The True Cost of Tax Software: Why FileJoy's Transparent Pricing Wins

"Starting at $29" sounds great—until you see the final bill.

The Hidden Cost Problem

TurboTax Example:

• Advertised: "Free" or "Starting at $0"
• Reality: $59-$119 for self-employed
• State return: +$40-$50 per state
• Additional features: +$20-$50
• **Total: $119-$219+**

H&R Block Example:

• Advertised: "Starting at $35"
• Self-employed version: $89.99
• State return: +$36.99 per state
• **Total: $126.98+**

TaxAct Example:

• Advertised: "Starting at $24.95"
• Self-employed: $64.95
• State return: +$44.95 per state
• **Total: $109.90+**

FileJoy's Transparent Pricing

What You See Is What You Pay:

• Base plan: $99/year (or $29/month)
• Additional states: $29/state (clearly shown)
• No hidden fees
• No surprise upsells
• No "premium" features locked away

What's Included:

• Unlimited federal returns
• All Schedule C features
• All self-employment calculations
• QBI deduction calculations
• Home office deduction
• Vehicle expense tracking
• State returns (1 included, $29 for additional)
• Calculation audit feature
• Receipt storage
• Email support

Real Cost Comparison

Scenario: Freelancer with 2 states

TurboTax:

• Self-employed: $119
• 2 state returns: $90
• **Total: $209**

H&R Block:

• Self-employed: $89.99
• 2 state returns: $73.98
• **Total: $163.97**

FileJoy:

• Base plan: $99
• 1 additional state: $29
• **Total: $128**

Savings with FileJoy: $35-$81

The Upsell Problem

Traditional Software:

• "Upgrade to get audit protection" (+$40)
• "Add identity theft protection" (+$30)
• "Get priority support" (+$20)
• "Unlock advanced features" (+$50)

FileJoy:

• Everything included
• No upsells
• No premium tiers
• All features available

Annual vs. One-Time Cost

Traditional Software:

• Pay every year
• Price increases annually
• No loyalty discounts
• $100-$200+ per year

FileJoy:

• Annual plan: $99/year
• Monthly plan: $29/month (cancel anytime)
• Transparent pricing
• No surprise increases

Value Beyond Price

Time Savings:

• File in 30 minutes vs. 3 hours
• Your time is worth money
• Less stress = better work

Accuracy:

• Correct calculations save money
• Missed deductions cost thousands
• Audit protection is priceless

Support:

• Real email support (not chatbots)
• Helpful documentation
• Community forum
• No "premium support" upsell

The FileJoy Difference

We believe in transparent pricing. No hidden fees, no surprise charges, no upsells. What you see is what you pay, and what you get is everything you need.

See the real cost—compare FileJoy's transparent pricing to the competition and see how much you'll save.