• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The College Investor

Student Loans, Investing, Building Wealth

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Save For College
      • How To Start

      • How To Save For College
      • How To Pay For College
      • What Is the Average Cost of College?
      • What Is A 529 Plan and Where to Open One in Your State
      • How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age
      • How To Use A 529 Plan For Private Elementary And High School
      • What Are Qualified Expenses For A 529 Plan (And What Doesn’t Count)?
      • The Best Brokers To Open A 529 Plan
      • Tools + Accounts

      • 529 Plans: The Ultimate College Savings Plan
      • 529 Plan Contribution Limits
      • Prepaid Tuition Plans | What To Know
      • Understanding And Using 529A ABLE Accounts
      • Using A Roth IRA To Save And Pay For College
      • FAFSA Deadlines for Financial Aid
      • CollegeBacker Review
      • Upromise Review
      • UNest Review
      • Other Options

      • Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State
      • The Guide To Military And VA Education Benefits
      • How To Fill Out The FAFSA
      • How To Find College Scholarships
      • The Best College Scholarship Search Websites
      • How To Find Grants To Pay For College
      • Pell Grants: What They Are And How To Qualify
      • Understanding Federal Work-Study
      • How To Use A 529 Plan If Your Child Doesn’t Go To College
  • Student Loans
      • Borrowing

        • How Student Loans Work
        • How To Apply For A Student Loan
        • How To Find The Best Student Loans And Rates
        • Best Private Student Loans Of June 2022
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Graduate School
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Medical School
        • Parent Loans To Pay For College
        • No-Cosigner Student Loan Options
        • Guide To Income Sharing Agreements (ISAs)
        • Best International Student Loans
      • Get Out Of Debt

        • Best Places To Refinance Student Loans In June 2022
        • Best Student Loan Repayment Plans
        • Best Student Loan Refinancing Bonuses And Promotional Offers
        • Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)
        • The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State
        • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
        • Top Student Loan Scams
        • Average Student Loan Monthly Payment
        • Average Student Loan Debt By Year
      • Reviews

        • Credible Review
        • Splash Review
        • Ascent Review
        • Citizens Bank Review
        • Commonbond Review
        • Earnest Review
        • ELFI Review
        • Laurel Road Review
        • LendKey Review
        • SoFi Review
  • Investing
      • How To Start

        • How To Start Investing in High School
        • How To Start Investing In College
        • How To Start Investing In Your Twenties For 22 – 29 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing In Your 30s For 30 – 39 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing With $100 Or Less
        • How To Give Kids The Gift Of Stock
        • What Is Dividend Growth Investing
        • IRA Rollover Chart
      • Tools + Accounts

        • Best Online Stock Brokers
        • The Best Traditional And Roth IRA Accounts
        • The Best Robo-Advisors
        • The Best Investing Apps
        • The Best Places to Trade Options
        • The Best Places To Open A Health Savings Account
        • The Best Solo 401k Providers
        • The Best Self-Directed IRA Providers Of 2022
        • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges
      • Reviews

        • Vanguard Review
        • Fidelity Review 2022: Still One Of The Best Online Brokers
        • M1 Finance Review
        • TD Ameritrade Review
        • Charles Schwab Review
        • Robinhood Review
        • Webull Review
        • Betterment Review
        • Wealthfront Review
  • Earn More Money
      • Extra Income

        • 15 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2022
        • 53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money
        • 100 Ways To Make Money In College
        • 80 Ways To Make Money From Home (In Your Pajamas)
        • 5 Quick Money Making Ideas (That Take Less Than 1 Hour)
        • 10 Interesting Ways You Can Make Money Driving
        • High-Paying Side Gigs That Earn $1,000 or More Per Month
        • The 10 Best Money-Making Apps
        • Paid Surveys: Earn Money For Giving Your Opinion Online
        • 10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of
      • Build Wealth

        • 35 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2022
        • 3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income
        • How To Become A Real Estate Investor With Just $500
        • 15 Best Online Business Ideas
        • How to Create Streams of Passive Income on a Limited Budget
        • Residual Income: 7 Super Smart Ways to Build It
        • The Most Common Multiple Income Streams
        • How To Become A Real Estate Mogul With Only $10,000
      • Reviews

        • Fundrise Review
        • RealtyMogul Review
        • FarmTogether Review
        • AcreTrader Review
        • Swagbucks Review
        • Survey Junkie Review
        • TopCashback Review
        • DoorDash Review
  • Personal Finance
      • Banking

        • Best High Yield Savings Accounts Of June 2022
        • 10 Best Money Market Accounts Of June 2022
        • 10 Best Free Checking Accounts In June 2022
        • The Best Bank CD Rates Of June 2022
        • 10 Best Business Checking Accounts In June 2022
        • The Best Online Banks Of June 2022
        • 5 Best Credit Unions Nationwide Of June 2022
        • Best College Student Checking Accounts In June 2022
      • Insurance

