Best Tax Preparation Services

H&R Block is a well-known name in tax preparation with the size and reliability to help it win our top spot. In addition to doing your taxes yourself with H&R Block’s software, the company offers three full-service tax preparation plans. For the period of May 1, 2019, through July 17, 2020, H&R Block assisted in preparing 21.2 million tax returns, or about one in every seven tax returns in the United States. You can have your taxes done either at one of the 11,000 H&R Block retail locations.

You have two options for tax prep performed at an H&R Block office. The first is an in-person tax prep service where you sit in the office (or at home on the computer) with a tax pro from a local office while your return is completed. The second option is a drop-off service where you leave your pile of tax papers, and everything is calculated on the correct forms. Then you come back to sign the final paperwork. In both cases, pricing starts at $85 for basic returns plus an extra charge per state.

A newer option allows you to upload forms for a virtual tax preparation experience. This means you get the full service of an H&R Block representative without having to go into an office. The combination of a large number of locations and multiple tax preparation options at a reasonable price makes it our best overall pick. It also offers eligible customers a refund advance loan.

Jackson Hewitt makes tax preparation easy with several options to file either online or through a network of 6,000 locations, giving it the win for ease of use. If you want to have your taxes done while you shop for groceries, you may want to use one of the 3,000 locations inside Walmart stores. Many locations have evening and weekend hours, so you can have your taxes done on a schedule that works for you.

For in-person tax prep, you can start by uploading your tax forms through the Jackson Hewitt website. You can even use your phone’s camera to take a photo and upload forms. If uploading proves to be problematic for you, head to a Jackson Hewitt location to drop off your tax documents and return later for your full tax review session. In-person meetings can be done by appointment or as a walk-in. Prices depend on how many forms are required to complete your return.

The company also has a year-round feature, Jackson Hewitt Tax Resolution Services, which serves customers in 48 states (excluding Minnesota and New Hampshire) and can help with issues including back taxes, tax notices, and property liens. It comes with a free consultation, additional pricing varies based on your needs, and eligible customers may qualify for an advance on their refund.

With flexible hours and the option to drop off or sit with a preparer while your taxes are done, Jackson Hewitt is a good choice for those who want a simple tax experience that works on their schedule.

TurboTax is perhaps best known as the largest provider of online tax preparation software and regularly ranks at the top of do-it-yourself tax program lists, but it also has a service where a tax experts takes care of everything for you online. It doesn't matter where you are in the online process; if you've begun your return and find you need help, TurboTax Live can be elected, and you can hand the return off at any time.

For the full-service TurboTax Live option, pricing ranges from $219 for assistance to $409 for live full service, with an additional fee for state taxes and multiple forms.

Because it’s completely online, TurboTax is best for tax filers who are more comfortable with computers and technology. That also means there is no drop-off option. However, if you are a digital native, TurboTax offers the most seamless, easy-to-navigate digital experience with pricing competitive to other tax preparation services.

Ernst & Young is well known as one of the “Big Four” accounting, tax, and legal consulting firms trusted by some of the biggest businesses in the world. For individual tax filers, Ernst & Young offers a digital filing experience through its app, EY TaxChat, that makes more complicated self-employed taxes easier, thus winning this category.

With EY TaxChat, your taxes are prepared and filed for you. Before filing, you will work with a tax professional online. You will also submit all tax documents through your phone or via the secured web portal. EY TaxChat includes unlimited advice from a tax professional who you are matched with based on your specific tax situation, which gives you more specialization than you may get elsewhere.

Pricing starts at $199 and can go up depending on your needs and the forms that need to be filed. While EY TaxChat can handle simple taxes, this Big Four tax firm is particularly attractive for independent contractors, sole proprietors, landlords, and other business owners who have more complex tax situations.