What are the best low-cost tax prep services for filing a simple return with basic support?

For a simple return with basic support, the best low-cost tax prep options are usually the ones with:

• a free or very cheap federal filing tier
• clear pricing for state returns
• access to chat/help or a human reviewer if needed
• support for W-2 income, standard deduction, child tax credit, and common credits like the earned income tax credit

Good low-cost options

1. FreeTaxUSA

• Best for: cheapest overall
• Cost: federal filing is often free or very low-cost; state return usually costs a small fee
• Support: basic support included; paid add-ons for live help or audit support
• Pros: very inexpensive, handles most simple returns well
• Cons: interface is a bit less polished than bigger brands

2. Cash App Taxes

• Best for: completely free simple returns
• Cost: free for federal and state, if your return is supported
• Support: limited compared with paid services
• Pros: truly free, good for straightforward filings
• Cons: not ideal if your tax situation is outside its supported scenarios

3. TurboTax Free Edition

• Best for: very easy guided experience
• Cost: free only for very simple returns; state may cost extra
• Support: better interface and help tools than many free options
• Pros: intuitive, strong guidance
• Cons: upsells can make it more expensive than expected

4. H&R Block Free Online

• Best for: simple returns with a familiar brand
• Cost: free for basic returns; state may be extra
• Support: decent support tools and some in-person upgrade options
• Pros: easy to use, widely available
• Cons: can get pricey if your return becomes more complex

5. TaxAct

• Best for: low-cost filing with decent support
• Cost: usually cheap for simple returns, but state filing may add cost
• Support: basic help and paid support options
• Pros: often less expensive than TurboTax
• Cons: interface may feel less modern

If you want the cheapest possible option

• Start with Cash App Taxes if your return is simple and supported.
• If not, FreeTaxUSA is often the best low-cost fallback.

If you want the easiest experience

• Choose TurboTax Free Edition or H&R Block Free Online, but watch for extra fees.

What to check before choosing

Look for:

• state filing fee
• whether the service supports your tax forms
• whether “free” includes what you need
• whether live chat, phone help, or review is included
• whether there are upgrade prompts during filing

If you want, I can also give you a ranked shortlist based on your situation — for example, single W-2, student, retiree, or with one state return.