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TurboTax is built around online filing with optional expert help, while Jackson Hewitt pairs online DIY filing with in-person and remote Tax Pro preparation. For 2025 tax returns filed in 2026, Jackson Hewitt advertises $25 online filing and $149 remote Tax Pro preparation; TurboTax’s paid prices depend on your forms, product, and filing timing. Those prices cover different levels of service, so the right choice depends on your return, state filing needs, and how much help you want.

How the filing options compare

Option What you do What the provider does
TurboTax DIY Prepare and file your return online. Software guides you through the return.
TurboTax Expert Assist Prepare your own return. Provides on-demand expert advice and an expert review before filing.
TurboTax Full Service Provide your tax information and work with an assigned expert. An expert prepares and files the return; the price estimate depends on your tax situation and forms.
Jackson Hewitt online Prepare and file your return yourself. Provides online filing, live chat, automatic error checking, and document upload.
Jackson Hewitt Tax Pro Meet with a preparer, drop off documents, or use its remote service. A Tax Pro prepares the return. Options include in-person service, Walmart locations, document drop-off, and remote Tax Pro To Go.

These distinctions matter more than a headline price: DIY filing, expert review, and full preparation are not interchangeable services. See TurboTax’s product comparison, Jackson Hewitt’s filing options, and its remote Tax Pro service.

What each service costs for 2025 returns

Service Advertised price or pricing method What to verify
Jackson Hewitt online DIY $25 flat fee for federal and state online returns for tax year 2025, according to the company’s current online service page. Check that your forms and state filing are supported and confirm the price and terms before starting.
Jackson Hewitt remote Tax Pro To Go $149 advertised preparation price on the company’s current remote service page. Confirm availability, state coverage, and current terms for your situation.
TurboTax paid online products Price varies by product, tax situation, and timing; state filing may cost extra. Check the live price for your forms and state before filing. The company says the Full Service estimate depends on the forms used.

Jackson Hewitt’s $25 online fee is for DIY filing; its $149 remote option is preparation by a Tax Pro. Comparing either with a TurboTax product is meaningful only after matching the service level and confirming the total federal and state cost. TurboTax says online prices can change and may vary with when you print or e-file; it does not provide one universal price for all returns. Review TurboTax’s current product and price information and Jackson Hewitt’s online filing terms.

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Can you file for free?

TurboTax Free Edition

TurboTax says its Free Edition is for simple Form 1040 returns, subject to limited exceptions. Examples it lists as potentially eligible include W-2 wages, some interest or dividends, the standard deduction, EITC, the Child Tax Credit, student-loan interest, certain Schedule 1-A deductions, and qualified retirement distributions. Its examples of situations outside the simple-return definition include itemized deductions, unemployment income, business or 1099-NEC income, stock or crypto sales, rental income, and other forms or schedules. Check your actual forms against the current eligibility rules rather than relying on a general description. Intuit estimates that roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify; that is the company’s estimate, not an IRS eligibility figure.

#1 Best Overall
TurboTax Deluxe Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
  • TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
  • Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
  • Recommended if you own a home, have charitable donations, high medical expenses and need to file both Federal & State Tax Returns
  • Includes 5 Federal e-files and 1 State via download. State e-file sold separately. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
  • Live Tax Advice: Connect with a tax expert and get one-on-one advice and answers as you prepare your return (fee applies)

IRS Free File and other no-cost help

Before paying either provider, check the IRS options. For tax year 2025, IRS Free File Guided Tax is available to taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less, subject to additional requirements set by each participating provider, such as age, state residency, or military status. Free File Fillable Forms are available at any income level for people comfortable preparing their own federal return. The IRS also offers VITA/TCE preparation for qualified individuals. Use the IRS Free File information and eligibility links to see which route fits.

Check form coverage before choosing

Jackson Hewitt advertises its $25 online service for a range of situations, including W-2 employees, gig workers and 1099 income, dependents, education expenses, and multi-state filers. Its broad coverage language is not a substitute for checking whether the specific forms you need are supported. Review the company’s online filing page and linked supported-forms list, especially if your return includes uncommon schedules or state-specific requirements.

Rank #2
TurboTax Home & Business Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
  • TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
  • Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
  • Recommended if you are self-employed, an independent contractor, freelancer, small business owner, sole proprietor, or consultant
  • Includes 5 Federal e-files and 1 State via download. State e-file sold separately. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary)
  • Live Tax Advice: Connect with a tax expert and get one-on-one advice and answers as you prepare your return (fee applies)

TurboTax’s Free Edition has a narrower simple-return definition than the provider’s full product range. If your return includes a form outside the free tier’s stated scope, check which TurboTax product supports it and whether a paid online, Expert Assist, or Full Service option is appropriate. A product’s availability does not establish that it is included in the free tier.

