2026 TaxAct Review (2025 Tax Year)

TaxAct is a no-nonsense tax filing software with free federal and state filing for active duty military. Providing step by step guidance on how to file each portion of your return, TaxAct prides itself to its commitment to accuracy.

Read more to learn how to receive the TaxAct military discount, what features TaxAct offers, and how to pick the plan best suited to your needs.

Free Filing with TaxAct Military

Active duty members of the U.S. Military with an eligible Employee ID Number can file their federal and state taxes for free with TaxAct. By simply entering your military W-2 into the platform, you will receive free access to the software.

My TaxAct Review: File Your Returns, Simply

This program gives you simple advice and an indication of which documents to complete.

Choosing the right service level with TaxAct is easy. If you need to complete a form not available with the current package, the system prompts you to upgrade.

TaxAct Gives You Peace of Mind

It’s not so much that the forms are difficult to complete. What is difficult is ensuring that you have all the right addenda and supporting documents.

Depending on the complexity of your personal tax situation, you may require your W-2, 1099-INT, 1095 and so on. Leave anything out, and your refund may be delayed. This is why the interview system used by TaxAct is such a great idea.

They’ll ask you questions you might never have thought of to ensure you get the right information.

The system will then:

• Populate the information onto the relevant forms
• Advise you on what credits or deductions you may qualify for
• Tell you what documents to attach to the app
• And then help you file with the relevant tax authority

What’s more, the company is so confident in the accuracy of their product that they offer the following guarantee: Should there be a penalty charged as a result of an error made by the software, TaxAct will pay it, as well as any interest accrued.

Tools for a Quick and Accurate Process

With TaxAct, you don’t have to start from scratch every time you file your taxes. If you filed with TaxAct last year, the information will be automatically entered into this year’s return.

If you’re on one of the paid plans, you have the option of importing a prior tax return. It must be in PDF format for this to work. You’re guaranteed to get the right documents simply by completing the interview as accurately as possible.

What’s more, if you need assistance with any aspect – from completing the documents to a query about deductions – the company has a comprehensive support feature.

It takes time to get used to how the information is ordered, but you’ll find all the information that you might need in the support section. Should you need further assistance, you can contact the company’s help desk.

What If My Situation is Unique?

If you have rental income or are self-employed, for example, you’ll want to make that clear in the interview. It will mean that the free plan won’t work for you, so be prepared to fork over the cash for a slightly more expensive one.

In this case, you are probably looking at the:

• Deluxe
• Premier
• Self-employed

TaxAct Has You Covered in the Event of an Audit

If you just need advice, the Audit Support database can help. It will tell you, among other things:

• Which documents are required
• How to answer audit questions
• How long to keep your documents

If you’re looking for more hands-on assistance, Audit Defense, provided through Protection Plus, is the service you want.

Audit Defense, starting at $49.99, is a valuable service for those with more complex situations that the IRS is likely to audit. It puts you in touch with experts that can assist in negotiating with the IRS on your behalf and defending you during an audit.

Useful Free Apps

The company makes the following apps available for free to everyone:

• TaxAct App: File your tax return on the go. The app allows you to take photos of your tax documents, view your filing progress, and purchase additional expert help when needed.
• DocVault: Take a picture of any documents that you might need to support your tax return. You have up to 3 GB of storage space to store all your receipts and invoices.

How Much Does TaxAct Cost?

Pricing for each TaxAct filing plan is as follows:

• Free: $0 federal return; $44.99 per state return
• Deluxe: $52.99 federal return; $59.99 per state return
• Premier: $89.99 federal return; $62.99 per state return
• Self-Employed: $104.99 federal return; $62.99 per state return

Pricing is subject to change throughout the tax season. Check TaxAct’s website for the most up-to-date pricing.

Available Versions of TaxAct Software

Tax Act offers four versions of its tax software, each catering to tax situations of varying complexities.

Free

If your return is simple, with no need to list dependents or deductions, this is the plan to use. You do get access to the company’s comprehensive knowledge database.

Features here, however, are limited. For example, you won’t be able to list deductions.

Deluxe

This package is pricier but it can handle a lot more calculations.

If you are a homeowner and expect to deal with deductions, credits and adjustments, this is the right plan for you.

It doesn’t include some income types, such as stocks, gains and losses.

Premier

Those with investments and rental properties are best served by the Premier package. You can even import your stock data.

Self-Employed

If you work for yourself, your returns are going to be more complicated by nature.

This product will help you deal with those situations and also includes TaxAct’s Deduction Maximizer to help you lower your taxes.

TaxAct Pros & Cons

Meet the Author

Ryan Guina

Ryan Guina is The Military Wallet's founder. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. He served over six years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the Tennessee Air...

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