Tax software and tax preparation companies do not change how much you get back
The refund amount itself comes from the IRS, not from the company that prepares your return. TurboTax, H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, a CPA, or a tax attorney will all calculate the same refund if they work from the same information about your income, deductions, and credits. The company you choose affects what you pay to file, not what the government owes you.
What varies between companies is the cost of filing, the speed of getting your money, and the accuracy of catching deductions you might miss. A company that finds a deduction you overlooked could indirectly result in a larger refund — but that is because you provided better information, not because the company itself is more generous.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS calculates your refund based on your income, deductions, and credits; the tax company you use does not change that number.
- Different companies charge different filing fees, ranging from free to over $200, which reduces what you take home even if the refund is the same.
- Some companies offer refund advances or loans against your expected refund, which costs money and gets you the refund faster but smaller.
- A tax professional might find deductions or credits you missed on your own, which could increase your refund — but this depends on your situation, not the company's generosity.
- Free filing through the IRS Free File program or the IRS Free File Fillable Forms costs nothing and produces the same refund as paid software.
How the refund amount is actually determined
Your refund is the difference between the taxes you paid during the year (through withholding or estimated payments) and the taxes you actually owe based on your final return. The IRS calculates this, not the tax company. If you overpaid by $2,000, you get $2,000 back — regardless of whether TurboTax, H&R Block, or a local CPA files the return.
The tax company's job is to help you report your income, deductions, and credits accurately so the IRS can calculate the correct amount. If the company makes an error, the IRS will catch it and either adjust your refund or send you a notice. If you make an error — or if you miss a deduction you were may have access to to — that is on you, not the company.
Where companies actually differ: filing fees and speed
TurboTax, H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and other paid services charge filing fees that range from free (for simple returns) to $150 or more (for complex returns with business income or rental property). That fee comes out of your refund or out of your pocket. A company charging $120 to file does not give you a bigger refund; it takes $120 of the refund you would have received anyway.
Some companies offer refund advances or refund anticipation loans — they lend you money against your expected refund before the IRS sends it. This costs extra (typically $50 to $150) and you receive less money overall, but you get it in days instead of weeks. The company is not giving you more; it is charging you to get your own money faster.
Free filing through the IRS Free File program (available through IRS.gov) or the IRS Free File Fillable Forms produces the exact same refund as paid software, with no filing fee. The refund amount is identical; you simply keep the money the paid company would have charged.
When a tax professional might find you more money
A CPA, tax attorney, or experienced tax preparer might identify deductions or credits you did not know about — the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, business expense deductions, or charitable contributions you forgot to document. If that professional finds something real that you missed, your refund will be larger. But this is not the company being generous; it is you providing more complete information.
This matters most if you are self-employed, own rental property, have investment income, or experienced a major life change (marriage, divorce, adoption, job loss). Simple returns with W-2 income and standard deductions are unlikely to have hidden deductions. A paid professional is worth the cost only if the extra deductions they find exceed what you pay them.
Red flags: companies that promise bigger refunds
If a tax company promises you a refund larger than what you calculated, or claims it can get you money the IRS would not normally give you, that is a sign to walk away. The IRS has specific rules for every deduction and credit. No company can bend those rules in your favor.
Some companies advertise "maximum refunds" or claim they use special strategies to boost your return. These are marketing phrases, not promises of actual money. The only legitimate way to increase a refund is to report income and deductions accurately and claim every credit you actually may have access to for.
How to compare companies on what actually matters
Since the refund amount is the same across companies, compare them on filing cost, customer support, and how quickly they get your refund to you. If your return is simple (W-2 income, standard deduction, no dependents), free filing through the IRS or a free tier of TurboTax or H&R Block makes sense. If your return is complex, a CPA or tax attorney costs more upfront but might find deductions that pay for itself.
Check whether the company offers a refund advance if you need money quickly, and understand the cost. Read reviews about customer service, especially if you have questions during filing. The "best" company is the one that costs you the least while getting your return filed accurately and on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tax company file my return in a way that gives me a bigger refund?
No. The refund is determined by your income, deductions, and credits — not by how the company files. Two companies filing the same return will produce the same refund. The only exception is if one company catches a deduction or credit you missed, which depends on your situation and the preparer's skill, not the company's generosity.
What is a refund advance, and does it give me more money?
A refund advance is a loan against your expected refund that you receive in days instead of waiting weeks for the IRS. It costs $50 to $150 in fees and interest, so you receive less total money — not more. Use it only if you need cash immediately and cannot wait for the IRS to process your return.
Is the IRS Free File program a worse deal than paid software?
No. Free File produces the same refund as TurboTax or H&R Block. The only difference is you pay nothing instead of $60 to $200. Use Free File if your return is simple enough to may have access to; the refund will be identical.
Should I pay for a CPA if I think I am missing deductions?
Only if the deductions a CPA finds are worth more than what you pay them. A CPA typically costs $150 to $500 or more. If you are self-employed, own property, or have complex income, a CPA often pays for itself. If you have simple W-2 income, the cost usually exceeds any deductions you missed.
What if one company says my refund is larger than another company calculated?
One of them made an error. Recalculate using the same income, deductions, and credits in both. If the numbers still differ, the company with the higher refund likely made a mistake — either by including a deduction you do not may have access to for or by miscalculating a credit. The IRS will catch the error when it processes the return.