{"question": "best tax preparation software for freelancers", "category": "tax-preparation-software", "category_name": "tax preparation software", "audience": "freelancers", "audience_name": "freelancers", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-09-27T21:35:14Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-09-27", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/freelancers", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "FreeTaxUSA", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "TurboTax", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "TurboTax Premium", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "QuickBooks Self-Employed", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "H&R Block", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "H&R Block Self-Employed", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "TaxSlayer Self-Employed", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Cash App Taxes", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "QuickBooks Solopreneur", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Solopreneur", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "S-corp", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://walletgrower.com/compare/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-freetaxusa", "domain": "walletgrower.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes", "domain": "primewayfcu.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/self-employment-taxes/", "domain": "turbotax.intuit.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.hrblock.com/online-tax-filing/self-employed-online-tax-filing/", "domain": "hrblock.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://ifeeltech.com/blog/tax-software-small-business-turbotax-hrblock-freetaxusa", "domain": "ifeeltech.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "For a freelancer with a Schedule C, here's what I'd actually recommend, in order:\n\n**1. FreeTaxUSA - my default pick for most freelancers.** Schedule C, SE tax, home office, and 1099 income are all in the free federal tier; you only pay for state (~$15-16). It's an IRS-authorized e-file provider that's been around since 2001. The interface is plain and form-like rather than hand-holding, but the math is the same and you keep ~$100+. If your situation is one or two 1099s, some expenses, and a home office, there's no good reason to pay more.\n\n**2. TurboTax Premium (formerly Self-Employed) - if you want the hand-holding.** Around $129 federal plus state. The Schedule C interview is genuinely the best in the category: it asks questions in plain English and walks through vehicle, home office, health insurance, and retirement contributions in order. Worth it if your return is messy, it's your first year self-employed, or your time is worth more than the price difference. It also imports from QuickBooks Self-Employed cleanly.\n\n**3. H&R Block Self-Employed - the middle ground.** Roughly $85 federal + ~$37/state. Does nearly everything TurboTax does for less, and it's the only one of these ", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}