Our Tax Software Review Methodology
How RefundAtlas compares and rates tax filing software: our criteria, our sources, and how we stay transparent.
No Pay-to-Play
We never accept payment to change ratings.
Real Testing
Every product is personally evaluated by our team.
Always Updated
We refresh reviews when products change.
How We Review Tax Software
RefundAtlas compares every major tax product across five common tax scenarios. We do not prepare our own test returns; each comparison is built from the provider's published plans, pricing, and documentation:
- Simple W-2 return
- Itemized deductions
- Self-employment / 1099
- Investment income (capital gains)
- Rental property (Schedule E)
Scoring Framework
1. Accuracy Guarantee (30%) — The accuracy and maximum-refund guarantees each provider publishes, and what they cover.
2. Guidance (25%) — The guided interview, help content, and error checks each provider describes.
3. Price vs. Features (25%) — Total published cost per scenario, including state filing fees.
4. Audit Support & Guarantees (10%) — Guarantee terms and the audit support each provider offers.
5. Data Import (10%) — Supported imports: W-2, brokerage 1099-B, and prior-year returns.
Our Team
Our lead reviewer is a former IRS enrolled agent with 12 years of tax preparation experience. Reviews are updated annually.
Last updated: September 2026
Last updated September 29, 2026