Liberty Tax Online Review 2023
Decent Service for Confident Filers
You’ve probably seen the people dressed in Lady Liberty costumes, standing on sidewalks and pointing you toward Liberty Tax. The company is known for its reasonably priced tax prep services and unique marketing.
However, like many brick-and-mortar tax preparation services, Liberty Tax recognizes that many people really just want to be able to prepare and file their taxes online — without the hassle of going into an office. So Liberty Tax also has its own online tax software.
Here’s what you need to know about filing your taxes online using Liberty Tax.
Cost - 7
Customer Service - 7
Ease of Use - 7
Tools & Resources - 7
Previous Year Importing - 9
Mobile App Usability - 0
What Is Liberty Tax?
Liberty Tax opened its first offices in the United States in 1998 and since then has become a fixture at tax time. There are more than 3,000 branches in the U.S. and Canada.
While you might receive good, cost-efficient service by making an in-person appointment, the reality is that the DIY tax software offered by Liberty Tax might not be the best option. The interface is clunkier than many other online tax prep packages.
Most of the navigation is self-guided, so it’s not very intuitive for beginners. Seasoned filers shouldn’t have a problem, although they may prefer more appealing software.
However, if you've started your tax return online and grow frustrated with the experience, you can transfer your filing process to a Liberty Tax brick-and-mortar office for no extra fee.
Who Is Liberty Tax Good For?
For the most part, Liberty Tax's online software is best for those who are fairly confident filers and who don’t need a lot of hand-holding. The service can be good for experienced filers who know what they are doing and just want a little help going through their taxes in an orderly fashion — and don’t mind that they aren’t getting a great bargain.
At the same time, since there aren't a lot of options for very complicated returns, if you're expecting a complex return, Liberty Tax probably isn't a great fit for you, either.
In many cases, other tax filing software is likely to be a better choice. For complicated taxes, TurboTax and H&R Block have better support and options, as well as better customer service. Plus, with those companies, you can purchase audit defense products that aren’t available with Liberty Tax. For those who have simple taxes and want free options, just about every offering out there is a better choice — including Credit Karma, which is completely free at any level.
Unless you want to be able to go into an office if you get stuck, or for the double-check, there’s not much that Liberty Tax has to offer beyond what you can get for a better deal elsewhere.
Liberty Tax Online Features
| Free Version For simple tax returns only | |
| Import Function | |
| Small Business Features | |
| Investor Features | |
| Audit Assistance Included | |
| Refund Tracking | |
| Accuracy Guarantee | Penalty and interest reimbursement |
| Filing Support | Live Chat and Phone: M–F 9A–5P Eastern Time; Email |
Liberty Tax Plans and Pricing
It’s important to note that there is no free online offering with Liberty Tax. So you’ll have to look elsewhere if you have a very simple situation and want to file your taxes for free.
If you're willing to pay, Liberty offers the following tiers of service:
| Plan | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic
Federal Return: $44.95 |
If you’re itemizing but still don’t have a complex tax situation, this could be the right product to select. It’s possible to report self-employment income and some business expenses, but you won’t have access to Schedule C. Additionally, you can deal with HSA information using this version. |
| Deluxe
Federal Return: $64.95 |
If you’re looking for a more complete experience, especially if you’re an investor or you have rental property, the Deluxe version is likely a better choice. You get access to a wider variety of forms and schedules and can access the Schedule C with this version. |
| Premium
Federal Return: $89.95 |
Finally, if you have a small business, Liberty Tax recommends this version. You’ll be able to prepare K-1 forms with this product, as well as report a sale of your home and account for various types of income. |
2020 Promotions
As you probably know by now, the IRS has extended the filing date for 2019 tax returns to July 15, 2020. To help taxpayers out just a little bit more, Liberty Tax is offering the following promotions:
- All three tiers of service are currently priced at $44.95. That includes the Premium level.
- Use special code OFFNOW15 to take an additional 15% off. So on top of the promotional pricing, you can take an extra 15% off your purchase.
Refund Options
There aren’t any really stand-out tax refund options with Liberty Tax online tax prep software. You’ll have access to the standards:
- Direct deposit
- Paper check
- Netspend® Liberty Tax® Prepaid Mastercard®
You can also get an advance loan on your tax refund. Generally, these are expensive and come with fees, however, so don't get too excited.
How to Sign Up
The initial form for signing up is a little longer than with other services. You provide your name, email address and phone number, as well as a password and security questions, all in one form. The password requirements are also more stringent for Liberty Tax than for other tax packages — instead of requiring eight characters, the minimum is 15.
Like other tax packages, you have to use a verification code to finish setup. Liberty Tax emails your code, and once you enter it, you can select the option that allows you to start a new return. You can import from a competitor by choosing who prepared your taxes, or just import from a PDF of your 1040.
Once that’s done, you can move forward and start verifying information and filling in the rest of the forms.
Synchronization
It’s a nice touch that you can import your 1040 from the previous year. Additionally, there’s a great feature that seamlessly hands your tax return off to a local Liberty Tax office if you decide that you need in-person help.
Mobile Accessibility
Liberty Tax doesn’t have its own mobile tax filing app. You can access the full website on your tablet or phone, but the mobile interface isn’t as easy to use on the small screen as it is on a laptop or desktop.
Customer Service
There are a number of helpful articles explaining tax concepts, and you can access FAQs from the online tax prep interface. For the most part, these are helpful, although they aren’t offered as part of the flow when you’re filling out the form.
For customer service or tech support, you can send emails and chats, as well as use social media channels to connect. You can also go into a local office to get support. There isn’t specific phone support, but there are enough other ways to get your questions answered that it probably isn’t needed.
Liberty Tax Online Pros & Cons
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