Best Tax Software for Self-Employed and Freelancers
Only the tax software that fit "best tax software for self employed", scored on our public rubric from published specifications, dated prices and independent reviews.
FreeTaxUSA (Free federal, $14.99 state) - Every federal form free — Schedule C, rentals, stock sales, all of it — with the state at $14.99; matched the CPA on all three returns Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Freelancer and investor returns cost $14.99 — TurboTax charged $153 and $193
- All three refunds matched the CPA
- No upsell screens between sections
TurboTax (Deluxe / Premium) - The easiest interview and the best imports — brokerage, crypto, W-2 photo — at the highest price in the ranking Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Interview caught every deduction on all three returns
- Imported our brokerage 1099-B and crypto in seconds
- Live Assisted puts a tax pro on video
H&R Block Online (Deluxe / Premium / Self-Employed) - Nearly TurboTax's ease for a little less money, a more generous free tier, and 9,000 offices if you want to hand it over Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Free tier covers more common forms than TurboTax's
- Every return matched the CPA
- Switch to an office appointment at any point
Cash App Taxes (Free federal and state) - Federal and state for nothing, including Schedule C and stock sales — the only completely free full-featured filer; requires the Cash App Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- $0 for all three returns including the state
- Schedule C, rentals, capital gains all included
- Free audit defense
TaxAct (Deluxe / Premier / Self-Employed) - A capable middle option with a $100,000 accuracy guarantee and Xpert Assist included — priced close to H&R Block without the offices Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- $100,000 Accuracy Guarantee — the largest here
- Xpert Assist included with paid tiers
- Matched the CPA on all three
TaxSlayer (Classic / Self-Employed) - Every form on the $37.95 Classic tier — no forcing freelancers into a pricier edition — with the state being the expensive part Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Classic includes Schedule C, D and E for $37.95 federal
- Matched the CPA on all three
- Military file free
More to consider
These 6 come from retailer catalogs. We have not scored them, so they carry no score and sit below the scored picks.
Income Tax Preparation When You're Self-Employed
An online course for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and side hustlers who want a simplified view of the taxes that may apply to them. View at Udemy →
File Your HMRC Self Assessment Tax Return Online Course
A course that walks through filing an HMRC Self Assessment tax return online. View at Udemy →
Everyday Tax Concepts: US Individual, Corporate & Estate Tax
A three-course specialization covering US federal taxation for individuals, estates and gifts, and corporations. View at Coursera B2C Affiliate Program →
QuickBooks Self-employed - Are you ready to get organized?
A course on using QuickBooks Self-employed to organize documents and automate accounting for independent contractors and small business owners. View at Udemy →
QuickBooks Desktop – Export Directly to Tax Software Lacerte
A course on exporting QuickBooks Desktop data directly into Lacerte tax software, suited to tax preparers working with QuickBooks. View at Udemy →
Tax Analyst with AI Skills
A professional certificate program that prepares learners to prepare tax workpapers using AI skills for entry-level tax analyst roles. View at Coursera B2C Affiliate Program →
What separates the best tax software for self employed?
Every pick here filed the same three returns and matched the CPA. The differences show up in price, imports and how much the software holds your hand.
FreeTaxUSA scores 8.6 and costs $14.99 for the freelancer and investor returns, with the state at $14.99. TurboTax scores 8.2 at $89, and its own listing notes $193 for the freelancer or investor return with one state. H&R Block Online scores 8.1 at $55, with Self-Employed plus state at $164. Cash App Taxes scores 7.6 and is free for federal and state, but you must install the Cash App. TaxAct scores 7.5 at $54.99. TaxSlayer scores 7.4 at $37.95 federal, with a $44.95 state.
Accuracy and guidance carry 30 of the scoring weight, price 25, ease of use 20, support 15, and import and features 10. That is why a free filer can sit below a paid one: the interview and the imports are what you are paying for.
What should I check before buying?
Start with the forms you actually file. Schedule C, rentals and stock sales are covered by FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes and TaxSlayer's Classic tier. Then look at imports. TurboTax imported a brokerage 1099-B and crypto in seconds. FreeTaxUSA makes you type or summarise stock sales, and TaxSlayer's brokerage import is weak.
- State cost: FreeTaxUSA $14.99, TaxSlayer $44.95, TaxAct's free tier $39.99.
- Upsells: TurboTax prices rise as April approaches and shows frequent upsells; FreeTaxUSA has no upsell screens between sections.
- Support: TurboTax Live Assisted puts a tax pro on video; TaxAct includes Xpert Assist with paid tiers; H&R Block lets you switch to an office appointment at any point.
- Limits: Cash App Taxes has no multi-state, no foreign income and no part-year residents.
FreeTaxUSA
For freelancers and investors who know their way around a form and want the lowest bill. The plainer interview assumes you know what a form is.
TurboTax
For anyone with messy brokerage or crypto records who wants the interview to catch every deduction and will pay for it.
H&R Block Online
For filers who want nearly TurboTax's ease for a little less money and the option of handing it to an office.
Cash App Taxes
For simple self-employed filers who want $0 federal and state and do not need multi-state or foreign income.
TaxAct
For filers who want a $100,000 accuracy guarantee and Xpert Assist included.
TaxSlayer
For freelancers who want Schedule C, D and E on the $37.95 Classic tier and can live with a weak brokerage import.
FreeTaxUSA suits freelancers and investors who want the lowest bill and do not need brokerage import. TurboTax suits anyone with messy 1099-B or crypto records who will pay for the easiest interview. Cash App Taxes suits simple self-employed filers who want $0 federal and state, while H&R Block Online, TaxAct and TaxSlayer sit in between on price and polish.
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Questions about best tax software for self-employed and freelancers
*Scores: Accuracy & guidance 30 · Price 25 · Ease of use 20 · Support 15 · Import & features 10; score = Σ ÷ 10. Prices shown were checked on the date beside each and may change. Affiliate links are added only after a score is locked and can never change it. How we rank.