Frequently Asked Questions

LightTaxes is an online tax preparation and filing service that makes it easy to file your federal and state income taxes. Our AI-powered platform guides you through the process, finds deductions you might miss, and ensures accuracy with our guarantee.

LightTaxes is designed for US taxpayers filing individual returns. We support W-2 employees, self-employed individuals, freelancers, investors, and small business owners. Our platform handles everything from simple returns to complex tax situations.

Most users complete their tax return in 15-30 minutes with LightTaxes. Simple returns with W-2 income can be done in as little as 10 minutes. More complex returns with self-employment income or investments may take 30-45 minutes.

Yes, absolutely. We use bank-level 256-bit encryption to protect your data. Our platform is SOC 2 Type II certified, and we never sell your personal information. Your data is stored securely and only used to prepare your tax return.

We guarantee the accuracy of every calculation. If you receive a penalty or interest charge due to a LightTaxes calculation error, we will pay the penalty and interest up to $10,000. This guarantee is included with all plans at no extra cost.

Yes! Our Free tier includes federal filing at no cost for simple tax situations (W-2 income and standard deductions). State filing is available as an add-on for $19.99 per state. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges.

Free is best for simple W-2 returns. Pro ($49) adds support for 1099 income, investments, self-employment, AI deduction finder, and includes one free state filing. Premium ($99) includes everything in Pro plus rental income, multiple states, audit defense, and a dedicated tax advisor.

Yes, you can choose to pay your LightTaxes fee from your federal refund. There is a $39.99 processing fee for this option. The fee and processing charge will be deducted from your refund before it is deposited.

We offer a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with LightTaxes for any reason, contact us within 60 days of your purchase for a full refund. Additionally, if you find a larger refund elsewhere using the same data, we will refund your fee plus the difference up to $100.

Absolutely! You can start with the Free tier and upgrade to Pro or Premium at any time. Your progress is saved, and you will only pay the difference. There is no penalty for upgrading mid-filing.

Common documents include: W-2 forms from employers, 1099 forms for other income (freelance, investments, etc.), Social Security numbers for you and dependents, last year's tax return (for reference), and receipts for deductions you plan to claim.

LightTaxes automatically calculates both options and recommends whichever gives you the larger refund. For 2024, the standard deduction is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married filing jointly. Itemizing may be better if your deductions exceed these amounts.

Cryptocurrency is treated as property by the IRS. You must report any gains or losses from selling, trading, or using crypto. Our Pro and Premium plans support crypto tax reporting and can import transactions from major exchanges automatically.

Yes, Premium subscribers can file amended returns (Form 1040-X) for the current year and up to three prior years at no additional cost. Pro and Free users can file amendments for a one-time fee of $49.

Premium subscribers receive full audit defense at no extra cost. If you are audited, a tax professional will handle all IRS communication, prepare documentation, and represent you in any meetings. Pro and Free users can add audit defense for $49.

LightTaxes works best on the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We also support mobile browsers on iOS and Android devices. For the best experience, we recommend using a desktop or laptop computer.

Yes! You can import your prior year return from LightTaxes or other major tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct). Simply upload your PDF or XML file, and we will automatically fill in relevant information.

You can import forms in three ways: (1) Take a photo with your phone and our OCR will extract the data, (2) Import directly from your employer or financial institution if they are in our network, or (3) Enter the information manually.

Yes, your progress is automatically saved as you go. You can log out and return anytime to continue where you left off. Your data is securely stored and accessible from any device.

After filing, you can download a PDF copy of your complete tax return from your account dashboard. You will also receive a confirmation email with a link to access your documents. Returns are stored in your account for 7 years.