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Tax Help Center

Tax Resource And Help Center

Welcome to The College Investor Tax Help Center. We know that taxes can be challenge. There are a lot of "rules" to follow, there are a lot of software options, and there are a lot of scams to avoid. 

That's why we put this tax center together - to put our best tax content in one single place. Whether you're getting ready to prepare your tax return, or are waiting on your tax refund, here is what you need to know about taxes.

From picking the best tax software, to getting prepared to file your return, to dealing with any potential problems after the fact, here's everything you need to know to make your tax filing easy!

Key Things To Know About Your Tax Return

Here are some of our key resources for filing your taxes, as well as our list of the best tax software. Remember, the best tax software varies by situation - there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach.

Key Resources

  • How To DIY Your Taxes
  • Should You Use A Tax Professional?
  • How To Get Organized For Taxes With A Tax Binder
  • Why Your Tax Refund Is Going To Be Smaller In 2023
  • What To Do If My Parents Claimed Me On Their Taxes?
  • How Taxes On Cryptocurrencies Work
  • How Much Do You Need To Make To File Taxes?

Best Tax Tools

  • Best Overall Tax Software
  • Best Free Tax Software
  • Best Crypto And NFT Tax Software
  • Best Tax Advance Refund Loans

Top Rated Tax Software

Here's our top tax software options for the 2024 - 2025 tax season.

FreeTax USA review 2023

November 30, 2025

FreeTaxUSA Review 2026: Pros, Cons, And Alternatives


tax act 2023 review

November 29, 2025

TaxAct Review 2026: Pros, Cons, And Alternatives


A stylized, modern illustration depicts a laptop displaying the H&R Block logo on its screen, set against a light teal background with a prominent white cursor pointing to the logo. Above the laptop, four solid teal stars are visible, indicating a positive rating, while the text "THE COLLEGE INVESTOR" is partially shown in the top left corner, suggesting the source of this review. The overall image reinforces the article's focus on H&R Block's online tax software, highlighting its ease of use and premium services for tax filers, as the laptop represents the online tax preparation experience and the stars denote its high ranking among competitors like TurboTax and TaxAct. Source: The College Investor

November 23, 2025

H&R Block Tax Software Review: Pros, Cons, And Alternatives


This graphic from The College Investor visually represents key aspects of the TurboTax review for 2026, highlighting the pros and cons of the tax preparation software. The image features a prominent red circle with a white checkmark in the center, symbolizing approval and ease of use, which aligns with TurboTax's reputation for an intuitive interface. Surrounding this central element are various speech bubbles and geometric shapes. One speech bubble contains multiple red dots, suggesting data input or comprehensive features like importing data from financial institutions. Another red speech bubble displays multiple white dollar signs, emphasizing the "industry-leading" cost and high fees associated with TurboTax, a significant "con" discussed in the article. A smaller red icon with a black circle could represent investment tokens, coins, or cryptocurrency holdings, referencing TurboTax's strong appeal to investors. The overall design uses red, white, and black colors, consistently branded with The College Investor logo partially visible, reinforcing its role in providing detailed reviews of financial products like tax software. Source: The College Investor

November 23, 2025

TurboTax Review 2026: Pros, Cons, And Alternatives


taxslayer review 2023

November 22, 2025

TaxSlayer Review 2026: Pros, Cons, And Alternatives


Guides And Tools

February 21, 2026

IRS Refund Schedule

IRS Tax Refund Calendar And Schedule 2026 (Updated)

See the full 2026 IRS tax refund calendar and learn how to check your tax refund status and which returns take longer to process.


IRS Tax Refund Calendar And Schedule 2026 (Updated)

February 8, 2026

Common IRS Where’s My Refund Questions and Errors

Common IRS Where’s My Refund Questions and Errors

Our FAQ of the most common IRS Where’s My Refund Questions, Errors, Comments, Concerns, and more.


Common IRS Where’s My Refund Questions and Errors

January 26, 2026

tax refund by state

Where’s My State Tax Refund? Find Your Tax Refund By State

Here’s how to check the status of your state tax refund, with a guide for each of the 50 states and Washington DC.


Where’s My State Tax Refund? Find Your Tax Refund By State

Compare All Tax Products

We review as much of the tax software products as we can find on the marketplace. Here's a list of all our tax reviews this season.

