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Tax season — a time of stress for many — is upon us. Not only does the process of filing tax returns present a challenge, but the fear of an unexpected tax bill also can be a source of anxiety for taxpayers. Even if you don't owe the IRS, you may still have to pay to get your taxes done. To that end, finding ways to save along the way can ease the burden of filing your taxes.
Here are the various methods to save money when preparing your taxes.
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Ways To Save When Preparing Your Taxes
While the list below is certainly not exhaustive, many opportunities exist to save when preparing and filing a tax return:
- Airline/cash-back portals
- Bank savings programs like Amex Offers, Chase Offers, and Citi Merchant Offers
- Referral systems
- File your taxes for free
- Pay your taxes with the right credit card
These opportunities are not mutually exclusive either. You can stack two or more of these opportunities to save even more when you file your taxes!
Use Airline and Cash-Back Online Shopping Portals
Online shopping portals have been around for a while but might not immediately come to mind during tax season. Most U.S.-based airlines and many other cash-back shopping systems offer a way to earn rewards for your spending. Common tax preparation services and software — such as H&R Block and TurboTax — aren't exceptions.
Whenever I am poised to use an online shopping portal, I make sure to check Cashback Monitor to compare which portal offers the most favorable return on spending. At the time of writing this article, a search for “TurboTax” yields the results below:
And here's what's available for TaxAct:
A few options immediately stand out:
- For TurboTax, Southwest Rapid Rewards offers the largest airline points bonus at 1,000. However, per the offer terms and conditions, these points do not count towards Companion Pass qualification.
- Rakuten offers a way to earn up to 5% back on both TurboTax and TaxAct. If your Rakuten account is set up to earn Amex Membership Rewards instead of cash back, 5% means 5X Membership Rewards points.
- The 4% back offered through Capital One Shopping may be lucrative if neither airline portals nor Rakuten are appealing.
Offerings from each online shopping portal change frequently, so be sure to check back routinely to take advantage of what could be limited-time increased airline mile or cash-back opportunities.
Add Card-Linked Offers for Extra Savings
Holders of Amex, Chase, and Citi credit cards should be quite familiar with Amex Offers, Chase Offers, and Citi Merchant Offers, respectively. Currently, all three sets of cardholders enjoy opportunities to save when they pay for tax preparation services and/or software this tax season. These are targeted offers, so not everyone will see the same offers on all accounts; additionally, you'll need to add them to your eligible credit card before using them.
Amex offers discount opportunities with the widest array of vendors; TaxAct and TurboTax both currently have Amex Offers. Chase and Citi also offer a chance to save on TurboTax. No matter which points currency happens to be the flavor of the week, cardholders can accrue some savings on tax preparation purchases.
Meanwhile, there are separate tax-related Chase Offers with both TurboTax and TaxAct. For TurboTax, Chase offers $20 cash back after spending $39 and 25% cash back (up to $60) with TaxAct.
We also found one Citi Merchant Offer for $20 back on TurboTax.
Current card-linked offers for saving on tax preparation services
Many of these offers are card-linked, so you’ll need to log into your credit card accounts to determine which offers you may be eligible for, as they are not always offered to everyone. Here’s a summarized list of merchant offers to look out for (including those mentioned above) for both TurboTax and TaxAct:
- TaxAct:
- 30% back (up to $60 back) via Amex Offer — Expires April 15, 2025
- 30% back (up to $60 back) via BankAmeriDeals — Expires April 30, 2025
- 25% back (up to $60 back) via Chase Offer — Expires January 31, 2025
- TurboTax:
- Spend $39 or more, get $20 back via Chase Offer — Expires April 16, 2025
- Spend $39 or more, get $20 back via BankAmeriDeals — Expires April 15, 2025
- Spend $39 or more, get $20 back via Citi Merchant Offers — Expires April 16, 2025
- Spend $50 or more, get $20 back via Amex Offer — Expires April 16, 2025
- Spend $150 or more, get $30 back via Amex Offer — Expires April 16, 2025
Be sure to read all of the terms and conditions of these offers carefully to make sure that all qualifications of the offer are met. Just as importantly, pay attention to the offer period for each of these as well.
Get Rewarded for Tax Prep Referrals
Referral offers for credit cards, cash-back programs, and even bank accounts are the norm these days. But for tax preparation services? Just like last year, the same referral programs are in place for 2025.
Both TurboTax and TaxAct — and undoubtedly other tax companies — offer referral bonuses for users. Whether you're the one referred or the referee, you'll get a bonus.
File Your Taxes for Free
All of the offers mentioned so far are for discounts or extra rewards on tax preparation purchases. But, if your goal is to spend as little as possible, filing your tax return for free beats any 15% rebate or $20 back opportunity. The IRS website makes filing for free very easy. Free filing options exist no matter your level of income.
For those with annual income over $84,000, free electronic forms are available that must then be filled out and filed independently. However, for those with an annual income under $84,000, you'll get free access to tax preparation software from the same companies that sell tax preparation software.
Pay With the Right Credit Card
After finalizing your tax return, you may find that you owe additional taxes. Even if you are due a tax refund, you may have a payment to make to a CPA or other tax filing service.
If you owe, you can make that payment via credit card. This allows taxpayers one final opportunity in the filing process to save money when filing taxes. Note that multiple options exist for making a tax payment via credit card.
Besides choosing which payment method makes the most sense, it is also important to consider which credit card to use. If there is a credit card where you are working toward meeting a minimum spend requirement for a welcome bonus, that should take precedence.
Beyond that, tax payments do not fall into a bonus category for any consumer credit card. Credit cards that offer the best rewards on non-bonused spending will provide taxpayers with the best return on these expenses. Even for those who prioritize earning transferrable points, excellent payment options exist, too.
Related: How To Pay Taxes With a Credit Card (and When You Should)
Our Take
Filing taxes can be stressful, but it also can be rewarding. With a bevy of stackable options at your disposal, make sure you don't miss out on savings this tax season. There are even free options for preparing taxes for the most cost-conscious taxpayer.
No matter which filing option you pursue, make sure to make any tax filing-related payments with a credit card that will provide the biggest reward for your spending.
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