Cheapest Tax Software That Handles Every Form

What separates the cheapest tax software picks?

Price is the obvious split. IRS Direct File and Cash App Taxes cost nothing, and Cash App Taxes handled all three of our test returns including the state for $0. FreeTaxUSA charges $14.99 for the federal return and $14.99 for the state. TaxSlayer's Classic tier is $37.95 federal, but its $44.95 state is the most expensive here. TaxAct sits at $54.99, H&R Block Online at $55, and TurboTax at $89 — with the freelancer or investor return plus one state reaching $193.

Form coverage is the second split. IRS Direct File could not do the freelancer or investor return — no Schedule C, D or E — and covers 25 states. Cash App Taxes includes Schedule C, rentals and capital gains, but no multi-state, foreign income or part-year residents. TaxSlayer's Classic tier includes Schedule C, D and E at $37.95 federal. FreeTaxUSA covers every federal form free, with the state at $14.99.

Accuracy held up across the board: FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax, H&R Block Online, IRS Direct File, TaxAct and TaxSlayer all matched the CPA on our returns. Scores land between 7.4 and 8.6, so the differences are in price, imports and support rather than wrong numbers.

What should I check before buying?

Start with the forms your return actually needs. A W-2 family can use IRS Direct File free. A freelancer or investor needs Schedule C, D or E, which rules IRS Direct File out and pushes you toward FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes or TaxSlayer.

Then check the state. Cash App Taxes includes it at $0. TaxSlayer charges $44.95, TaxAct's free tier charges $39.99, and TurboTax's freelancer or investor return with one state came to $193.

Import matters if you sold stock or crypto. TurboTax imported our brokerage 1099-B and crypto in seconds. H&R Block Online covers fewer institutions, TaxSlayer's brokerage import is weak, and FreeTaxUSA requires typing or summarising stock sales.

Support is the last check. TurboTax offers Live Assisted with a tax pro on video, TaxAct includes Xpert Assist with paid tiers, IRS Direct File has live chat with IRS staff, and Cash App Taxes includes free audit defense.

Which one for whom?

• FreeTaxUSA — freelancers and investors who want every federal form free and will type stock sales themselves.
• TurboTax — filers who want the easiest interview and the best imports and will pay $89, or $193 for the freelancer or investor return with one state.
• H&R Block Online — filers who want a more generous free tier and the option of 9,000 offices.
• IRS Direct File — W-2 families in the 25 states it covers who want free filing with no private account.
• Cash App Taxes — filers who want federal and state for $0 and don't mind installing Cash App.
• TaxAct — filers who want Xpert Assist included and a $100,000 accuracy guarantee.
• TaxSlayer — freelancers who want Schedule C, D and E on the $37.95 Classic tier.

For a free federal and state return with Schedule C and stock sales included, Cash App Taxes is the pick. Freelancers and investors who want every federal form free should look at FreeTaxUSA, while W-2 families in the 25 covered states can file free with IRS Direct File. If you want the easiest interview and the best imports, TurboTax is the one to pay for.