By Bella Avila and Sabrina Parys, NerdWallet

Taxes are complicated enough without the added stress of figuring out which tax software will work best for you. While you should get the same refund or bill no matter which provider you choose, tax filing programs typically come at a cost — so there’s a crucial difference between paying for what you’ll use and paying extra for what you don’t need.

We did the research by testing and evaluating four well-known, widely used online tax providers: TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct and TaxSlayer. Our review process includes first-hand testing and information collection, focusing on factors that are important to filers: price, ease of use, transparency, tools, tax pro help and customer support.

Prices are updated monthly and are accurate as of Feb. 9, 2026. They are based on information gathered directly from the providers’ websites.

Best for ease of use: TurboTax

TurboTax stands out for its user-friendly features and tools, making it our top pick for ease of use. Working with the software feels like an interview with a tax preparer who knows just what to ask and how best to guide you.

Similar to other providers we review, the free DIY package covers only simple tax situations. This package might only make sense for you if you have W-2 income and want to claim basic tax breaks, such as the child tax credit and the student loan interest deduction.

The paid DIY packages — the Deluxe and Premium tiers — cost more than other tax-prep software we reviewed, but many filers might find the stellar user experience and innovative features justify the price. The Deluxe tier can help filers who itemize or are homeowners, while the Premium is better suited for investors or people with freelance or self-employment income.

Best free tax software: H&R Block

H&R Block is this year’s winner for overall best free tax software. Much like other providers, the free tier is designed to help people with fairly simple tax returns — but we found that the program covered a few more situations than its competitors do, potentially making it usable by more people.

H&R Block’s free version can handle Form 1040, income from wages, limited bank interest, student loan interest (1098-E), auto loan interest, overtime and tip deduction, and limited Schedules 1, 2 and 3 (but you may need to upgrade if you need other forms to complete the schedules).

If you need help with itemized deductions, investing income, freelance or self-employed work, or HSA distributions, you’ll need to upgrade to the Deluxe, Premium or Self-Employed editions.

Best for tax pro support: H&R Block

H&R Block is also our top pick for tax pro support in 2026. The company offers users several support options. Its paid packages — the Deluxe, Premium and Self-Employed tiers — include access to unlimited screen sharing and chat support with a pro at no additional cost. This is often something that requires another upgrade with competitor services such as TurboTax. However, it’s worth noting that this support doesn’t include a final review or sign-off of your tax return (if you want to tack that on, it’ll cost extra).

Best for budget filers: TaxSlayer

TaxSlayer takes the cake for the most affordable tax software this filing season. Not only are its paid packages the least expensive of those we review, but the provider shakes up the norm by offering all forms, deductions and credits at its lowest-price tier. The only difference between the paid packages is how much support you get from a tax pro.

Similar to its big-name competitors, TaxSlayer’s free version only supports simple tax situations. If you just need to file a simple 1040 and don’t need to claim any dependents or common tax credits, you may be able to take advantage of the deal. However, TaxSlayer is a bit stricter than its peers in what it considers a “simple tax situation,” with income limits and filing status restrictions in place.

If your tax situation falls outside of these limitations, more confident filers may consider upgrading to the Classic tier, and those who need some extra guidance from a tax pro may consider the Premium tier. TaxSlayer also offers a Self-Employed tier for business owners who need specialized tax help.

Competitive tax software to consider: TaxAct

Although TaxAct didn’t win any “best” accolades this year, there’s no denying it’s a good deal. TaxAct is our runner-up for the best tax software for budget filers. Its paid packages are less than those offered by big-name providers like H&R Block and TurboTax. Plus, no matter if you use the free version or paid version of the software, you can get tax pro help through Xpert Assist for an additional fee.

TaxAct’s free version is similar to other providers: it’s only for those with simple tax situations. It’s reserved for filers who are taking the standard deduction and don’t need to claim many deductions or credits. However, it’s worth noting that all other providers we review include a free state return if you qualify for their free tier, but TaxAct charges a $39.99 fee for each state filed.

Like most other providers, TaxAct’s paid packages vary in which forms, deductions and credits they support. People with trickier tax situations — homeowners, investors, small-business owners — may opt for TaxAct’s Deluxe, Premier or Self-Employed tier.

Guide to tax software

In the U.S., tax filers often have three options for completing their federal tax returns: (1) file manually by paper, (2) file online using tax software or (3) file through a tax pro, such as a CPA or an enrolled agent.