  • TurboTax Review
  • H&R Block Review
  • TaxAct Review
  • TaxSlayer Review
  • CashApp Taxes Review
  • TaxHawk Review 
  • OLT.com Review
  • Picnic Tax Review
  • FreeTaxUSA Review
  • ezTaxReturn.com 
  • 1040.com Review 
  • Liberty Tax Online Review
  • Jackson Hewitt Online Review  
  • E-File.com Review 
  • 1040Now Review 
  • FileYourTaxes Review 

Tax Brackets

Here are the tax brackets for 2025 tax year. You can find the tax brackets here.

2025 Federal Tax Brackets
2025 Short Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets And Rates
2025 Long Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets And Rates | Source: The College Investor

Don't forget to spend a few minutes to understand how effective tax rates work. A lot of people don't know what they really pay in taxes.

Read All Our Tax Articles

capital gains tax brackets

March 31, 2026

Capital Gains Tax Brackets And Tax Tables For 2026

Learn about the capital gains tax brackets for 2026 and the rates associated with them. Here’s a quick overview to get you started along with the historical rates.


Capital Gains Tax Brackets And Tax Tables For 2026
tax due dates

March 10, 2026

When Are Taxes Due In 2026 (Including Estimated Taxes)

The main tax deadline in 2026 personal taxes is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Find out when taxes are due for estimated taxes and other key dates.


When Are Taxes Due In 2026 (Including Estimated Taxes)
IRS Refund Schedule

February 21, 2026

IRS Tax Refund Calendar And Schedule 2026 (Updated)

See the full 2026 IRS tax refund calendar and learn how to check your tax refund status and which returns take longer to process.


IRS Tax Refund Calendar And Schedule 2026 (Updated)

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Tax Terms And Definitions

Learn more about what these tax terms mean, from A to Z:

A

  • Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
  • Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
  • Audit

B

  • Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOI)

C

  • Capital Gains Tax
  • Charitable Contributions
  • Child Tax Credit
  • CP05 Letter
  • Corporate Tax
  • Cycle Codes

D

  • Depreciation

E

  • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
  • Education Credits
  • Effective Tax Rates
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Estate Tax
  • Estimated Taxes
  • Exemption

F

  • FICA 
  • Filing Deadline
  • Filing Status
  • Foreign Tax Credit
  • Form 1040
  • Form 1098-E
  • Form 1099-C
  • Form 1099-NEC
  • Form 5500-EZ
  • Form 8949
  • From W-2
  • Form W-4
  • Fringe Benefits

G

  • Gift Tax
  • Gross Income

H

  • H&R Block
  • Home Office Deduction

I

  • Inheritance Tax
  • Injured Spouse
  • Installment Agreement
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • Itemized Deductions

K

  • Kiddie Tax (Taxation of Minors)

M

  • Marginal Tax Rate
  • Medicare Tax

N

  • Non-Profit Organizations

O

  • Offshore Accounts

P

  • Payroll Tax
  • Penalty Charges
  • Personal Exemption
  • Property Tax

Q

  • Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBI)

R

  • Refund
  • Refundable Tax Credits

S

  • Sales Tax
  • SALT Deduction (State and Local Taxes)
  • Schedule A
  • Schedule C
  • Schedule D
  • Schedule E
  • Schedule K-1
  • Schedule SE
  • Self-Employment Tax
  • Standard Deduction
  • State Income Tax
  • Student Loan Interest Deduction

T

  • Taxable Income
  • Tax Allowance
  • Tax Base
  • Tax Bracket
  • Tax Court
  • Tax Credit
  • Tax Deduction
  • Tax Evasion
  • Tax Fraud
  • Tax Haven
  • Tax Identification Number (TIN)
  • Tax Incentive
  • Tax Liability
  • Tax Lien
  • Tax Offset
  • Tax Planning
  • Tax Rate
  • Tax Return
  • Tax Shelter
  • Taxable Event
  • TurboTax

U

  • Underpayment Penalty
  • Unearned Income

V

  • Value-Added Tax (VAT)

W

  • Wage Garnishment
  • Wealth Tax
  • Withholding

Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Chris Muller

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