TaxHawk 2022 Review

TaxHawk Walk-through Video

TaxHawk - Is It Really Free?

With $0 and Free splashed on its front page, you may expect that TaxHawk is free. And, indeed, TaxHawk offers free federal tax filing. But the cost of state filing is $14.99. It also has several optional upgrades that cost money.

Even though TaxHawk isn’t 100% free for some filers, it’s an excellent value. In 2022, it's a top software for value seekers that don't qualify for free filing elsewhere. It’s easy to use (given the price point), and the optional upgrades are fairly priced.

What's New In 2022?

The best TaxHawk upgrade in 2022 is the improved navigation. The user interface is still a bit text-heavy. But users who make mistakes are quickly warned, and TaxHawk explains how to fix the issue. It uses low-jargon language to help users through complex filing challenges like using depreciation calculators on rental properties.

We’re also glad to see TaxHawk’s Pro Support option making a return appearance in 2022. This option entitles users to personal tax advice and filing support from tax experts such as CPAs or Enrolled Agents (EAs). This normally expensive upgrade costs just $24.99 with TaxHawk.

In 2022, we named TaxHawk the Best Tax Software for Support Options because of their great service options at a low price. Check our our full rankings of The Best Tax Software here.

Does TaxHawk Online Make Tax Filing Easy In 2022?

TaxHawk is a bargain software. And, as such, it has never been as easy to use as more expensive software like TurboTax or H&R Block. This year is no exception. 

However, TaxHawk’s improvements in question and answer formatting, offering bookmarks, and navigation have made the software much easier to use. The software also includes section summaries that allow users to check whether they’ve made any errors.

At this point, TaxHawk’s only notable drawback is a lack of import features. Many tax software packages allow users to upload W-2 and 1099 PDFs, and the software fills in the necessary information. TaxHawk doesn’t do that yet. That means filers spend some extra time hand keying information in the software.

TaxHawk Notable Features

Given the low price, TaxHawk is shockingly easy-to-use tax software. Thoughtful features like bookmarks, navigation bars, and section summaries make the software better than most middle and low-priced competitors.

Q&A Plus Menu Guidance

TaxHawk uses a blend of questions and answers and menus to help users through the software. The Q&A portion focuses on the most common questions. Users with more unique circumstances (rental properties, business income, etc.) can select their circumstances from a menu.

Within a section, TaxHawk resumes the Q&A style navigation to help users accurately file their returns.

Simple, Low-Cost Pricing

Federal tax filing is free for all users. State filing costs $14.99 per state. Users have a few upgrade options, but those upgrades aren’t required.

Section Summaries

TaxHawk automatically shows a section summary where users can review the information they’ve entered before moving to another section. A “fat finger” error such as adding one too many zeros is easy to catch and correct when you get to see all the numbers on the same page.

Audit Support Add-On

TaxHawk’s Deluxe upgrade entitles users to audit assistance from Enrolled Agents. At just $6.99 this upgrade is a steal compared to most other companies.

Pro Support Add-On

For $24.99 tax filers can add on Pro Support. Users can ask questions and receive personalized tax advice from a CPA or enrolled agents. Users will work with these tax pros via phone or using screen share.

TaxHawk Online Notable Drawbacks

Despite the general usability, TaxHawk continues to fall short in a few key areas.

Can't Import Forms

TaxHawk doesn’t allow users to import W-2 or 1099 forms. This means users must hand-key the information. Users may make a mistake while transcribing these forms. Other leading filing services including H&R Block, TurboTax, and TaxAct, all offer this service.

Note that while you can't import forms into TaxHawk, you can import prior-year tax returns from some software companies. For 2022, TaxHawk supports tax return imports from TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct.

No Free State Filing

State filing costs $14.99 for all users. Several companies including TurboTax, TaxSlayer, and H&R Block have free state and federal filing for some users.

Transitions Can Feel Abrupt

TaxHawk uses a blend of questions and answers and menus to help users through the software. Top software H&R Block uses a similar format, but it has gentle transitions that prevent users from getting lost in the software. TaxHawk’s more abrupt transitions may confuse first-time filers who aren’t sure where to focus their attention.

How Does TaxHawk Compare?

TaxHawk is a bargain software, and it is ideal for people who cannot qualify for free filing elsewhere. We’ve compared it to two other low-priced leaders, TaxAct and TaxSlayer.

TaxHawk is slightly clunkier than TaxSlayer, but it still offers a lot of functionality at very reasonable prices. It's more usable than TaxAct (and less expensive too).

How Do I Contact TaxHawk Support?

For basic software-related questions, you can send a message (from inside your account) or email to TaxHawk's general customer service team. The company's main customer support email address is support@support.Taxhawk.com.

If you pay for Deluxe ($6.99), the messages you send will be prioritized. You'll also get access to the Audit Assist center. Finally, with the Pro Support add-on ($24.99) you'll get live chat and phone support from professional tax preparers.

Is It Safe And Secure?

TaxHawk boasts several major security credentials that prove it meets security standards. The company hasn’t suffered a security breach, and it protects users by requiring multi-factor authentication and strong passwords.

Users should feel confident when using TaxHawk in 2022. But they should also understand that they are accepting some risk. TaxHawk could be the target of a cyber-attack, and a filer’s personal information could be exposed. This is a risk whenever filers use online filing options.

TaxHawk FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions we see about TaxHawk every year.

Can TaxHawk Online help me file my crypto investments?

TaxHawk supports cryptocurrency trades, but users need to hand-key all their information. Users who sold one or two positions may do well with TaxHawk. Those with a dozen or more trades may need to use a resource like CoinLedger (CryptoTrader.Tax) and software like H&R Block or TurboTax to complete their taxes.

Can I request my stimulus check through TaxHawk?

Yes, TaxHawk ensures that all people understand how much money they should have received through the stimulus and it allows people to request unreceived funds in their refund. But keep in mind that on your 2021 return, you're only apply to claim the third stimulus payment which was issued in 2021. You'll need to file a 2020 tax return if you didn’t receive your first two stimulus payments.

I didn’t receive the full amount for Advanced Child Tax Credit Payments, can TaxHawk help me get the rest?

Yes, TaxHawk helps users understand how much money they received from the IRS and how they can claim any shortfall in their tax refund. TaxHawk is doing everything it can to ensure American families get the correct amount of money from the IRS.

Can TaxHawk help me with state filing in multiple states?

Yes, TaxHawk allows users to file taxes in multiple states. Before starting the process, it makes sense to ensure that TaxHawk supports both states through its supported forms. State filing costs $14.99 per state.

Does TaxHawk offer refund advance loans?

No, TaxHawk doesn’t appear to be offering refund advance loans in 2022.

Is TaxHawk really free?

TaxHawk does have a free federal pricing tier. However, you'll pay for a state tax return at every price level.

Are TaxHawk, FreeTaxUSA, and 1040Express owned by the same company?

Yes. TaxHawk Inc. owns TaxHawk, FreeTaxUSA, and 1040Express. Each software has a slightly different branding, but the software is the same under the hood. Users can even transfer accounts from one software to the next.

TaxHawk Features