Tax software helps filers complete and submit their federal and state income tax returns using a DIY program. Due to its convenience and accessibility, it’s by far one of the most popular filing methods.

You can sign up for tax software online via the provider’s website. There may be multiple packages to choose from — but generally, the more complex your taxes are, the more you can expect to pay. The program will then guide you through your federal and/or state taxes by asking a series of interview-style questions that will help it populate tax forms on the backend.

The type of support you can expect will vary from provider to provider. Some packages and programs include access to a tax pro, such as a CPA, should you need it, but these services may require an upgrade or result in additional fees. Once your filing is complete, the program runs a final check and submits your return to the IRS and/or the state tax department.

Quality tax software should also facilitate the refund or payment process between you and the tax entity. This means you can pay your tax bill directly via the software or supply your banking info to the provider to initiate the refund process.

Do I need tax software?

Most filers use either tax software or a tax professional, such as a CPA. Deciding which route makes the most sense for you often comes down to three factors: the complexity of your tax situation, how much help you need and your budget.

“Tax software tries to simplify the language of the tax code for taxpayers,” says Nayo Carter-Gray, CEO and founder of 1st Step Accounting. “But it can still be confusing or overwhelming since it asks a bunch of questions that the average taxpayer may not be familiar with.”

The best software should walk you through the filing process, can handle most tax forms and specialty income, and will tell you whether it’s better to take the standard deduction or itemize, for example.

Carter-Gray, an enrolled agent, says working with a tax pro may be the better option if you’re getting overwhelmed with questions, made a large transaction you’re unsure how to handle, had multiple income streams or various investments — or if you’re simply just seeking more tax planning.

If you already know you want to file on your own but are wondering if you should use software (whether free or paid) or paper forms, that answer is simple. The IRS says e-filing is the easiest, fastest and most efficient

How to choose tax software

If you don’t know what you need, it might help to examine online tax filing providers individually and what sort of services each one offers. Here are a few areas to dig into:

Pricing and fees

How much you pay for tax software is often a function of how complex your taxes are or how much help you need. People with fairly simple situations — such as W-2 income only and very few credits to claim — may be able to take advantage of the “free version” many commercial programs offer. However, state returns may not always be included in these offers. Outside of this, the IRS and other state tax departments also offer free tax filing services, such as IRS Free File.

If you need to itemize, have a lot of investment income, freelance or are self-employed, you’ll need access to more complicated forms, which often means paying for higher-tiered tax prep packages that offer more support and tools. Some packages also come with paid upgrades or separate products that give you access to a tax pro — such as a CPA or an enrolled agent — who can collaborate with you on a return. These add-ons will typically up your total, but people who want to DIY with just a little support might find it worth the price.

User experience

Software that feels like an interview — asking questions about your income and any life events that might allow for deductions — offers more guidance than a basic fill-in-the-blank process. The ability to import forms such as W-2s is better than having to manually type in numbers.

Support options

Most tax software offers a searchable FAQ section or knowledge base, and some offer video tutorials or user forums to help answer questions. Audits are unlikely for most taxpayers, but if you think you’re at risk and want to purchase protection, you should understand what your software provides

Tax pros for assisted help

One important offering in recent years has been one-on-one help from a human tax pro, live on your screen. Depending on the provider, these pros might be able to give you tax advice or review your whole tax return before you file. (This sort of help may come with an extra charge.)

Customer service

Even with the best tax software programs, there’s a chance you might run into a technical issue or need some help as you move along the filing process. If this is important to you, make sure to take a close look at what customer help options are available to you — phone, email, chat or video call — and hours of availability.

Availability of tax forms

If you find a provider that excels in the areas above, you then want to choose the package that covers all of the tax forms and schedules you need. People with simple tax situations may not need anything but a package that covers your basic Form 1040. On the other hand, people with multiple jobs, itemizers, and those with business, investing or rental income will typically need access to additional schedules and forms, which can mean paying for a higher-tiered package.

Bella Avila writes for NerdWallet. Email: bavila@nerdwallet.com.Sabrina Parys writes for NerdWallet. Email: sparys@nerdwallet.com.

The article Best Tax Software of 2026 originally appeared on NerdWallet.

By MEG KINNARD

Former President Barack Obama is promoting a Democratic effort to redraw congressional lines in Virginia, the latest front in a nationwide redistricting battle ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

The announcement Thursday comes a day after the state Supreme Court allowed the redistricting question to go to voters for an April 21 election. Early voting begins Friday.

