I remember the first time I filed my taxes. I was dropping something off at the post office when I saw tables full of cardboard boxes filled with forms with the now-familiar IRS eagle and scales logo.

The best way to make filing your income taxes less painful and time-consuming is to file online.

You can get 100% free federal and state tax filing with Cash App Taxes. But this no-frills, no feature, no expert support service is best for simple returns using the standard deduction.

TaxAct is a solid choice for DIY tax software especially if you want access to tax professionals and live expert support. However, we found its pricing structure a bit confusing.