        • Best Life Insurance Companies
        • Renters Insurance
        • Car Insurance
        • Pet Insurance
        • Umbrella Insurance
        • Disability Insurance
        • Tuition Insurance
        • Travel Insurance
      • Credit Tools

        • Best Budgeting Apps
        • Cash Advance Apps
        • How To Get A Free Credit Score Report
        • The Best Credit Monitoring Services
        • Debt Settlement: Inside The Secret World
        • Credit Repair Explained: Should You Pay For Help?
        • Best Personal Loan Companies And Lenders
        • Online Loan Companies To Borrow From Home
      • Tax

        • Best Tax Software
        • Free Tax Software
        • IRS Tax Refund Calendar
        • Common IRS Questions and Errors
        • Federal Tax Brackets
        • Capital Gains Tax Brackets
        • 401k Contribution Limits
        • IRA Contribution Limits
        • HSA Contribution Limits
  • Forum
  • Search
Home » Taxes » Best Tax Software » Tax Software Companies » TaxHawk 2022 Review

TaxHawk 2022 Review

Updated: January 10, 2022 By Hannah Rounds

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Email

At The College Investor, we want to help you navigate your finances. To do this, many or all of the products featured here may be from our partners. This doesn’t influence our evaluations or reviews. Our opinions are our own. Learn more here.Advertiser Disclosure

There are thousands of financial products and services out there, and we believe in helping you understand which is best for you, how it works, and will it actually help you achieve your financial goals. We're proud of our content and guidance, and the information we provide is objective, independent, and free.

But we do have to make money to pay our team and keep this website running! Our partners compensate us. TheCollegeInvestor.com has an advertising relationship with some or all of the offers included on this page, which may impact how, where, and in what order products and services may appear. The College Investor does not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace. And our partners can never pay us to guarantee favorable reviews (or even pay for a review of their product to begin with).

For more information and a complete list of our advertising partners, please check out our full Advertising Disclosure. TheCollegeInvestor.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The information in our reviews could be different from what you find when visiting a financial institution, service provider or a specific product's website. All products and services are presented without warranty.

In 2022, TaxHawk continues to offer free federal filing for all users and low-cost state filing.

Users who can’t find free filing for their circumstances with other tax software companies, are likely to fine it with TaxHawk. But the company doesn’t offer W-2 or 1099 imports which is a major drawback for many filers.

In our review below, we go through the ins and outs of TaxHawk's tax filing software and explain when bargain hunters should use TaxHawk and when they should look elsewhere. See how TaxHawk ranks on our list of the best tax software.


TaxHawk Logo

Quick Summary

  • Easy navigation and inputs
  • Pro Support tier includes live support from tax experts
  • Can't import tax forms
START HERE

TaxHawk Details

Product Name

TaxHawk

Federal Price

Starts at $0

State Price

$14.99 per state

Promotions

None

Table of Contents
TaxHawk Walk-through Video
TaxHawk - Is It Really Free?
What's New In 2022?
Does TaxHawk Online Make Tax Filing Easy In 2022?
TaxHawk Notable Features
TaxHawk Online Notable Drawbacks
TaxHawk Pricing And Plans
How Does TaxHawk Compare?
How Do I Contact TaxHawk Support?
Is It Safe And Secure?
Is It Worth It?
TaxHawk Features

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?

Best Of 2022 Award

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.

TaxHawk Pricing And Plans

All filers pay the same base rate for TaxHawk software. That base rate is $0 for federal filing and $14.99 per state. The Deluxe and Pro Support levels unlock new levels of support, but the software remains unchanged 

Plan

Free*

Deluxe

Pro Support

Best For

All filers

Audit support

Advice from tax professionals

Federal Cost

$0

$6.99

$29.99

State Cost

$14.99 per state

$14.99 per state

$14.99 per state

Total Cost

$14.99

$21.98

$44.98

START HERE
START HERE
START HERE

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).

Header
TaxHawk 2020 Logo
TaxSlayer logo
TaxAct Logo

Rating

Stimulus Credit

Free

Free+

Free+

Unemployment Income (1099-G)

Free

Classic+

Deluxe+

Student Loan Interest

Free

Free+

Deluxe+

Import Last Year's Taxes

Free

Free+

Free+

Snap A Pic of W-2

Not Available

Not Available

Free+

Multiple States

$14.99 per state

Classic+

Not advertised

Multiple W-2s

Free

Free+

Free+

Earned Income Tax Credit

Free

Free+

Free+

Child Tax Credit

Free

Classic+

Free+

Dependent Care Deductions

Free

Classic+

Deluxe+

HSAs

Free

Classic+

Deluxe+

Retirement Contributions

Free

Free+

Free+

Retirement Income (SS, Pension, etc.)

