CNBC Select has run more than a dozen tax software programs through their paces to find the best in a variety of categories.

TIME AND MONEY. YES SHE DOES. AND THE IRS ESTIMATES THAT IT CAN COST AN AVERAGE OF $270 TO GET A PROFESSIONAL TO DO YOUR TAX RETURNS. IF YOU FILL OUT THE FORMS YOURSELF, IT CAN TAKE AS LONG AS 13 ...

The 2026 tax season is underway, with the IRS accepting federal returns starting Jan. 26. Most taxpayers expect a refund and, for many, it's a critical part of their budget. According to a TaxSlayer ...

Even though the tax agency's free pilot program is no longer available, there are other free tax filing options this season.