{"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": "2026-09-29T22:15:03Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-09-29", "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": "H&R Block", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "H&R Block Self-Employed", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "TaxSlayer Self-Employed", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Cash App Taxes", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Keeper", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Hurdlr", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "S-corp", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-tax-software-for-small-businesses/", "domain": "cnbc.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.freetaxusa.com/software/", "domain": "freetaxusa.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.hrblock.com/online-tax-filing/self-employed-online-tax-filing/", "domain": "hrblock.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://smartasset.com/taxes/hr-block-vs-turbotax", "domain": "smartasset.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/15201/comparing-prices-turbotax-hr-block-tax-act/", "domain": "thecollegeinvestor.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"}], "answer_text": "Here's what I'd actually recommend, roughly in the order I'd suggest trying them:\n\n**1. FreeTaxUSA** - My default pick for most freelancers. Schedule C, home office, SE tax, depreciation, and Schedule D are all included in the free federal tier; you only pay ~$15 per state return. It's an IRS-authorized e-file provider and the math is the same math everyone else does. The interface is plainer than TurboTax's, but if you already know roughly what your deductions are, you're paying ~$15 instead of ~$190 for an identical return.\n\n**2. TurboTax Premium (the old \"Self-Employed\" tier)** - Worth the money in two specific cases: it's your first year with 1099 income and you want heavy hand-holding through Schedule C, or you already use QuickBooks and want your categorized expenses to import directly. That integration genuinely saves an evening of work. Otherwise you're paying roughly $130 federal + $65 state for convenience.\n\n**3. H&R Block Self-Employed** - The sensible middle. Nearly all of TurboTax's guided experience at meaningfully less (~$115 + $45 state), and it's the only one of these where you can hand a messy year to a human in a physical office if you get stuck.\n\n**4. TaxSlayer ", "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"}}