Editorial Standards & Trust
How we maintain accuracy, independence, and transparency in everything we publish.
Our Mission
TaxPlanUpdate is a free informational guide that helps everyday people understand their taxes. We translate IRS rules, deductions, credits, and filing strategies into plain English so you can make more informed decisions — and know when it's time to talk to a professional.
We are not a tax firm or accounting practice. Think of us as the friend who reads the IRS publications so you don't have to — and points you in the right direction when things get complicated.
Editorial Independence
We decide what we cover and what we recommend. We do not accept payment in exchange for favorable reviews, rankings, or placement. No advertiser, affiliate partner, or sponsor has approval over our content before it's published.
How We Write
Every article on TaxPlanUpdate follows the same standards:
- Current-year rules. We cover federal tax law as it applies to the current filing year, and we update articles when laws change.
- Real examples with real numbers.Abstract explanations don't help at tax time. We include concrete scenarios so you can see how a rule actually affects a return.
- Written for non-accountants.We avoid jargon when possible and define it when we can't. If your neighbor wouldn't understand a sentence, we rewrite it.
- Primary sources linked. We cite IRS publications, revenue procedures, and official guidance so you can verify anything yourself.
How We Review Tax Software
Our software reviews are based on independent, hands-on testing. We purchase or sign up for each product ourselves and file test returns to evaluate the actual experience. We never rely solely on vendor-provided demos or marketing materials.
Each product is scored across four areas:
Scores are combined into an overall rating. We re-test products each tax season to reflect updates, price changes, and new features.
Our Sources
We are not CPAs, tax attorneys, or licensed tax professionals. TaxPlanUpdate is an informational resource — not a substitute for professional tax advice. Our content is based on publicly available official sources, including:
- IRS publications and instructions (IRS.gov)
- Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations
- Congressional legislation and bill text
- Tax Foundation, CBO, and other nonpartisan research organizations
- State revenue department websites for state-specific information
We link to primary sources whenever possible so you can verify anything yourself. If something doesn't look right, please let us know.
Important disclaimer: TaxPlanUpdate provides general tax information for educational purposes only. We are not tax advisors and nothing on this site constitutes professional tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax situations vary — always consult a qualified tax professional before making decisions that affect your tax return. We assume no liability for actions taken based on information found on this site.
How We Make Money
Transparency about revenue is part of earning your trust. Here is exactly how TaxPlanUpdate generates income:
- Affiliate commissions.When you click a link to tax software (like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct) and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
- Professional matching. We help connect readers with local CPAs and tax professionals through our matching service, and receive a referral fee when a match is made.
- Newsletter sponsorships. Our email newsletter occasionally includes sponsored content from brands relevant to our readers. Sponsored sections are always clearly labeled.
Our commitment:Revenue never influences what we write or recommend. If a product isn't good, we say so — regardless of whether we have a financial relationship with the company.
Corrections Policy
We work hard to get things right the first time, but mistakes happen. When we identify an error — whether we catch it ourselves or a reader points it out — here is what we do:
- We fix the error as quickly as possible.
- We add a visible correction note at the top of the article explaining what changed and when.
- For significant errors that may have affected a reader's tax decisions, we note the correction prominently and in our newsletter.
If you spot something that looks wrong, please let us know. Getting it right matters more than being right the first time.
Questions About Our Editorial Content?
If you have a question about how we wrote something, want to suggest a correction, or just want to understand our process better, we'd like to hear from you.