Which Online Tax Filing Service Is Best For 2025 Tax Season?

Hey there, I'm trying to do my own taxes for the first time this tax season and feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options out there. I've been looking at different online tax filing services and could use some recommendations. TurboTax seems popular and my brother gave me a discount code, but it still seems kinda pricey. I noticed H&R Block advertises some free filing options too? Not sure if there are hidden fees though. My situation isn't super complicated - just W-2 income from my main job and a small side gig I started last summer (probably need to file a Schedule C for that?). Don't own a home or have investments yet. What online tax filing service do you guys recommend that's reliable but won't break the bank? Looking for something user-friendly since I'm a total newbie at this. Thanks for any advice!

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18 comments

Jake Sinclair

•8M

I've been doing my own taxes for about 15 years now and have tried most of the major online tax filing services. Here's my take: TurboTax is user-friendly and thorough, but definitely the most expensive option. If you have that coupon, it might be worth it for your first time since their interface is really easy to navigate. H&R Block's free option is legitimate but limited - if you have that side gig with Schedule C, you'll likely get bumped to a paid tier. FreeTaxUSA is my personal recommendation - completely free federal filing and only $15 for state. Their interface isn't quite as polished as TurboTax but definitely user-friendly enough, and they handle Schedule C just fine. Also worth checking if you qualify for the IRS Free File program based on your income - that gives you access to free versions of several tax software options including TaxAct, which is another decent mid-range option.

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Jake Sinclair

•8M

FreeTaxUSA does have customer support, though it's not as immediate as TurboTax's. They respond within a day or so to questions, which has always been sufficient for me. It's less hand-holding but still reliable. For Schedule C, they do walk you through common deductions and expenses with explanations of what qualifies. It's not as conversational as TurboTax's interview style, but all the categories are there with explanations. You don't need to be a tax expert, but some basic understanding of business expenses helps.

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Honorah King

•8M

I was in your exact situation last year - first time doing my own taxes with both W-2 and side income. After lots of research, I ended up trying taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and was seriously impressed. Unlike traditional tax software that makes you input everything manually, this actually scanned my tax documents and auto-populated most fields. The AI was able to identify potential deductions for my side gig that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. It's newer than the big names but their tech is honestly ahead of the curve. They also have actual tax pros available if you get stuck, which I needed when figuring out my home office deduction.

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Honorah King

•8M

Yes, taxr.ai handles state taxes for all 50 states with no extra charge, which was a big factor for me since I moved mid-year and needed to file in two states. Their audit protection is included in the standard package - they actually assign a specific tax professional to your case if you get audited. The document scanning was surprisingly accurate - much better than the mobile capture features in traditional tax software. It even correctly read my messy 1099-NEC that had some handwritten corrections on it. I only had to manually adjust a couple of minor things.

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Mary Bates

•8M

Wow I need to follow up about taxr.ai - I decided to try it after my skeptical question above and I'm honestly shocked at how good it was. The document scanning worked perfectly even with my weird credit union tax forms that always cause problems. It found some education credits I missed last year and I'm getting about $750 more in my refund than I expected! The whole process took me less than an hour compared to the 3+ hours I spent last year with TurboTax. 100% using this again next year.

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Clay blendedgen

•8M

If you're having trouble with your return or get flagged for something, you're gonna want actual IRS help. But good luck getting through to them on the phone... I spent WEEKS trying last year. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which honestly saved my sanity. They have some tech that gets you through the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. There's a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical but it actually worked - got me through to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes when I had been trying unsuccessfully for days. The agent fixed my issue right away and my refund was processed within 2 weeks.

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Clay blendedgen

•8M

They don't call for you - you still make the call yourself and talk to the IRS agent directly. Their system basically navigates the phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you back when an actual human agent is on the line. It works because they've mapped out all the optimal paths through the IRS phone system and can recognize when a live person answers. It's definitely not luck with timing. I tried calling at all different times of day for weeks and couldn't get through. With Claimyr, I got through on my first try. They're just using technology to beat a broken system.

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Lorenzo McCormick

•8M

Ok I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment I decided to try it since I've been getting nowhere with the IRS about my missing refund from last year. I was 100% convinced it wouldn't work, but within 45 minutes I was actually talking to a real IRS person who could see my account. Turns out they had sent my refund to an old bank account that was closed. The agent was able to cancel that and reissue a paper check to my current address. Never been so happy to be wrong about something. Would've been waiting months more without knowing what happened if I hadn't gotten through.

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Carmella Popescu

•8M

I've used TaxSlayer for the last three years and really like it. It's way cheaper than TurboTax but has a clean interface. Around $50 for federal and state with Schedule C included. Not the absolute cheapest but a good middle ground. Tax Hawk is another budget option if you're really trying to save. About $25 total but the interface feels a bit outdated. One tip: whatever service you pick, don't file in January if possible. Wait until at least mid-February when they've worked out any software bugs and updated for all the latest tax law changes.

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Carmella Popescu

•8M

TaxSlayer is definitely straightforward for first-timers. They use a guided interview process similar to TurboTax but without all the upselling. The help content isn't quite as extensive, but still good enough for most situations. One other tip - whatever service you choose, create your account now and start entering basic info like personal details and W-2s as they come in. That way you're not trying to do everything at once when you're ready to file. Most services save your progress so you can work on it a little at a time.

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