Empower Subscription is a paid membership that gives you access to tax software, financial planning tools, and year-round support from Empower
Empower (formerly Personal Capital) offers a subscription service that bundles tax preparation software with ongoing financial guidance. When you pay for Empower Subscription, you get access to their tax filing tools for the current year, plus features like investment tracking, retirement planning calculators, and the ability to connect with a financial advisor. The subscription renews each year, and you pay whether or not you file taxes that year.
This is different from buying tax software once per filing season. You are paying for a membership that includes tax tools as one part of a larger financial platform. The cost and what you get depend on which tier you choose — Empower offers more than one subscription level.
Key Takeaways
- Empower Subscription bundles tax software with investment tracking, retirement planning, and financial advisor access in one membership.
- You pay an annual fee that renews each year, regardless of whether you file taxes or use the other features.
- The subscription includes connection to your bank and investment accounts so you can see your full financial picture in one place.
- Empower offers multiple subscription tiers at different price points, each with different levels of advisor access and planning tools.
What is included in an Empower Subscription
The core of the subscription is tax preparation software that walks you through filing federal and state returns. Like other tax software, it asks you questions about your income, deductions, and credits, then generates the forms you need. You can file electronically or print and mail.
Beyond taxes, the subscription gives you access to Empower's financial dashboard. You connect your bank accounts, investment accounts, and credit cards to the platform, and it shows you your net worth, spending patterns, and investment performance all in one view. You can also use retirement calculators, college savings planners, and other tools to model different financial scenarios.
Depending on which tier you choose, you may also get access to a financial advisor who can review your plan and answer questions. Lower tiers may offer limited advisor time or access to educational content only. Higher tiers typically include ongoing advisory relationships.
How much Empower Subscription costs
Empower does not publish a single price for all subscribers. The cost varies based on which tier you choose and may change from year to year. You should check Empower's website directly to see current pricing for each membership level.
Some subscription tiers are free or low-cost and include basic tax software and account tracking. Others cost more and add financial advisor access. If you already use Empower's free tools, upgrading to a paid subscription adds features on top of what you already have.
The subscription renews automatically each year unless you cancel. If you cancel before the renewal date, you will not be charged again, but you will lose access to the paid features when your current membership ends.
Who should consider an Empower Subscription
An Empower Subscription makes sense if you want tax software and financial planning tools from the same company. You benefit most if you have multiple accounts — checking, savings, investments, retirement accounts — because the dashboard helps you see how they all fit together. If you already use Empower's free tools and like the interface, upgrading to a paid tier adds tax software and advisor access without switching platforms.
If you only need tax software and do not care about investment tracking or financial planning, a standalone tax software product (like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct) may be cheaper. If you want ongoing financial information but do not need tax software, a financial advisor or robo-advisor might be a better fit.
The subscription is also worth considering if you have a complex tax situation — self-employment income, rental property, investments with capital gains — because the higher tiers often include advisor support to help you understand your taxes and plan ahead.
How to use Empower Subscription for tax filing
When tax season arrives, you log into your Empower account and start the tax interview. The software asks you questions about your income sources, deductions, dependents, and credits. As you answer, it fills in the corresponding lines on your federal and state tax forms.
You can save your progress and come back later — you do not have to finish in one sitting. Once you have answered all the questions, the software shows you a preview of your return before you file. You can review each form, make changes if needed, and then file electronically or print to mail.
If you have questions while filing, you can check Empower's help articles or, depending on your subscription tier, contact an advisor. Some tiers include tax-specific support during filing season.
Empower Subscription versus other tax software
The main difference between Empower Subscription and standalone tax software is scope. TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct focus only on tax preparation — you buy them, file your taxes, and you are done. Empower Subscription includes tax software but also gives you year-round access to financial planning tools and account tracking.
If you use multiple financial tools already — a separate app for investments, a separate budgeting tool, a separate tax software — Empower Subscription consolidates some of that into one place. The trade-off is that you pay a subscription fee even in years when you do not file taxes, or when you do not use the planning features.
Standalone tax software is often cheaper if you only need to file taxes and do not want the extra features. Empower Subscription is more expensive but gives you more tools year-round. Your choice depends on whether you value having everything in one platform.
What happens to your data after you cancel
If you cancel your Empower Subscription, you lose access to the paid features, but your historical data usually remains in your account. You can still view past tax returns and financial snapshots if you log back in, though you may not be able to edit them or file new returns without an active subscription.
Your connected accounts — bank, investment, credit cards — are disconnected when your subscription ends, so the dashboard stops updating. If you resubscribe later, you can reconnect those accounts and pick up where you left off.
Before you cancel, read or save any documents you want to keep, such as completed tax returns or financial reports. Once your subscription expires, access to certain features may be limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Empower Subscription if I do not have investments?
Yes. The subscription includes tax software that works for any income situation, and the financial dashboard works with bank accounts, credit cards, and retirement accounts even if you do not have brokerage investments. You do not need to use every feature to benefit from the subscription.
Does Empower Subscription include state tax filing?
Yes, most subscription tiers include federal and state tax software. Some lower-cost tiers may limit the number of state returns you can file, so check the details for your tier. You can usually file as many state returns as you need, but confirm before you subscribe.
Can I switch to a different subscription tier mid-year?
You can usually upgrade or downgrade your subscription at any time, though the timing and cost depend on Empower's policies. Contact Empower directly to ask about changing tiers and whether you will receive a refund or credit if you downgrade.
What if I have a question about my taxes while using the software?
Empower provides help articles and FAQs within the software. Depending on your subscription tier, you may also have access to a financial advisor or tax support line during filing season. Check your tier details to see what support is included.
Is my financial data find when I connect my accounts?
Empower uses encryption and security standards to protect your data, but you should review their privacy policy and security practices before connecting your accounts. The company is regulated as a financial advisor and investment firm, which means it follows certain compliance rules, but you should understand how your data is used and stored.