Overview

The walkthrough asks about a taxpayer’s situation and points to potentially relevant credits and deductions; form search lets users jump directly to forms when they already know what they need. That combination can serve both less experienced filers and people comfortable managing the details themselves, though neither route removes the work of entering tax information by hand.

Users can prepare and preview a completed return before paying, then submit it electronically to applicable federal and state tax authorities. People who qualify for the IRS Free File Alliance may be able to file both returns for free. Access is limited to people residing in the United States or its territories and possessions.

Key features

Wide filing coverage: The service supports wages, dependents, HSA, charitable donations, home ownership, education, Social Security, retirement, unemployment, investments, stock or crypto sales, rental properties, self-employment, and small business. Schedule C is included at the flat filing price, which makes the coverage useful for individuals with more than straightforward wage income.
Federal and state filing: State returns are included in the flat price, and most state information carries over from the federal return. This avoids a separate state-return charge for the standard paid filing.
Preview before payment: Users can prepare and inspect a completed return before deciding to pay and submit. That lets filers review the result before committing to the filing charge.
Support and account safeguards: Email and chat support are included with the paid plan; support methods also include web chat, email, fax, and phone. Data transfers use industry-standard encryption, privacy practices are TRUSTe-certified, and accounts can enable two-factor authentication. These protections are useful for handling sensitive tax information, though users should still secure their account credentials.

Pricing

1040.com uses a freemium model. Its main filing option is shown as $34.99 USD per once, payable when filing, for federal and state returns, all filing statuses, most income sources, credits and deductions, and Schedule C. The separate 1040.com plan is shown at $34.99 USD per month and includes the same federal and state filing, Schedule C, a free return preview, and email and chat support. The per-filing option is the clearer fit for someone completing a single return; the monthly plan’s stated term matters to anyone comparing costs, so check the checkout terms before choosing it.

The Free File Edition is free for taxpayers with AGI from $18,100 to $89,000 and eligible active military members. It is the option to consider if you meet those conditions. Other users can still prepare and preview a return for free, but must pay to submit it.

Optional extras cost $29.95 USD per once for E-collect, which lets users pay from a refund, and $34.95 USD per once for Protection Plus audit assistance. These add charges at checkout, so include them when weighing the final cost.

Platforms

1040.com runs on the web and offers mobile access through the web. That suits filers who prefer browser access, but the listed platform support does not include a dedicated mobile app. The service is intended for individual taxpayers preparing their own returns and limits how many returns can be filed from one computer, which can constrain families or preparers handling multiple returns.

Who it's for

Choose 1040.com if you are filing your own U.S. return, want guided prompts, and have income from sources such as investments, rental property, or self-employment. It is particularly practical when you want state filing included and would like to review the completed return before paying. Look elsewhere if importing tax data is essential, you need to prepare multiple returns from one computer, or you live outside the United States and its territories or possessions.

Pros and cons

Pro — State filing is included: The flat filing price covers federal and state returns, and most state information transfers from the federal return.
Pro — Broad income coverage at one filing price: Schedule C, investment sales, and rental income are among the supported situations, extending its usefulness beyond simple wage returns.
Pro — Preview before paying: Filers can complete and review a return before deciding to submit it for a fee.
Con — Tax information must be entered manually: There is no import from another tax website or account, adding effort for people with prior-year data or many forms.
Con — A per-computer return limit: The product is designed for individual self-filing, so it is a poor fit for preparing returns for several people on one computer.
Con — Extra services raise the cost: Refund payment and audit assistance are paid add-ons, not part of the core filing price.

Alternatives

TaxAct is worth considering if you qualify for free federal filing on a standard return and are comfortable paying separately for state filing. TaxSlayer may suit someone whose needs fit its free offer of one federal and one state return. For a simple tax situation and a preference for a service that also has iOS and Android apps, compare H&R Block Online.

WISO Steuer offers a free test version with all functions available to try and payment requested only when submitting a return. Steuerbot keeps refund calculations free and charges for submission. UFile has a free online return for eligible taxpayers. ClearTax offers a self e-filing plan and a salary plan for salaried employees with a single Form 16. StudioTax is another option with free filing for eligible users.

Browse more options in Tax Preparation Software and Personal Tax Software.

Verdict

1040.com is a sensible choice for an individual filer who wants guided preparation, broad income coverage, included state filing, and a chance to preview the return before paying. Its main advantage is the straightforward federal-and-state filing price with Schedule C included. Look elsewhere if manual entry or the one-computer return limit would make your filing process cumbersome.

	1040.com	TaxReturn.com.au
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes
Paid from	$34.99/mo
Platforms	Web	Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Paid from	$34.99one-time
Self-employment support	Yes	Yes
Investment income	Yes	Yes
Rental income	Yes	Yes
State filing	included
Mobile access	web_and_mobile	web_and_mobile
Audit support	Yes

1040.com vs TaxReturn.com.au

1040.com

TaxReturn.com.au