# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (freelancers) on 2026-09-23

## In short

On 2026-09-23, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best tax preparation software for freelancers". It named 9 brands; the first six, in order, were FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax, TaxSlayer Self-Employed, H&R Block, H&R Block Self-Employed and TurboTax Premium.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best tax preparation software for freelancers |
| Asked on | 2026-09-23 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 9 |
| Sources cited | 6 |
| Audience | freelancers |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-23 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-09-23
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-23 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> # Best tax software for freelancers
> 
> Here's what I'd actually recommend, in order:
> 
> **1. FreeTaxUSA - my default pick for most freelancers.** Federal filing is $0 including Schedule C and Schedule SE, with state around $15. It handles 1099 income, business expenses, home office, and quarterly estimates without upselling you into a higher tier the moment you type "self-employed." The interface is plainer than TurboTax's, but the return it produces is identical. If your freelance situation is reasonably straightforward, this saves you $100+ a year for no real loss. ([FreeTaxUSA comparison](https://walletgrower.com/compare/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-freetaxusa))
> 
> **2. TaxSlayer Self-Employed - the best middle ground.** Cheaper than TurboTax and H&R Block, with a genuinely good Schedule C flow, quarterly estimated tax tools, and deduction prompts aimed at contractors. Worth it if FreeTaxUSA feels too bare-bones but you don't want to pay TurboTax prices. ([TaxSlayer](https://www.taxslayer.com/))
> 
> **3. H&R Block Self-Employed - if you want a human backstop.** Around $85 federal plus ~$37/state. The draw is that you can escalate to a live tax pro, or walk into a physical office if your retur

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FreeTaxUSA | recommended |
| 2 | TurboTax | recommended |
| 3 | TaxSlayer Self-Employed | recommended |
| 4 | H&R Block | compared |
| 5 | H&R Block Self-Employed | recommended |
| 6 | TurboTax Premium | recommended |
| 7 | TurboTax Self-Employed | recommended |
| 8 | Keeper | recommended |
| 9 | S-corp | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://walletgrower.com/compare/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-freetaxusa (other)
- https://www.taxslayer.com/ (vendor)
- https://www.hrblock.com/online-tax-filing/self-employed-online-tax-filing/ (other)
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/self-employment-taxes/ (other)
- https://taxfile.ai/blog/turbotax-self-employed-cost (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.