1040Now Review 2026: Our Least Favorite Tax Software

1040Now – Is It Free?

1040Now isn’t free for any users. 1040Now allows users to “Start My Tax Return” for free, as most competitors do. When it’s time to file, you must pay the same fee regardless of which tax forms you need. The cost for 2026 is $29.95 for federal filing and $24.95 for each state.

What’s New In 2026?

Note: Prices have increased, but the user experience isn’t improved

1040Now has implemented the IRS changes to tax brackets, deductions, and credit limits, as well as other inflation- and pandemic-related tax changes. As a result, you should get the same result (within a few dollars) as any other tax software.

Shockingly, while there are no significant improvements to the website, prices did increase this year. You’ll now pay more for the same 1990s-style website interface.

For returning users, that means that you’ll still need to deal with the wordy interface, nested form entries, and complete articles that are light on information. The website looks like it’s 1996, and the tax filing software isn’t much better.

If you’re old enough to remember Netscape, you’ll understand the look and feel of those vintage internet days. You may even find yourself reminiscing, but that’s not what you want when doing your taxes. 

We haven’t spent the time to make a video review of 1040NOW in the last couple of years because our tests have been so miserable, and nothing has been updated. If you want a peek at what the software looks like, see this review video:

Does 1040Now.Net Make Tax Filing Easy?

No, the 1040Now software is frustratingly hard to use. It lacks an interactive format that allows filers to skip irrelevant sections. And figuring out the next step is always a challenge.

1040Now has fast session expiration time-out windows. You’ll be logged out if you pause for just a couple of minutes. You’ll have to re-enter my username and password and click through several screens to get back to where you left off.

In addition, the cumbersome navigation and crowded forms haven’t improved in years. You may even consider plain IRS online fillable forms above this software. 1040Now may be accurate, but it’s frustrating and challenging to use.

1040Now Features

1040Now has a lacklustre user experience, so we had to stretch to find positive aspects of the software. Here’s what we came up with. 

Simple Pricing Model

All users pay $29.95 for federal filing and $24.95 per state. It’s easy to understand, and there are no surprises.

Multi-State Filing

Filers who need to file in multiple states can use the 1040Now software program to file in all their states. Some competitors only handle one state per year.

Section Summaries

1040Now includes section summaries that help users identify key income, deduction, or credit issues. This makes it easier to find mistakes and investigate discrepancies before you move to new sections.

1040Now Drawbacks

1040Now is the most difficult-to-use software we reviewed. The application is overrun with jargon and confusing menus. These are a few of the worst features.

Terrible User Interface

1040Now is hard to use, and the software is confusing. Users have to read directions to figure out where to click before new screens pop up with more directions. It’ll take you back to the Windows 3.1 days if you’re old enough to remember. 

Because 1040Now relies heavily on “new pages” and “nested forms,” users often have to go back several levels to “resurface” if they mistakenly go down an incorrect path. Unfortunately, even with guided navigation, it’s easy to get lost.

Hot Tax Tip: Get organized with your taxes using an income tax binder

Nested Forms

Most tax software allows users to scroll to fill in the relevant information. Not 1040Now.net. It requires users to click multiple “Next Step” buttons to complete filling out a single form. Often, the forms include confusing instructions, which lengthen the filing process.

Fast Session Expiration

It takes time to pull up tax documents and copy the information from PDFs into the software. We noticed that we frequently had to re-enter usernames and passwords to log back in. These “Session Expired” issues occur far too often, making it difficult for filers to complete their taxes efficiently.

1040Now Pricing

1040Now.net offers one flat fee for all users. The pricing places 1040Now toward the mid to lower range of the market.

How Does 1040Now Compare?

Tip: You can get a better experience for free with Cash App Taxes or a much better experience at a comparable price using FreeTaxUSA.

1040Now software is among the worst on the market. Each competitor listed here is superior in function, and most cost less. We’d recommend Cash App Taxes and FreeTaxUSA (among many others) over 1040Now.

See our full list of the best tax software here.

Is It Safe And Secure?

1040Now uses third-party SSL encryption and requires multi-factor authentication. So filers should feel confident that they have taken all reasonable precautions to keep user information safe.

Of course, any information transmitted online could be hacked. So users should carefully evaluate the risks before moving forward with any tax filing company. Always use unique, strong passwords and follow other cybersecurity practices to keep your data and money safe.

Helpful Tax Tip: What to do if you can’t afford to pay your taxes

Contact

Good luck reaching a support representative at 1040Now. The company offers email support only at [email protected], and most customer reviews online are not positive. Expect this to be a mostly self-service experience, with no live help to get you through your return.

Who Is This For And Is It Worth It?

Bottom Line: Don’t Use 1040Now

No, we don’t think it’s worth it and can’t really think of any group of taxpayers that would benefit from using it. If you’ve used it before, make this the year that you switch from 1040Now. Its built-in calculators and section summaries are nice, but every major company has these.

Rather than accepting software that hasn’t kept pace with the times, choose the best tax software for your situation. You can do much better.

Why Should You Trust Us?

The College Investor team has spent years reviewing the top tax filing options and has personal experience with most of the tax software tools. I personally have been the lead tax software reviewer since 2022, and have compared most of the major companies on the marketplace.

Our editor-in-chief, Robert Farrington, has been testing tax software tools since 2011 and has tried almost every tax filing product. Furthermore, our team has created reviews and video walk-throughs of all of the major tax preparation companies, which you can find on our YouTube channel.

We’re tax DIYers and want a good deal, just like you. We work hard to offer informed and honest opinions on every product we test.

How Was This Product Tested?

In our original tests, we used 1040NOW to complete a real-life tax return that included W-2 income, self-employment income, rental property income, and investment income. We tried to enter all the data and use every available feature. We then compared the result to all the other products we’ve tested, as well as a tax return prepared by a tax professional.

This year, we went back through and re-checked all the features we initially tested, as well as any new features. We also validated the pricing options.

1040Now FAQs

Here are the answers to a few of the most common questions we’re asked about 1040Now:

Can 1040Now help me file my crypto investments?

1040Now doesn’t offer exceptional guidance for filing crypto investments. However, it has all the forms needed for people who traded or mined crypto investments. Most active traders will want to choose an alternative product, such as TurboTax Premier.

Can 1040Now help me with state filing in multiple states?

Yes, 1040Now supports multi-state filing.

Does 1040Now offer refund advance loans?

No, 1040Now does not offer refund advance loans.

Features