1040Now Evaluate 2026: Our Least Favourite Tax Software program

Should you’re maintaining with our tax evaluations right here at The School Investor, we hope you are taking time to have a look at the professionals and cons of the varied tax submitting software program packages. We hardly ever recommend a tough cross, however sadly, we’re hard-pressed to seek out the positives in 1040Now.

On this evaluation, we clarify why we really feel this tax software program isn’t value your time – however we wish you to learn the evaluation, as there are classes to be realized right here. It is going to aid you perceive what separates the “good” tax submitting apps from the unhealthy.” For self-serve tax software program, this boils right down to options, superior doc add instruments, person interface, design, and buyer assist. 

Right here’s a better take a look at how 1040Now works, together with the professionals and cons. Should you’ve already determined to maneuver on and discover one thing else, right here’s our record of the most effective tax software program for 2026.

1040Now – Is It Free?

1040Now isn’t free for any customers. 1040Now permits customers to “Begin My Tax Return” free of charge, as most rivals do. When it’s time to file, you should pay the identical payment no matter which tax varieties you want. The fee for 2026 is $29.95 for federal submitting and $24.95 for every state.

What’s New In 2026?

Be aware: Costs have elevated, however the person expertise isn’t improved

1040Now has carried out the IRS adjustments to tax brackets, deductions, and credit score limits, in addition to different inflation- and pandemic-related tax adjustments. In consequence, you need to get the identical consequence (inside a couple of {dollars}) as another tax software program.

Shockingly, whereas there aren’t any important enhancements to the web site, costs did improve this 12 months. You’ll now pay extra for a similar Nineteen Nineties-style web site interface.

For returning customers, that signifies that you’ll nonetheless have to cope with the wordy interface, nested kind entries, and full articles which are gentle on data. The web site seems prefer it’s 1996, and the tax submitting software program isn’t significantly better.

Should you’re sufficiently old to recollect Netscape, you’ll perceive the appear and feel of these classic web days. You could even end up reminiscing, however that’s not what you need when doing all of your taxes. 

We have not spent the time to make a video evaluation of 1040NOW within the final couple of years as a result of our checks have been so depressing, and nothing has been up to date. In order for you a peek at what the software program seems like, see this evaluation video:

Does 1040Now.Web Make Tax Submitting Straightforward?

No, the 1040Now software program is frustratingly onerous to make use of. It lacks an interactive format that permits filers to skip irrelevant sections. And determining the following step is all the time a problem.

1040Now has quick session expiration time-out home windows. You’ll be logged out when you pause for simply a few minutes. You’ll must re-enter my username and password and click on by a number of screens to get again to the place you left off.

As well as, the cumbersome navigation and crowded varieties haven’t improved in years. You could even think about plain IRS on-line fillable varieties above this software program. 1040Now could also be correct, however it’s irritating and difficult to make use of.

1040Now Options

1040Now has a lacklustre person expertise, so we needed to stretch to seek out constructive points of the software program. This is what we got here up with. 

Easy Pricing Mannequin

All customers pay $29.95 for federal submitting and $24.95 per state. It is simple to know, and there aren’t any surprises.

Multi-State Submitting

Filers who have to file in a number of states can use the 1040Now software program program to file in all their states. Some rivals solely deal with one state per 12 months.

Part Summaries

1040Now consists of part summaries that assist customers establish key earnings, deduction, or credit score points. This makes it simpler to seek out errors and examine discrepancies earlier than you progress to new sections.

1040Now Drawbacks

1040Now is probably the most difficult-to-use software program we reviewed. The appliance is overrun with jargon and complicated menus. These are a couple of of the worst options.

Horrible Consumer Interface

1040Now is tough to make use of, and the software program is complicated. Customers must learn instructions to determine the place to click on earlier than new screens pop up with extra instructions. It’s going to take you again to the Home windows 3.1 days when you’re sufficiently old to recollect. 

As a result of 1040Now depends closely on “new pages” and “nested varieties,” customers usually have to return a number of ranges to “resurface” in the event that they mistakenly go down an incorrect path. Sadly, even with guided navigation, it is simple to get misplaced.

