What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (freelancers) on 2026-09-10

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-09-10

Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

The question asked, verbatim: best tax preparation software for freelancers

Brands named, in the order the engine gave

1. TurboTax recommended
   TurboTax Premium (formerly Self-Employed): Best if you want to be walked through everything.
2. TurboTax Premium recommended
   TurboTax Premium (formerly Self-Employed): Best if you want to be walked through everything.
3. FreeTaxUSA recommended
   FreeTaxUSA: Best value for most sole proprietors and single-member LLCs whose records are in order.
4. TaxSlayer recommended
   TaxSlayer Self-Employed: A good middle option.
5. TaxSlayer Self-Employed recommended
   TaxSlayer Self-Employed: A good middle option.
6. H&R Block recommended
   H&R Block Self-Employed: Best if you want easy access to a live tax professional, with in-person offices as a backup.
7. H&R Block Self-Employed recommended
   H&R Block Self-Employed: Best if you want easy access to a live tax professional, with in-person offices as a backup.
8. Cash App Taxes recommended
   Cash App Taxes: Completely free for both federal and state returns, including Schedule C.
9. TaxAct recommended
   TaxAct: Guided software that costs less than TurboTax or H&R Block at the self-employed tier.
10. S-corp recommended
    Its Business edition (about $110 and up) also covers partnerships and S-corp or C-corp returns.
11. TaxAct Business mentioned
    If you've elected S-corp status or have a multi-member LLC, you need business-return software like TaxAct Business, or a CPA.

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

For a US freelancer filing a Schedule C, here's the order I'd recommend them in: 1. **TurboTax Premium (formerly Self-Employed)**: Best if you want to be walked through everything. It goes through Schedule C line by line in plain English, covering home office, vehicle, health insurance and retirement deductions. It's also the most expensive option. ([zenithfinancialadvisors.com](https://zenithfinancialadvisors.com/best/best-tax-prep-software-for-freelancers), [unlike.net](https://unlike.net/best-tax-software-self-employed-2026/)) 2. **FreeTaxUSA**: Best value for most sole proprietors and single-member LLCs whose records are in order. Federal filing, including Schedule C, is free, and state returns are about $15.99. You get less hand-holding than with TurboTax. ([primewayfcu.com](https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes), [ifeeltech.com](https://ifeeltech.com/blog/tax-software-small-business-turbotax-hrblock-freetaxusa)) 3. **TaxSlayer Self-Employed**: A good middle option. You get access to tax pros who know self-employment, extra help with 1099s and Schedule C, and reminders for quarterly estimated payments all year. Federal filing costs roughly $53-68 depending on the source. ([smartasset.com](https://smartasset.com/taxes/taxslayer-review), [money.usnews.com](https://money.usnews.com/personal-finance/tax-software/reviews/taxslayer), [taxslayer.com](https://www.taxslayer.com/products/product-pricing/)) 4. **H&R Block Self-Employed**: Best if you want easy access to a live tax professional, with in-person offices as a backup. It has reportedly raised prices on its self-employed tier. ([biztoolkit.co](https://www.biztoolkit.co/post/best-tax-software-for-freelancers-in-2026-self-employment-tax-made-easy), [thecollegeinvestor.com](https://thecollegeinvestor.com/15201/comparing-prices-turbotax-hr-block-tax-act/)) 5. **Cash App Taxes**: Completely free for both federal and state returns, including Schedule C. It doesn't handle multi-state returns, foreign income or less common business forms, so it only fits simple single-state freelancers. ([forbes.com](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/taxes/cash-app-taxes-review/), [cash.app/taxes](https://cash.app/taxes)) 6. **TaxAct**: Guided software that costs less than TurboTax or H&R Block at the self-employed tier. Its Business edition (about $110 and up) also covers partnerships and S-corp or C-corp returns. ([primewayfcu.com](https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes), [taxact.com](https://www.taxact.com/taxes-online/taxact-vs-competitors)) **In short:** Choose FreeTaxUSA if your books are clean and you want to spend as little as possible. Choose TurboTax if you want the most guidance. Choose TaxSlayer or H&R Block if you want an expert on call. If you've elected S-corp status or have a multi-member LLC, you need business-return software like TaxAct Business, or a CPA. Sources: - https://zenithfinancialadvisors.com/best/best-tax-prep-software-for-freelancers - https://unlike.net/best-tax-software-self-employed-2026/ - https://www.biztoolkit.co/post/best-tax-software-for-freelancers-in-2026-self-employment-tax-made-easy - https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes - https://ifeeltech.com/blog/tax-software-small-business-turbotax-hrblock-freetaxusa - https://thecollegeinvestor.com/15201/comparing-prices-turbotax-hr-block-tax-act/ - https://www.taxact.com/taxes-online/taxact-vs-competitors - https://smartasset.com/taxes/taxslayer-review - https://money.usnews.com/personal-finance/tax-software/reviews/taxslayer - https://www.taxslayer.com/products/product-pricing/ - https://www.forbes.com/advisor/taxes/cash-app-taxes-review/ - https://cash.app/taxes

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