How we put this together: we compared what each company publishes on its own website, and checked the details on November 5, 2026. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and the links in this article aren’t affiliate links. Prices and plans change, so confirm them before you sign up. This is general information, not personal financial or tax advice.
Before you pay for an app or service, check whether there’s a free official tool that does the job. These seven cover tax, savings, credit, benefits and complaints. Always type the address carefully or start from a known government page, as lookalike sites can charge fees or try to collect your data.
1. IRS Tax Withholding Estimator
Getting a big refund means you’ve given the government an interest-free loan, while owing a lot can be an unwelcome shock. The IRS estimator helps you work out your federal withholding from a job or pension. The IRS says it takes about 25 minutes and doesn’t save your personal information. It can also produce a pre-filled Form W-4 to give your employer, which is useful if you have side income.
2. Where’s My Refund
The IRS refund tracker shows where your refund is once it’s being processed. You’ll need your Social Security number or ITIN, filing status and exact refund amount. Status usually appears about 24 hours after you e-file a current-year return. There’s generally no need to pay anyone to check this for you.
3. Unclaimed money searches
Forgotten bank accounts, final paychecks and refunds can end up with state unclaimed property offices. USA.gov’s unclaimed money page points you to state offices and federal sources, including tools for savings bonds and funds from closed banks. Unclaimed.org, run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, isn’t a federal site, but also links to state programs, and to the multi-state MissingMoney.com.
Searching is free, so be careful of anyone who offers to find your money for a fee. Search every state you’ve lived in, along with any previous names.
4. AnnualCreditReport.com
This is the official place to get your credit reports from the three nationwide bureaus. The CFPB says you can get them free once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com. Our guide to credit scores covers what to look for, and our credit freeze guide explains how to protect your file for free.
5. TreasuryDirect
TreasuryDirect is the official site for buying and redeeming electronic US savings bonds. For bonds issued from November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, it lists a rate of 5.51% for Series I bonds, including a 1.40% fixed rate, and 2.90% for Series EE bonds. Check the holding rules and how you’ll be able to access your money before you buy, because savings bonds aren’t a substitute for an emergency fund.
6. USA.gov Benefit Finder
Benefit rules are complicated, and many programs are easy to miss. USA.gov’s benefit finder lets you choose your situation and see benefits you may qualify for, along with information on how to apply. It’s a starting point rather than a final decision, as each program has its own rules. You shouldn’t need to pay to find or apply for government benefits, so be suspicious of anyone who says otherwise.
7. CFPB complaint portal
If you can’t resolve a problem with a financial company, you can submit a complaint through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It accepts complaints about products including credit cards, credit reports, debt collection, mortgages, student loans and vehicle loans. The CFPB says most companies respond within 15 days. For a credit report error, it advises you to dispute it directly with the bureau first.
How to spot the real thing
- Federal government sites usually end in .gov, but not every useful official resource does.
- Be careful with sponsored search results and with sites that ask you to pay for free forms or searches.
- Government agencies don’t typically demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer.
- If you get an unexpected message, go to the site yourself instead of clicking its link.
