# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (freelancers) on 2026-09-16

## In short

On 2026-09-16, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best tax preparation software for freelancers". It named 12 brands; the first six, in order, were FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax, TurboTax Premium, DoorDash, H&R Block and H&R Block Self-Employed.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best tax preparation software for freelancers |
| Asked on | 2026-09-16 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 12 |
| Sources cited | 5 |
| Audience | freelancers |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-16 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-09-16
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-16 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> ## My picks, in order
> 
> **1. FreeTaxUSA** - What I'd recommend to most freelancers. Schedule C and Schedule SE are included in the free federal tier; you only pay for state filing (roughly $15, plus optional add-ons for support/audit help). The interface is plain and it won't hand-hold you, but for a single Schedule C with ordinary deductions it produces the exact same return as TurboTax for a fraction of the cost. Main tradeoff: no automatic 1099 import, so budget 10-15 minutes of typing. ([FreeTaxUSA vs. TurboTax comparison](https://ifeeltech.com/blog/tax-software-small-business-turbotax-hrblock-freetaxusa))
> 
> **2. TurboTax Premium (formerly Self-Employed)** - Worth the premium *only* if your situation is genuinely messy: multiple 1099-NECs, home office plus vehicle plus asset depreciation, multi-state, or you want a live CPA to review before you file. It's the best guided experience for a first-time Schedule C filer and imports gig-platform income (Uber, DoorDash) directly. Expect around $120-130 federal plus ~$60 per state. ([overview](https://zenithfinancialadvisors.com/best/best-tax-prep-software-for-freelancers))
> 
> **3. H&R Block Self-Employed** - The middle ground, and my pick

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

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

## Sources the engine cited

- https://ifeeltech.com/blog/tax-software-small-business-turbotax-hrblock-freetaxusa (other)
- https://zenithfinancialadvisors.com/best/best-tax-prep-software-for-freelancers (other)
- https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes (other)
- https://financebuzz.com/keeper-tax-review (other)
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/35362/keeper-tax-review/ (other)

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.