especially helpful if you have lots of forms.

• Donation calculator: Unlike a couple of competitors we review, there’s no tool to help you calculate the deduction value of items you donate to charity.

• Platform mobility: TaxSlayer allows you to work on your return from multiple devices, and it also has a highly rated mobile app.

What kind of tax support you get

TaxSlayer’s paid packages vary in support level, not functionality. Although phone and email tech support are free for all filers, the most valuable kind of help — tax help — is reserved for Premium and Self-Employed users. That service is called Ask a Tax Pro, and users submit their questions through their TaxSlayer accounts; it’s not an on-screen experience like some other providers offer. The tax pro contacts them within one business day via phone or email.

However, it’s worth noting that there is no option for a tax pro to conduct a full review of your return, which could be a sticking point for some filers. Tax pro help is limited to asking specific questions about your return.

TaxSlayer’s tax pros are either IRS enrolled agents or IRS certified. Some tax software competitors also employ certified public accountants. Self-Employed package users get access to tax pros who specialize in self-employment.

What the Nerds think 🤓

Customer support options

Here’s a look at the various ways you can find answers and get guidance when filing your return with TaxSlayer.

• General guidance: Searchable knowledge base.

• Tech support: Free tech support by email or phone; also live chat for Premium and Self-Employed packages.

Help if you get audited

Getting audited is scary, so 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.

TaxSlayer offers an audit defense add-on that can be paired with any package for an extra $39.99. With the add-on, you’ll get help resolving IRS or state inquiries, notices or audits. The coverage is worth up to $1 million in representation costs and expires after four years.

Ways to receive your refund

No matter how you file, you can choose between several ways to receive your refund:

• A direct deposit to a bank account is the fastest option. TaxSlayer also allows you to split refunds across multiple bank accounts. You can also have it loaded onto a Visa Green Dot Bank prepaid debit card.

• Other options include applying the refund to next year’s taxes or directing the IRS to buy U.S. savings bonds with your refund.

• You have the option of paying for the software out of your refund. But there’s a $41.99 charge to do that.

How TaxSlayer stacks up

These star ratings are based on a tax provider's free tier score. For more detailed scoring, see the full product details above. Providers frequently change pricing. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to each provider's site.

» Want all the details? Read our reviews of TaxAct, H&R Block and TurboTax.

Is TaxSlayer right for you?

TaxSlayer may not have the name recognition of behemoth brands such as TurboTax and H&R Block, but it offers attractive and usable software at great price points. However, if meaningful real-time access to a tax pro is important to you, competitors might appeal more.