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Which one fits your situation?

Choose DIY filing when you are comfortable preparing the return

Compare Jackson Hewitt’s advertised $25 federal-and-state online price with the exact TurboTax product price for your return. First verify form support, state coverage, and whether either service charges extra for the features you need. If you qualify for a free IRS option, compare that before purchasing.

Rank #3
[OLD VERSION] TurboTax Premier 2024 Tax Software, Federal & State Tax Return [PC/MAC Download]
  • Recommended if you sold stock, bonds or mutual funds, sold employee stock, own rental property or are a trust beneficiary
  • Includes 5 Federal e-files and 1 State via download. State e-file sold separately. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
  • NEW. Live Tax Advice: Connect with a tax expert and get one-on-one advice and answers as you prepare your return (fee applies)
  • Get your taxes done right and keep more of your investment and rental property income
  • Step-by-step guidance on stocks, bonds, ESPPs and other investment income

Choose expert review when you want to prepare the return yourself

TurboTax Expert Assist is designed for people who still prepare their own returns but want on-demand advice and a final expert review. It is distinct from having a preparer complete the return. Check the current price and the help included for your product.

Choose professional preparation when you want a Tax Pro to handle the return

Jackson Hewitt offers in-person preparation, including Walmart locations, document drop-off, and remote Tax Pro To Go; its remote page advertises $149 preparation. TurboTax Full Service assigns an expert to prepare and file, with an individualized estimate based on your forms. Compare the quote, state coverage, document process, and access to the preparer—not the DIY fee of another service.

Rank #4
TurboTax Premier Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
  • TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
  • Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
  • Recommended if you sold stock, bonds or mutual funds, sold employee stock, own rental property or are a trust beneficiary.
  • Includes 5 Federal e-files and 1 State via download. State e-file sold separately. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
  • Live Tax Advice: Connect with a tax expert and get one-on-one advice and answers as you prepare your return (fee applies)
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A practical way to make the decision

  1. List your forms and states. Gather your W-2s, 1099s, deduction records, and any schedules or state returns you expect to file.
  2. Check free eligibility first. Review the TurboTax Free Edition rules and IRS Free File options; check VITA/TCE if you may qualify.
  3. Match the help level. Decide whether you want software only, advice and review, or a professional to prepare the return.
  4. Compare the complete price. Include federal and state filing and any charges for the product or service level you need. For professional preparation, obtain the provider’s estimate for your forms.
  5. Confirm form support and terms. Check the provider’s current supported-forms information, state availability, and applicable service terms before submitting documents or paying.

Both companies advertise guarantees, but those guarantees are subject to their terms and do not show that one service will produce a larger refund for a particular filer. A refund depends on the filer’s circumstances and tax information, not on choosing a provider based on marketing claims.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
TurboTax Deluxe Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
TurboTax Deluxe Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use; Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
$79.99
Bestseller No. 2
TurboTax Home & Business Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
TurboTax Home & Business Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use; Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
$129.99
Bestseller No. 3
[OLD VERSION] TurboTax Premier 2024 Tax Software, Federal & State Tax Return [PC/MAC Download]
[OLD VERSION] TurboTax Premier 2024 Tax Software, Federal & State Tax Return [PC/MAC Download]
Get your taxes done right and keep more of your investment and rental property income; Step-by-step guidance on stocks, bonds, ESPPs and other investment income
$114.99
Bestseller No. 4
TurboTax Premier Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
TurboTax Premier Desktop Edition 2025, Federal & State Tax Return [Win11/Mac14 Download]
TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use; Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
$114.99
Bestseller No. 5
TurboTax Business Desktop Edition 2025, Federal Tax Return [Win11 Download]
TurboTax Business Desktop Edition 2025, Federal Tax Return [Win11 Download]
TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use; Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
$189.99
Best Value
TurboTax Business Desktop Edition 2025, Federal Tax Return [Win11 Download]
  • TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
  • Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
  • Recommended if you have a partnership, own an S or C Corp, Multi-Member LLC, manage a trust or estate, or need to file a separate tax return for your business
  • Includes 5 Federal e-files. Business State forms sold separately via download. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
  • Prepare and file your business or trust taxes with confidence

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.