Free

Free+

Free+

Interest Income

Free

Classic+

Deluxe+

Itemize Deductions

Free

Classic+

Deluxe+

Dividend Income

Free

Classic+

Deluxe+

Capital Gains

Free

Classic+

Premier+

Rental Income

Free

Classic+

Premier+

Self-Employment Income

Free

Classic+

Self-Employed

Audit Support

Deluxe+

Premium+

Not Offered

Support From Tax Pros

Pro Support

Premium+

Xpert Help Upgrade

Small Business Owner (over $5k in expenses)

Free

Classic+

Self-Employed

Free Tier Price

$0 Fed &
$14.99 Per State

$0 Fed &
$0 First State

$0 Fed &
$39.95 Per State

Deluxe Tier Price

$6.99 Fed
& $14.99 Per State

$24.95 Fed
& $39.95 Per State

$24.95 Fed & 
$44.95 Per State

Premium Tier Price

There's technically no Premium tier, but users can add Pro Support for $24.99

$44.95 Fed
& $39.95 Per State

$34.95 Fed 
& $44.95 Per State

Self-Employed Tier Price

N/A (Users can report self-employment income on the Free and Deluxe Tiers)

$54.95 Fed
& $39.95 Per State

$64.95 Fed
& $44.95 Per State

Cell
START NOW
READ THE REVIEW
READ THE REVIEW

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.

Is It Worth It?

TaxHawk’s navigation upgrades make it a top contender for most improved. The software has always been a great choice for bargain seekers, but it is now more usable than ever. It still needs to iron out transitions from the Q&A style to Menu style navigation, but the overall usability is higher than ever.

However, TaxHawk still doesn’t support W-2 and 1099 imports in 2022. This makes it a tough choice for users who have a lot of forms to handle. It’s still the recommended choice for bargain hunters who can’t qualify for free filing.

Many side hustlers, rental property owners, and multi-state filers will see a ton of value in TaxHawk. But before committing to TaxHawk, users should check if they qualify for free filing through CashApp Tax (formerly Credit Karma Tax).

Try TaxHawk here >>

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

Federal Cost

Free

State Cost

$14.99 per state

Basic Customer Support

Free

Audit Support

Included with Deluxe ($6.99)

Pro Support

$24.99

Printable Tax Return

Yes (Free)

Tax Extension

Yes (Free)

Import Tax Return

Yes, from TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct (Free)

Unlimited Amendments

With Deluxe ($6.99)

Self-Employment Income

Yes (Free)

Itemize Deductions

Yes (Free)

Deduct Charitable Donations

Yes (Free)

Customer Service Email

support@support.freetaxusa.com

Customer Service Phone Number

Not listed

Web/Desktop Software

Yes

Mobile Apps

No

Promotions

None

TaxHawk Review
  • Navigation
  • Ease of Use
  • Features and Options
  • Customer Service
  • Plans and Pricing
Overall
4.1

Summary

TaxHawk is solid bargain tax software that is similar to its sister company FreeTaxUSA with some premium features.

Pros

  • Free federal filing includes all forms
  • Pro Support is very affordable
  • Improved navigation for 2022

Cons

  • Must manually input all information
  • Pro Support doesn’t include video chat
  • Try Tax Hawk
Hannah Rounds
Hannah Rounds

Hannah is a wife, mom, and described personal finance geek. She excels with spreadsheets (and puns)! She regularly explores in-depth financial topics and enjoys looking at the latest tools and trends with money.

TaxHawk 2022 Review
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors'. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Subscribe
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Featured Tax Reviews

>  H&R Block (recommended)
>  TurboTax (recommended)
>  Cash App Taxes
>  TaxSlayer
>  TaxAct
>  FreeTaxUSA

More on Taxes

  • The Best Tax Software 2022
  • Free Tax Software 2022: Where To File Your Taxes For Free
  • TurboTax, H&R Block, And TaxAct Pricing Comparison For 2022
  • The Best Tax Software For Student Loan Borrowers
  • How To Find The Best Tax Software For Students And Recent Grads
  • When To Expect My Tax Refund? The IRS Tax Refund Calendar 2022
  • Common IRS Where’s My Refund Questions and Errors
  • The Most Common Tax Deductions
  • IRS Where’s My Refund Reference Codes
  • Stopping Tax Offsets Due To Student Loan Debt

Footer

Who We Are

The College Investor is an independent, advertising-supported publisher of financial content, including news, product reviews, and comparisons.

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Press & Media

About

  • About
  • Our Team
  • Podcast
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • How We Make Money
  • Archives

Social

Copyright © 2022 · The College Investor · Privacy Policy ·Terms of Service · DO NOT Sell My Personal Information

wpDiscuz