Disclosure: PortfolioPilot is a technology product of Global Predictions Inc, a Registered Investment Advisor. You must subscribe to receive personalized investment advice.
Alexander Harmsen is the Co-founder and CEO of PortfolioPilot. With a track record of building AI-driven products that have scaled globally, he brings deep expertise in finance, technology, and strategy to create content that is both data-driven and actionable.
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Tax season can feel like a maze of forms, deductions, and deadlines. Finding the right software to guide you through this process is crucial to minimizing stress and maximizing financial outcomes. The latest tax software solutions cater to various needs, whether you’re a first-time filer, a self-employed professional, or an investor managing a complex portfolio.
What follows is our opinion for top picks for 2024.
1. PortfolioPilot
PortfolioPilot.com is an AI-driven financial advisory platform designed to assist investors in optimizing their portfolios with a strong emphasis on tax efficiency, particularly through tax-loss harvesting strategies.
Category
Details
Ideal For
Individual Investors: Seeking data-driven, tax-efficient strategies to enhance investment outcomes.
Self-Directed Investors: Managing personal portfolios with professional-grade tools.
Retirees: Focusing on tax optimization for retirement funds.
Key Tax-Related Features
Continuous Tax-Loss Harvesting: Identifies real-time opportunities to sell underperforming assets and offset capital gains.
Year-to-Date Capital Gains Tax Estimation: Provides updated estimates of capital gains taxes to inform year-end decisions.
Tracking of Sold Securities: Monitors all sales year-to-date, offering a detailed breakdown of tax implications.
Personalized Tax Recommendations: Offers tailored suggestions to optimize tax efficiency based on individual financial goals.
Pros
User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation and understanding of tax features.
Comprehensive Tax Tools: Includes features like continuous tax-loss harvesting and capital gains tax estimation.
Continuous Updates: Regular feature enhancements based on user needs.
Security: Employs bank-level measures to protect user data.
Cons
Cost for Advanced Features: Free plan available, but advanced tools require a paid subscription.
Learning Curve: The wide array of features may take time for new users to fully master.
Pricing
Free Plan: Includes net worth tracking, portfolio analysis, scenario modeling, and investment research tools.
Gold Plan: $29/month; adds personalized recommendations, AI Assistant (5 queries/day), tax impact analysis, continuous tax-loss harvesting, and premium support.
Platinum Plan: $99/month; includes all Gold features plus fee optimization, unlimited research, and advanced AI Assistant (100 queries/day).
Comprehensive Form Support: Covers all IRS forms, including 1099 and Schedule C for self-employed filers.
Step-by-Step Guidance: User-friendly instructions for self-filers.
Refund Maximizer Tool: Searches for deductions and credits to ensure the highest refund possible.
Audit Defense: Premium and Self-Employed plans offer audit support for up to three years.
Tax Pro Support: Access to tax experts for personalized advice with higher-tier plans.
Mobile App: Intuitive app for filing taxes on the go.
Pros
Affordable pricing compared to competitors.
Free federal filing for active-duty military.
Comprehensive tools for freelancers, contractors, and gig workers.
Priority support, including live chat and tax expert advice, in premium tiers.
Cons
State returns are an additional cost for all plans.
Free plan limited to basic tax situations (simple Form 1040 filings).
Advanced features, like audit defense and self-employed tools, require upgrading to premium tiers.
Pricing
Simply Free: $0 for federal and one state return (basic tax situations).
Classic: $22.95 for federal + $39.95 per state.
Premium: $42.95 for federal + $39.95 per state (includes audit defense and expert support).
Self-Employed: $52.95 for federal + $39.95 per state (optimized for freelancers and gig workers, includes Schedule C).
TaxSlayer is particularly strong for self-employed filers and those comfortable filing on their own but still looking for comprehensive support if needed.
Making the Best Choice for Your Tax Needs
Choosing the right tax solution depends on understanding your financial complexity and specific goals. PortfolioPilot excels at integrating tax-efficient strategies with investment management, ideal for those prioritizing portfolio growth. TurboTax offers intuitive and flexible options for individuals, families, and self-employed professionals seeking comprehensive guidance. H&R Block brings human expertise to the forefront, whether online or in-person, perfect for navigating unique tax situations. Meanwhile, TaxSlayer delivers affordability and robust features, particularly for budget-conscious users and freelancers.
Tax Software and PortfolioPilot FAQs (2024)
What differentiates TurboTax among tax software in 2024?▼
TurboTax is highlighted for its intuitive design and flexibility, serving individuals, families, and self-employed professionals. It provides comprehensive guidance, with prices and features varying by service tier and tax complexity.
Why is H&R Block considered strong for unique tax situations?▼
H&R Block emphasizes access to human expertise, offering both online and in-person support. This makes it particularly useful for filers with complex or unusual tax issues that may require personalized attention.
In what scenarios does TaxSlayer stand out compared to competitors?▼
TaxSlayer is noted for affordability and robust features, making it appealing to freelancers, self-employed filers, and budget-conscious users. It provides comprehensive support while maintaining lower price points.
How does PortfolioPilot compare to traditional tax preparation tools?▼
PortfolioPilot distinguishes itself by integrating investment management with tax efficiency. Unlike traditional software focused only on filing, it actively optimizes portfolios around taxes to enhance long-term wealth outcomes.