Sizzling Tax Tip: Get organized along with your taxes utilizing an earnings tax binder

Nested Kinds

Most tax software program permits customers to scroll to fill within the related data. Not 1040Now.internet. It requires customers to click on a number of “Subsequent Step” buttons to finish filling out a single kind. Typically, the varieties embody complicated directions, which lengthen the submitting course of.

Quick Session Expiration

It takes time to tug up tax paperwork and duplicate the knowledge from PDFs into the software program. We seen that we regularly needed to re-enter usernames and passwords to log again in. These “Session Expired” points happen far too usually, making it tough for filers to finish their taxes effectively.

1040Now Pricing

1040Now.internet presents one flat payment for all customers. The pricing locations 1040Now towards the mid to decrease vary of the market.

How Does 1040Now Evaluate?

Tip: You may get a greater expertise free of charge with Money App Taxes or a significantly better expertise at a comparable worth utilizing FreeTaxUSA.

1040Now software program is among the many worst in the marketplace. Every competitor listed right here is superior in perform, and most price much less. We might suggest Money App Taxes and FreeTaxUSA (amongst many others) over 1040Now.

See our full record of the most effective tax software program right here.

Is It Secure And Safe?

1040Now makes use of third-party SSL encryption and requires multi-factor authentication. So filers ought to really feel assured that they’ve taken all cheap precautions to maintain person data protected.

After all, any data transmitted on-line may very well be hacked. So customers ought to rigorously consider the dangers earlier than transferring ahead with any tax submitting firm. At all times use distinctive, robust passwords and comply with different cybersecurity practices to maintain your information and cash protected.

Useful Tax Tip: What to do if you cannot afford to pay your taxes

Contact

Good luck reaching a assist consultant at 1040Now. The corporate presents e-mail assist solely at cs@1040now.com, and most buyer evaluations on-line will not be constructive. Anticipate this to be a principally self-service expertise, with no stay assist to get you thru your return.

Who Is This For And Is It Value It?

Backside Line: Don’t Use 1040Now

No, we do not assume it is value it and may’t actually consider any group of taxpayers that might profit from utilizing it. Should you’ve used it earlier than, make this the 12 months that you simply swap from 1040Now. Its built-in calculators and part summaries are good, however each main firm has these.

Reasonably than accepting software program that hasn’t saved tempo with the instances, select the most effective tax software program in your scenario. You are able to do significantly better.

Why Ought to You Belief Us?

The School Investor staff has spent years reviewing the highest tax submitting choices and has private expertise with a lot of the tax software program instruments. I personally have been the lead tax software program reviewer since 2022, and have in contrast a lot of the main firms on {the marketplace}.

Our editor-in-chief, Robert Farrington, has been testing tax software program instruments since 2011 and has tried virtually each tax submitting product. Moreover, our staff has created evaluations and video walk-throughs of the entire main tax preparation firms, which you’ll find on our YouTube channel.

We’re tax DIYers and desire a whole lot, identical to you. We work onerous to supply knowledgeable and trustworthy opinions on each product we check.

How Was This Product Examined?

In our unique checks, we used 1040NOW to finish a real-life tax return that included W-2 earnings, self-employment earnings, rental property earnings, and funding earnings. We tried to enter all the info and use each obtainable function. We then in contrast the consequence to all the opposite merchandise we have examined, in addition to a tax return ready by a tax skilled.

This 12 months, we went again by and re-checked all of the options we initially examined, in addition to any new options. We additionally validated the pricing choices.

1040Now FAQs

Listed below are the solutions to a couple of the commonest questions we’re requested about 1040Now:

Can 1040Now assist me file my crypto investments?

1040Now doesn’t supply distinctive steering for submitting crypto investments. Nevertheless, it has all of the varieties wanted for individuals who traded or mined crypto investments. Most lively merchants will wish to select another product, comparable to TurboTax Premier.

Can 1040Now assist me with state submitting in a number of states?

Sure, 1040Now helps multi-state submitting.

Does 1040Now supply refund advance loans?

No, 1040Now doesn’t supply refund advance loans.