- Individual return preparation: Guides a self-filer through a supported federal Form 1040 return in a browser.
- Federal and state e-file: Sends accepted federal and supported state returns electronically, with paper filing available where needed.
- Multi-state filing: Supports more than one state return for filers who moved or earned income in several states.
- Saved account workflow: Lets users save a return, resume it later, review forms, and check e-file status.
- Conditional IRS Free File route: Provides a separate no-fee route for users who meet the live income, military, state, and entry-link rules.
1040NOW.NET
Online preparation and e-filing for individual federal and state tax returns
Updated August 12, 2026
1040NOW.NET Overview
1040NOW.NET is a browser-based service for people preparing their own U.S. individual income-tax returns. It guides a filer through Form 1040 information, calculates the return, and supports federal e-file along with supported state returns.
Filers can save work, return to the interview, review forms, and track e-file status through the same account. The service supports multiple state returns, but it remains a self-preparation tool. Help is handled through its support center rather than an in-product tax professional or office network.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan or service | Current price | Billing and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Regular federal return | $29.95 per return | Online preparation plus federal e-file or paper filing for users outside the Free File offer. |
| Regular state return | $24.95 per state | State preparation plus e-file or paper filing. Each state is charged separately. |
| IRS Free File offer | $0 for eligible filers | AGI of $82,000 or less in the listed states, or active-duty military with AGI of $89,000 or less. The account must be created through an authorized 1040Now Free File link. |
The ordinary paid route starts with the federal return and adds each required state. Eligibility and entry route both matter for the separate IRS Free File offer.
Pricing source: 1040NOW official Free File pricing. Product and support details: 1040NOW official FAQ.
Pros
| Compared with | Why this product may fit better |
|---|---|
| FreeTaxUSA | Unlike FreeTaxUSA, the regular federal and state fees are displayed as separate fixed amounts, which makes the base cost easy to calculate for a one-state return. A confident one-state filer can calculate the software total before entering tax data and compare it directly with another fixed-price service. |
| TaxAct | 1040NOW.NET stays focused on individual online filing instead of offering several TaxAct-style support and service levels. That smaller choice can be easier for a confident filer who already knows that self-preparation is enough. |
| H&R Block | 1040NOW.NET runs entirely in a browser and stays focused on self-preparation. A confident filer who does not need H&R Block’s offices or full-service help can use the smaller workflow without choosing among several assistance levels. |
Cons
| Compared with | Where this product may fall short |
|---|---|
| FreeTaxUSA | FreeTaxUSA charges $15.99 for each state, while 1040NOW.NET charges $24.95. A filer who needs more than one state should total every state before choosing, because the gap grows with each return. |
| TaxAct | TaxAct gives users more guidance and clearer ways to add help for a difficult return. Someone who expects uncommon forms or credits should compare both interviews before entering a full return, because 1040NOW.NET offers fewer visible assistance choices. |
| H&R Block | H&R Block has offices and full-service preparers who can take over when self-filing stops being enough. 1040NOW.NET has no similar handoff, so a user who finds a complex issue may have to leave and start again with a professional. |
| TurboTax | TurboTax gives users stronger imports, more guided explanations, and clearer help for investments and uncommon forms. 1040NOW.NET publishes less detail about those jobs and has a dated interface, so buyers with brokerage statements or several businesses should confirm every form before starting. |
Reviews
- The College Investor 1040Now Review 2026 (1/5 editorial score): The reviewer entered a real return and found that 1040NOW.NET supports multiple states and provides section summaries. The same test found nested navigation, no tax-document imports, and session timeouts that repeatedly forced another sign-in.
- Birdeye 1040Now customer profile (1.4/5 from 8 reviews): One reviewer said federal and state filing took about an hour and called the navigation simple. Several others describe confusion about entering through the Free File route, charges they did not expect, trouble correcting returns, and uncertainty about filing status. The small and old sample is a warning signal, not a broad customer survey.