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It’s the second time Obama has agreed to stump for a Democratic effort that asks voters to temporarily set aside an independent redistricting process in favor of partisan maps as a way to counter President Donald Trump’s push for congressional gerrymandering in Republican-controlled states. California voters approved a similar measure last fall as a counterpoint to Republicans’ unusual mid-cycle redistricting that began in Texas.

In a video shared with The Associated Press ahead of its release, Obama asks Virginians to support the voter referendum on the redrawn maps. He said it will make sure “your voting power is not diminished by what Republicans are doing in other states.”

“This amendment gives you the power to level the playing field in the midterms this fall,” Obama says in the video, released by Virginians for Fair Elections. “And voters will have the final say over what the maps look like.”

In February, Virginia Democrats released a new congressional map aimed at giving their party four more seats. The Democratic-led legislature passed the proposed map, and Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the document into law.

The map goes into effect only if it’s backed by voters and the state Supreme Court.

And, Obama goes on to point out, it’s a temporary construct, as was the measure put before California voters. After the next census in 2030, he notes, “Virginia will go back to a system that lets a bipartisan redistricting commission redraw the maps.”

Court challenges continue

The situation in Virginia has been evolving swiftly, and there are no guarantees the new map will take effect this year even if it’s approved by voters.

Wednesday’s ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court was the second time it has decided that the new map could go before voters while the justices review legal challenges to the effort. The court still has not ruled on whether the mid-decade redistricting plan and voter referendum are legal, indicating that the April vote could be all for nothing if it upholds a lower-court ruling blocking the effort.

Democratic lawmakers in Virginia have sought to portray their redistricting plan as a response to Trump’s push for Republican states to redraw their maps in an attempt to maintain a GOP majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans describe it as a way for liberals in northern Virginia to commandeer congressional districts in the rest of the state.

Virginia is currently represented in the U.S. House by six Democrats and five Republicans who ran in districts imposed by a court after a bipartisan legislative commission failed to agree on a map after the 2020 census.

FILE – The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol at the start of the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Obama has made redistricting a priority

Redistricting has evolved into a signature issue for Obama.

He has called attention to the issue since leaving office in 2017 and helped raise money for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and its affiliates, one of which has filed and supported litigation in several states over GOP-drawn districts. That group is headed by Eric Holder, who served as Obama’s attorney general.

Obama was a vocal supporter of the Democratic redistricting ballot measure last year in California and appeared in ads supporting Proposition 50, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld last month.

Speaking at an NDRC fundraiser at the time, Obama said partisan gerrymandering was not his “preference.” But, he added, if Democrats “don’t respond effectively, then this White House and Republican-controlled state governments all across the country, they will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy.”

Associated Press writer Olivia Diaz in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.

By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are invoking the war in Iran and the prospect of retaliatory terrorist attacks as they tee up votes Thursday on a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

The House already approved a DHS spending bill in January, but it faltered in the Senate as Democrats insisted on changes to immigration enforcement operations following the shooting death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. As a result, funding for the department lapsed on Feb. 14.

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Republicans are calling on Democrats to reconsider their vote in the wake of the conflict in Iran. Both the House and the Senate are expected to hold votes on the matter.

“The military action in Iran makes it all more urgent and crucial to have a fully funded, fully staffed DHS across all its departments,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

It did not appear the GOP’s strategy had changed the position of Democratic lawmakers, though. They said they are prepared to fund most of the agencies at the department, just not Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.

“It’s the same lousy, rotten bill that does not put any guardrails or constraints on ICE or CBP after federal agents shot American citizens in the street,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Workers are beginning to miss part of their paychecks

Following the longest federal shutdown in the country’s history last year, Congress has completed work on 11 of this year’s 12 appropriations bills. Only the bill for Homeland Security remains outstanding.

Republicans said the timing couldn’t be worse for a Homeland Security shutdown. While a large majority of the department’s employees are considered essential and continue to work, many will not receive a full paycheck this week.

Republicans said the prospect of an increase in unscheduled absences by the Transportation Security Administration’s agents and screeners could lead to longer wait times at the nation’s airports. Meanwhile, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has canceled various assessments to determine vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure. And training for first responders conducted through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been canceled.

“Can we not understand America is under siege, now likely to be attacked because radical Islam is under siege, and they’re going to hit back and we’re sitting here looking at each other and not funding DHS,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said during a hearing Tuesday featuring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. speaks as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Democrats are seeking several changes at the department include prohibiting ICE enforcement operations at sensitive locations like schools and churches, allowing independent investigations into alleged wrongdoing, requiring warrants to be signed by judges before federal agents can forcibly enter private homes or other nonpublic spaces without consent, and requiring agents to wear identification and remove their masks.

