Liberty Tax Cost: Average Fees Explained

Liberty Tax offers two ways to file. You can prepare your return yourself with its online software, or you can use a tax preparer at a local office. The published prices available for this page cover the online software. Office fees are set by the preparer based on the forms your return needs, and there is no single published rate.

Because of that, this page separates two kinds of numbers. The first is Liberty Tax Online list prices from ConsumerAffairs. The second is industry averages from the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) fee study, which cover tax preparers in general and not Liberty Tax specifically. They help show what in-person preparation tends to cost, but they are not Liberty Tax prices. Figures carry a check date of Oct 14, 2026.

The online product has three federal tiers. They are list prices, and discounts or seasonal offers may lower them at checkout.

The tiers step up with the complexity of your return. A simple return may fit the lowest tier, while returns with dependents, investments, or self-employment income may need a higher one. Check which forms each tier supports on the official Liberty Tax page before you buy, since choosing the wrong tier can mean paying again to upgrade. A tax professional can tell you which tier fits your situation.

State returns are not included in the federal price. A state return adds $36.95 on top of any tier.

If you file in more than one state, expect the state fee to apply to each return. Add it to the federal price to see the real total.

For in-person preparation, the best public benchmark is the NATP fee study. It surveys preparers of all kinds, not only Liberty Tax, so use these numbers as a reference for what office preparation tends to cost.

Fees are higher in larger communities than in small ones, and schedules add to the base fee. Preparers who bill by the hour charge the average rate shown in the last row. Liberty Tax offices may price differently, so treat these as context and ask the office for a written quote.

The online software costs less than preparer fees in the table above, and you do the work yourself. An office visit costs more and brings a preparer who handles the return. The right choice depends on how complicated your taxes are and how comfortable you are with the forms. If your return has business income, rental property, or unusual deductions, a tax professional can advise you on whether software is enough.

• The tier or the forms your return requires.
• The number of state returns you file.
• Schedules for itemized deductions or business income, which add to the base fee.
• Your location, since fees run higher in larger communities.
• Discounts and seasonal offers, which can lower the list prices.

Gather your documents before you start so the preparer spends less time on them. Ask for a written price before work begins. Compare the online price with an office quote if your return is simple. Ask whether any add-on products carry separate fees, and read them before you agree.