Is TaxAct software going out of business? Support page errors and refund issues
I've been trying to use TaxAct Plus for the past couple weeks to prepare my 2024 returns and it's been a complete disaster. Every time I try to enter any information, I get bombarded with script errors that make it impossible to continue. The software is basically unusable. What's even more frustrating is that when I try to contact their support for a refund or assistance, the support web page gives me an "internal server error" message. I've tried multiple times over the last 10 days and keep getting the same error. Can't file a support ticket, can't talk to anyone, can't get a refund. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm starting to think TaxAct might be shutting down or something. They've taken my money but the product doesn't work and there's zero way to contact them. Feeling pretty scammed right now. Anyone know if there's another way to reach them or if they're actually still in business?
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Madeline Blaze
This doesn't sound like they're out of business, but rather experiencing significant technical difficulties. TaxAct is one of the larger tax preparation software companies, and if they were closing down, there would likely be official announcements and news coverage. What I'd recommend is trying alternative contact methods. Have you checked their social media accounts? Sometimes reaching out via Twitter/X or Facebook can get a faster response when traditional support channels are down. You could also try calling their phone support directly at 319-373-3600. Another option is to dispute the charge with your credit card company if you paid that way. Explain that the product is non-functional and the company's support system is inaccessible.
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Max Knight
•Do you think it's worth trying a different browser or clearing cache before giving up? Sometimes tax software can be finicky with certain browsers or extensions.
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Madeline Blaze
•Definitely worth trying a different browser or clearing your cache and cookies first. Sometimes tax software has compatibility issues with certain browsers or extensions that can cause those script errors. For the support page, you might also try accessing it during off-peak hours as their servers might be overloaded during busy filing periods. Tax season puts enormous strain on these systems.
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Emma Swift
Had a similar nightmare with TaxAct this year. After hours of frustration with script errors and glitches, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which saved my sanity. It's not traditional tax software but actually helps analyze your tax documents and identifies potential issues. I uploaded my W-2s and previous returns, and it pinpointed several deductions I was missing. The interface was intuitive and actually worked without errors!
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Isabella Tucker
•How does this compare to TurboTax or H&R Block? I'm stuck with half-finished returns in TaxAct and might need to switch.
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Jayden Hill
•Sounds interesting but I'm skeptical. Does taxr.ai actually file your taxes or just give you advice? And how secure is it with all your personal tax info?
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Emma Swift
•Taxr.ai doesn't replace tax filing software entirely - it's more of a complementary tool that analyzes your documents and helps identify issues before you file. I used the insights to maximize my deductions, then filed with FreeTaxUSA which was much more reliable than TaxAct. Regarding security, they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. I was initially hesitant too but their privacy policy is pretty transparent about how they handle data.
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Jayden Hill
Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment. Really surprised by how helpful it was! I uploaded my documents (which I couldn't even enter into TaxAct) and it found over $1200 in deductions I would have missed. The document analysis is pretty impressive - it caught a mistake on my 1099 that I never would have noticed. Ended up filing with a different service based on their recommendations and it was smooth sailing. Definitely recommend for anyone else having TaxAct issues!
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LordCommander
For what it's worth, I've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks about my TaxAct-related issue (they submitted incorrect information last year) and couldn't get through. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS agent confirmed that TaxAct is definitely still in business but having system issues that they're aware of. They suggested filing a complaint with the FTC if you can't get a refund.
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Lucy Lam
•How does Claimyr actually work? Do they just call the IRS for you? Seems like something I could do myself.
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Aidan Hudson
•Yeah right. Nobody gets through to the IRS in 20 minutes. I've been trying for months about my own issue. This sounds like an ad.
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LordCommander
•They don't call for you - they basically hold your place in line and call you when they're about to connect with an agent. Saves you from waiting on hold for hours. You can absolutely do it yourself if you have the time to sit on hold, but I didn't. Regarding the skepticism, I get it. I was doubtful too. But after spending 3+ hours on hold multiple times and never reaching anyone, I was desperate. The 20 minutes was from when I got the notification they were connecting me to when I was speaking with an agent - not the total time to get in the queue.
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Aidan Hudson
I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I tried it this morning out of desperation. Not quite 20 minutes in my case (more like 35), but I finally got through to someone at the IRS who helped sort out my issue! They also told me TaxAct is getting a lot of complaints this year but are definitely still operational. For anyone having support page issues, try calling TaxAct directly at 319-373-3600 - apparently that's still working even though their web support is broken.
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Zoe Wang
Just a heads up, I was having the same issues with TaxAct but found that it works if you use Microsoft Edge in InPrivate mode. Something about their scripts conflicts with certain browser extensions. Not ideal but might help if you're stuck with them and can't get a refund.
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Connor Richards
•Does this fix the support page too? I still need to get a refund since I already paid for Premium which doesn't even work.
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Zoe Wang
•It did partially fix the support page for me - I could at least access it, though submitting forms was still hit or miss. For refunds, I had better luck calling their billing department directly at 319-373-3600 and selecting the billing option. Took about 25 minutes on hold, but I eventually got through to someone who processed my refund. The support page seems to be completely broken, but their phone systems still work.
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Grace Durand
This is why I never pay for tax software until I'm ready to file. I always use the free version to input everything, then only upgrade at the very end if I need to. That way if there are issues, I haven't spent any money yet. TaxAct worked fine for me last year but I'm avoiding them this year after seeing so many complaints.
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Steven Adams
•Smart approach. Which software are you using this year instead? I need to find an alternative to finish my returns.
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