It's that time of year again, the time when everyone's scrambling to figure out the best way to file their taxes. Taxes are an annual source of worry for lots of people: A CNET survey found that 51% of Gen Z adults and 48% of millennials have anxiety about filing their taxes. It's easy to feel alone and even a little lost.

Fortunately, you don't have to file your taxes alone. If you think you could use some help and extra peace of mind this tax season, you fortunately have better -- and more affordable -- options than ever. This year, TurboTax lets you connect with a tax expert online or in person and hand off your return for them to complete for a flat fee of just $150. (The offer is valid through March 18, and available to anyone who didn't file with a TurboTax expert last year.)

Read on to find out if you would benefit from working with a tax expert this year, and how the process works to file your return with a TurboTax expert.

TurboTax makes it easy, however you file

Since its first online version launched in 1997, TurboTax has become synonymous with the friendly, easy-to-use online tax filing. CNET says that TurboTax "is the most user-friendly and comprehensive tax software for nearly all situations." With 60% of the tax-prep market share, according to Cbonds, it's arguably the favorite of Americans who file their taxes online.

When to get professional tax help vs. filing yourself

A DIY return isn't right for everyone, though. If you have a more complex income situation or have gone through a major life event in the past year, it might be in your best interest to work with a tax professional. In those situations, "Taking the DIY approach could cause you to make errors or miss out on valuable tax deductions and credits," CNET tax expert Robin Hartill explains. And considering that Americans already spend an average of 13 hours per year and over $290 to file their taxes, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, letting an expert do it for you might end up saving time and money.

Here are some situations when you might consider enlisting expert help to file your tax return:

• You're a first-time filer who is anxious about getting it right
• You made freelance income this year and want help finding deductions and credits to offset your self-employment taxes
• You got married or divorced, or had a child
• You want to spend less time on your return without worrying that it's done right

Hand off your return to a TurboTax expert online or in person

If one of those situations applies to you, you're a perfect candidate to work with a TurboTax expert. Here's how the process works.

How it works to file your tax return with a TurboTax expert

• Match with an expert in person or online: Choose how you want to connect, in person at a local office or online. Either way, you'll get a dedicated expert who understands your unique situation and has your back.
• Hand off your taxes to your expert: Upload documents online or with your expert's help in person. From there, your expert handles everything. You can track their progress anytime, then review together so you're confident your taxes are done right.
• Your expert files for you: When your return is finished, your expert will walk you through the details and answer any questions. They'll file for you with 100% accuracy and audit support, guaranteed.
• You get unlimited support year-round: Your relationship with your TurboTax expert doesn't end with tax season. They'll continue offering your support throughout the year at no extra cost, and you can work together again next year if you choose

Is there an in-person TurboTax location near you?

If you'd like to speak to a friendly face in person to put you at ease and walk you through your questions this year, you're in luck. For the 2026 tax season, TurboTax has expanded its brick-and-mortar footprint to over 600 local Expert office locations and 20 TurboTax stores in cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix and Pasadena, Calif. (Click here to find a location near you.)

File with an expert by March 18 for just $150

It's always a good idea to get your taxes wrapped up early. But this year, there's another reason to get started now: with TurboTax's current offer, you can file with expert help, online or in person, for a flat rate of $150. (That's less than half of what the average American spends on tax prep.) You're eligible for the offer as long as you didn't file with a TurboTax expert last year and as long as you file by March 18.

The clock's ticking, but there's no room to worry: with help from a TurboTax expert, backed by guaranteed audit support, you can get through April without the anxiety.