Cost-conscious individuals filing federal and state returns
Use OLT when the return is mostly self-service and total price matters.
Start with Free Federal Edition; add state or Premium only if needed.
Updated June 16, 2026
OLT Online Taxes makes sense when you want a low-cost online return and you are comfortable reviewing your own tax details. It covers simple and more involved individual situations, including self-employment, investments, rental income, credits, and state filing. The price page is unusually direct for this category, and the free federal path is a real reason to consider it before paying for a larger consumer tax brand.
Check the state return, support needs, and form coverage before relying on it for a complicated return. Users with unusual state issues, prior rejection problems, or a need for step-by-step handholding may prefer another option with more guided support. A practical test is to enter the return, review forms before e-filing, and decide whether the Premium support path is worth adding.
OLT Online Taxes is a web tax filing service for U.S. individual returns, with free federal filing, low-cost state filing, and an optional Premium path for live chat, phone help, audit support, and priority processing.
It is built for people who want a direct online filing path without paying for a large tax brand. The tradeoff is that the interface and support model need more hands-on checking than a premium assisted filing service.
| Feature | What it does | Best plan fit |
|---|---|---|
| Free federal filing | Prepares and e-files the federal return at no charge. | Free Federal Edition. |
| State returns | Adds state filing with a separate state fee. | Free or Premium depending on support needs. |
| Premium support | Adds phone and live chat support, audit support, and priority processing. | Premium Edition. |
| Tax form coverage | Supports common individual forms for self-employment, investments, rentals, retirement, and credits. | Free for confident self-filers. |
| Prior-year import | Helps returning users bring earlier return data into the current year. | Useful for repeat users. |
Use OLT when the return is mostly self-service and total price matters.
Start with Free Federal Edition; add state or Premium only if needed.
Enter business income and expenses, then carefully review forms before e-filing.
Free Federal Edition can work if support is not needed.
Report pensions, Social Security, dividends, stock sales, and similar items in a lower-cost workflow.
Free Federal or Premium for support.
Use prior-year import and the familiar workflow to reduce re-entry work.
Free Federal Edition with optional Premium.
| Plan | Price | Best for / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Free Edition | $0 federal return | Federal filing at no charge; state return shown separately. |
| State return | $9.95 per state | State filing for users who need a state return. |
| Premium Edition | $7.95 federal return; $7.95 state return | Adds phone and live chat support, audit support, year-over-year comparison, and priority processing. |
| Trial / start | Start free | The official page lets users start a free return; no separate time-limited public trial is listed. |
Source: Official product page.
OLT publishes a free federal plan, paid state filing, and an optional Premium path. No separate public free trial is listed because users can start the return for free before deciding whether to file or add support.
OLT is mostly a self-contained online filing workflow. Users should check W-2 and 1099 entry or import options, prior-year return import, state form support, PDF review, IRS and state e-file status, payment options, and the support channel they may need if a return is rejected.
Start by entering the federal return without paying. Confirm that every W-2, 1099, self-employment item, credit, and state form you need is available. Before e-filing, review the generated forms, check the refund or balance due against your own records, and decide whether Premium support is useful for your situation. If a state calculation looks odd, pause and compare it before submitting.
Yes. The official page lists free federal filing.
No separate time-limited trial is listed; users can start the federal return free.
Check state filing, form coverage, Premium support needs, and whether the final forms match your records.
It can handle self-employment forms, but users should review Schedule C details carefully before filing.
Email support is available, and Premium adds phone, live chat, audit support, and priority processing.