FreeTaxUSA (Free federal, $14.99 state) review 2027

What problem does FreeTaxUSA solve for freelancers and investors?

FreeTaxUSA is the answer to a specific, expensive problem: a return with a Schedule C or a pile of stock sales usually pushes you into a paid tier, and the big brands charge accordingly. In our testing, the freelancer return and the investor return both cost $14.99 at FreeTaxUSA, while TurboTax charged $153 and $193 for the same two returns. Every federal form is free — Schedule C, rentals, stock sales, all of it — and the state return is $14.99. The software matched the CPA's refund on all three of our returns, so the money saved did not come out of the accuracy column. There were no upsell screens between sections, and prior-year import works from TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxAct. The trade-off is stated plainly in the tagline: typing in a long brokerage statement is the one place it costs you time instead of money.

How did FreeTaxUSA score 8.6?

The overall score of 8.6 comes from five weighted criteria, each scored against a fixed maximum.

• Accuracy & guidance — 28 of 30. This measures whether the software reached the CPA's refund on our three returns, and how well its questions caught deductions and credits. All three refunds matched the CPA.
• Price — 25 of 25. Federal plus one state for each of the three returns, at the tier the return actually required, in the last week of March. The freelancer and investor returns cost $14.99 each, and the state is $14.99.
• Ease of use — 15 of 20. Time to complete each return, clarity of the interview, and upsell interruptions. The interview is plainer than the leaders and assumes you know what a form is, but there are no upsell screens between sections.
• Support — 11 of 15. Help content, live chat, access to a tax professional, audit assistance. Pro Support is $39.99, and Deluxe at $7.99 includes audit assist.
• Import & features — 7 of 10. W-2 and 1099 import, brokerage import, prior-year import from competitors, refund options. Prior-year PDF import from competitors is supported; brokerage import is not.

What are FreeTaxUSA's standout strengths?

The measured results are the story. Accuracy came in at 3/3 — every refund matched the CPA. The freelancer return price is $14.99, and free federal filing is a flat yes. Against TurboTax's $153 and $193 for the freelancer and investor returns, that is the whole argument for the product in two numbers. The absence of upsell screens between sections matters too: you are not interrupted mid-return by an offer to upgrade.

What do you get in each FreeTaxUSA tier?

The spec sheet is short and the tiers are cheap.

• Free federal: Yes, all forms.
• Simple return (fed + state): $14.99.
• Freelancer return: $14.99.
• Investor return: $14.99.
• Schedule C: Yes, free.
• Tax pro access: Pro Support $39.99.
• Audit support: Deluxe ($7.99) includes audit assist.
• Imports: Prior-year PDF from competitors; no brokerage import.
• State returns: $14.99 each.

Note the pattern: the paid add-ons are optional and priced in single digits or tens of dollars, not hundreds.

How does FreeTaxUSA compare with TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxAct?

TurboTax scored 8.2 at a listed price of $89. Its free federal tier covers simple returns only, the freelancer and investor returns are $193 each, Schedule C sits in the Premium tier, and state returns are $64 each. TurboTax has the easier interview and the better imports — W-2 photo, 1,000+ brokerages, crypto, prior year — plus Live Assisted and Full Service tax pro access and an Audit Support Guarantee with a MAX add-on. FreeTaxUSA is ahead on price and on matching the CPA; it is behind on import breadth and interview polish.

H&R Block Online scored 8.1 at a listed price of $55. Its free federal tier is more generous than TurboTax's (simple returns including student loan interest and unemployment), the freelancer return is $164, the investor return is $134, and state returns are $49 each. It offers Online Assist and in-office tax pro access, free audit support with a Worry-Free Guarantee add-on, and W-2 photo plus many brokerage and prior-year imports. FreeTaxUSA undercuts it on every return price in our test and matches the CPA; H&R Block is ahead on imports and on having 9,000 offices if you want to hand the return over.

TaxAct scored 7.5 at a listed price of $54.99. Its free federal tier covers simple returns, the simple return with state is $39.99, the freelancer return is $149.98, the investor return is $129.98, and state returns run $39.99–$59.99 each. Xpert Assist is included on paid tiers, audit support is an add-on, and imports cover W-2, prior year and some brokerages. FreeTaxUSA is ahead on price and on the CPA match; TaxAct is ahead on included expert help.

Where does FreeTaxUSA fall short?

The import gap is the clearest loss: no brokerage 1099-B import, so stock sales must be typed or summarised. The interview is plainer and assumes you know what a form is, which is fine for experienced filers and less so for anyone who wants to be walked through. Live help costs extra and is chat-based rather than a phone call. Those three items explain the points dropped in Ease of use, Support and Import & features.

Is FreeTaxUSA worth $14.99?

The price summary is $14.99. For that, you get free federal filing on all forms, a freelancer return at $14.99, an investor return at $14.99, and a state return at $14.99 each. Pro Support is $39.99 if you want it, and Deluxe at $7.99 adds audit assist. Compare that with TurboTax at $193 for the freelancer and investor returns, H&R Block at $164 and $134, and TaxAct at $149.98 and $129.98. On the returns we filed, the cheaper product reached the same CPA-matched refund.

Who should buy FreeTaxUSA?

Freelancers, landlords and anyone who can read a form. If your return includes a Schedule C, rental income or stock sales and you are comfortable entering the numbers yourself, FreeTaxUSA is the one to pick. If you want a brokerage import to do the typing for you, or you would rather have a guided interview and included live help, the rivals above are the better fit.