# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (freelancers) on 2026-09-12

## In short

On 2026-09-12, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best tax preparation software for freelancers". It named 12 brands, in this order: FreeTaxUSA, you're, TurboTax, Cash App Taxes, TaxSlayer Self-Employed, H&R Block.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best tax preparation software for freelancers |
| Asked on | 2026-09-12 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 12 |
| Sources cited | 9 |
| Audience | freelancers |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-12 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-09-12
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-12 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> **FreeTaxUSA** - my default recommendation for most freelancers. Federal filing is free including Schedule C, Schedule SE, 1099-NEC, home office, and depreciation; state is ~$15. There's no capability gap versus the paid tiers for a typical solo Schedule C filer - you're paying TurboTax ~$115 more for a friendlier interview, not a better return. ([The College Investor](https://thecollegeinvestor.com/20918/freetaxusa-review/), [WalletGrower](https://walletgrower.com/compare/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-freetaxusa))
> 
> **Cash App Taxes** - free federal *and* state, which makes it the cheapest legitimate option if you fit. The catch is real: no multi-state or nonresident returns, no K-1 income, and it doesn't compute underpayment penalties - which is exactly the thing freelancers who skipped quarterlies run into. Good for a single-state side hustle, not for a full-time business. ([The College Investor](https://thecollegeinvestor.com/39045/cash-app-taxes-review/))
> 
> **TaxSlayer Self-Employed** - the value middle ground. Full Schedule C support, quarterly estimated payment calculation, and self-employment-specific guidance, at meaningfully less than H&R Block or TurboTax. Worth it if you want m

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FreeTaxUSA | recommended |
| 2 | you're | compared |
| 3 | TurboTax | compared |
| 4 | Cash App Taxes | mentioned |
| 5 | TaxSlayer Self-Employed | mentioned |
| 6 | H&R Block | mentioned |
| 7 | H&R Block Self-Employed | mentioned |
| 8 | TurboTax Premium | mentioned |
| 9 | Keeper | mentioned |
| 10 | Stripe | compared |
| 11 | PayPal | compared |
| 12 | S-corp | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/20918/freetaxusa-review/ (other)
- https://walletgrower.com/compare/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-freetaxusa (other)
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/39045/cash-app-taxes-review/ (other)
- https://unlike.net/best-tax-software-self-employed-2026/ (other)
- https://ifeeltech.com/blog/tax-software-small-business-turbotax-hrblock-freetaxusa (other)
- https://quarterly1099.com/articles/turbotax-self-employed-review.html (other)
- https://financebuzz.com/keeper-tax-review (other)
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/35362/keeper-tax-review/ (other)
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/taxes/learn/self-employment-tax (review)

The question page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/freelancers

Answer Watch records what one AI answer engine said on one date, nothing more. Each page names the engine and the model, carries the date the question was asked, and lists the brands that appeared in the answer in the order the engine gave them, with the sources it cited. It is a measurement, not a ranking, not a recommendation and not a claim about the world. Brands that did not appear in an answer are not named on any public page. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.