What role does tax-loss harvesting play in PortfolioPilot’s strategy?▼
Tax-loss harvesting allows investors to offset capital gains with realized losses. PortfolioPilot automates this process, identifying underperforming assets and reallocating without materially altering portfolio composition.
How do prices vary across tax software platforms in 2024?▼
Prices and features for TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxSlayer vary depending on filing complexity and chosen service tiers. PortfolioPilot pricing also changes, with official websites providing the most current details.
Which tax software emphasizes affordability most strongly?▼
TaxSlayer is positioned as the most cost-effective option, delivering essential tax features at a lower price point. Its affordability makes it particularly attractive to self-employed workers and cost-sensitive filers.
How does H&R Block combine digital and in-person filing services?▼
H&R Block offers a hybrid model where users can file online or visit a physical location. This dual approach helps ensure that unique tax issues are supported by both software and human expertise.
Why might self-employed professionals choose TaxSlayer over other tools?▼
TaxSlayer offers tailored features for freelancers and self-employed individuals, combining affordability with comprehensive support. This balance makes it a practical choice for those managing independent business income.
What is the main appeal of TurboTax for self-employed users?▼
TurboTax provides flexible tools for self-employed professionals, integrating expense tracking and business income reporting into its platform. Its intuitive interface simplifies filing even with complex income streams.
How optimized is your portfolio?
PortfolioPilot is used by over 40,000 individuals in the US & Canada to analyze their portfolios of over $30 billion1. Discover your portfolio score now:
Global Predictions provides investment advice only through its internet-based application, PortfolioPilot, and only to individuals who are advisory clients of Global Predictions pursuant to written advisory Client Agreements ("Advisory Services"). The publicly available portions of the Platform (i.e., the sections of the Platform that are available to individuals who are not party to a Client Agreement - including globalpredictions.com and portions of portfoliopilot.com) are provided for educational purposes only and are not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial planning advice. To the extent that any of the content published on publicly available portions of the Platform may be deemed to be investment advice, such information is impersonal and not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person. Nothing on the publicly available portions of the Platform should be construed as a solicitation or offer, or recommendation, to buy or sell any security. All charts, figures, and graphs on the publicly available websites are for illustrative purposes only. Before investing, you should consider whether any investment, investment strategy, security, other asset, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. You are also encouraged to consult your legal, tax, or investment professional regarding your specific situation. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing involves risk. The value of your investment will fluctuate, and you may gain or lose money.
The contents of the Platform may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections about the financial industry, the economy, or Global Predictions itself. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the underlying expected actions or future performance and future results may differ significantly from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
Note: our use of the term AI refers to all artificial intelligence models used including large language models, proprietary economic models that incorporate regression or dynamic factors, and machine learning methods like supervised learning.
1. As of November 14, 2025 2. As of November 14, 2025 3. $30B Assets on Platform as of February 20, 2025. Aggregated across all plans (including the free plan). Assets on Platform represent the total value of connected and manually inputted accounts (including assets like real estate and private equity) and does not in any way represent Asset Under Management as Global Predictions does not manage any client funds.
5. Comparison made to an individual with $1M AUM, paying an "average wealth manager fee" of 1.02% based on a 2023 study by AdvisoryHQ. 1.02% * 1M = $10,200 per annum. PortfolioPilot Annual Gold pricing is $20/mo * 12mo = $240 per annum. 240/10,200 – 1 = ~98% lower. Actual fees paid to any individual financial advisor will depend on specific financial circumstances and arrangements.
7. The 1.94% referenced figure represents the average calculated monthly continuous tax-loss harvesting gain over a 4-year period from 2018-2021 in the 2024-published JP Morgan report titled "Continuous tax-loss harvesting yields more potential for tax savings" (link).
8. Case studies presented are hypothetical scenarios and intended for illustrative purposes only. They do not represent an actual client, investment or experience, but rather are meant to provide an example of the intended investment process and methodology. An individual's experience may vary based on his or her circumstances. There can be no assurance that the Firm will be able to achieve similar results in comparable situations. No portion of this case study is to be interpreted as a testimonial or endorsement of the Firm's investment advisory services. The information contained herein should not be construed as personal investment advice.
9. The financial advisor described in this marketing language is referring to you, the reader. PortfolioPilot is meant to be an aid to the self-directed investor. "Complete financial advice" refers to the fact that PortfolioPilot includes tools for estate planning, tax optimization, net worth visualization, and scenario modeling, not just investment recommendations. See globalpredictions.com/disclosures for descriptions of conflicts of interest, use of AI, bias, and any other disclosures for Global Predictions Inc.
10. This analysis is based on data from publicly available reports, academic studies, and articles. Sources include Mullainathan et al. (2012): Study highlighting biases in financial advice and its misalignment with client interests; Morningstar (2024): Report on typical update frequencies from financial advisors; Bodnaruk and Simonov (2014): Research on the limited impact of financial expertise on investment outcomes; Financhill: Insights on hidden fees in financial advising, including expense ratios and transaction costs, as noted by Warren Buffett; Foerster et al. (2014): Study on the costs of financial advice, including average AUM fees of 2.43%.
11. $11M number calculated as 2024 YTD TLH savings study conducted across 24,000 PortfolioPilot users on November 18, 2024.
12. Based on assumptions and projections that may not reflect actual outcomes.