Republicans note that the bill does include a bipartisan provision directing more resources for deescalation training and $20 million to outfit immigration enforcement agents with body-worn cameras.

Little to show from negotiations

The White House and congressional Democrats don’t appear to have made significant progress in recent weeks resolving their differences after trading several offers.

“Look, we’re still far apart but we’re negotiating and exchanging paper back and forth,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the Republican chairwoman of a panel that oversees homeland security funding, said she’s been talking to Democrats about a possible pathway forward, but prospects are unclear.

She and other Republicans are citing last weekend’s mass shooting in Austin as an example of the dangerous threat environment that’s facing Americans following the attack on Iran.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., pauses before taking questions at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

“I think that it is incredibly irresponsible to not fund the agency that is supposed to keep us safe here at home,” Britt said.

Democrats said they are ready to fully fund all the agencies within the department except for ICE and CBP.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, authored a proposal to do that, but it was blocked from consideration. She said Republican leadership was using Trump’s “aimless, costly and illegal war with Iran to force through more funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection without any of the substantial changes that the vast majority of Americans believe those agencies need.”

“It is a cynical effort and it is one that will fail,” DeLauro said.

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

By SHEIKH SAALIQ and KRISHAN FRANCIS

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — An Iranian warship that was sunk by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka had participated in naval exercises hosted by India before heading out into international waters in the Indian Ocean on its way home, New Delhi said.

The sinking underscored the scope of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and its spread in the Middle East and beyond. It also ignited a debate in India about maritime security in the Indian Ocean — a region where New Delhi maintains a significant naval presence.

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On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena, which sank in international waters off the coast of the island nation — a rare instance of a submarine torpedoing a ship since World War II.

Sri Lanka’s navy said it had responded to a distress signal from the IRIS Dena, but by the time it reached the location, there was no sign of the ship, just patches of oil and sailors floating in the water. The rescued mariners were taken to a hospital in the town of Galle, on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the sinking illustrates the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran is stretching beyond its borders and described the IRIS Dena as a “prize ship.” President Donald Trump has said one of the key objectives of the war is to wipe out Iran’s navy.

A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense on X showed the moment of the torpedo attack. The Iranian ship appears to be hit by an underwater explosion that causes it to break apart, as a large plume of water rises up in the air.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” in sinking the frigate and said on social media on Thursday that the United States “will come to bitterly regret” the attack.

Araghchi said the IRIS Dena had been carrying “almost 130” crew.

India’s navy and defense ministry said the Iranian warship had participated in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026, organized by the Indian navy in the port of Visakhapatnam from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25. The ministry said 74 countries had joined the events.

The Iranian warship was seen sailing at sea during the exercises in a Feb. 17 post on X by the Indian navy. Another image showed several of its crew members posing on deck with the Iranian flag in the background.

Araghchi stressed that the frigate had been “a guest” of India’s navy. The Indian government has not yet publicly commented on the incident.

Another Iranian ship enters Sri Lanka’s territorial waters

Sri Lanka’s media minister and government spokesperson, Nalinda Jayatissa, told parliament on Thursday that another Iranian ship has entered Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, an area beyond its immediate territorial waters where it has rights over natural resources.

Jayatissa did not provide further details about the ship or the number of people on board. He said the government was trying to “minimize the loss of lives and safeguard regional peace” but did not elaborate.

Questions in India over the sinking

India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as central to its security, with its navy regularly conducting patrols and multinational exercises to safeguard key sea lanes used for global trade and energy shipments. It has also traditionally sought to maintain a careful diplomatic balance in tensions between the U.S. and Iran while emphasizing on diplomacy and talks.

Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned the government’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so close to India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official statement.

The opposition Indian National Congress party slammed what it called “silence” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘s government.

“The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing,” opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Kanwal Sibal, a former diplomat who served as India’s foreign secretary from 2002 to 2003, wrote on X that India was “far from politically or militarily responsible for the U.S. attack,” but its “responsibility is at a moral and human plane.”

“The U.S. has ignored India’s sensitivities,” Sibal said. “The ship was in these waters because of India’s invitation.”

Saaliq reported from New Delhi. Associated Press journalist Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka, contributed to this report.

This story has been corrected to show that the Sri Lankan spokesperson said the second Iranian vessel was in the maritime area of Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, not in its territorial waters.