{"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": "2026-10-03T22:03:56Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-10-03", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/freelancers", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "FreeTaxUSA", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "TurboTax", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Cash App Taxes", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "H&R Block", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "H&R Block Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "TurboTax Premium", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "TurboTax Premium / Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "TaxSlayer", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "TaxSlayer Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "TaxAct Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Bookkeeping", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "FreshBooks", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 13, "brand": "Wave", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://taxo.com/best-tax-software-2026-comparison/", "domain": "taxo.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/39045/cash-app-taxes-review/", "domain": "thecollegeinvestor.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://smartasset.com/taxes/hr-block-vs-turbotax", "domain": "smartasset.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://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/taxes/taxslayer-review", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://zenithfinancialadvisors.com/best/best-tax-prep-software-for-freelancers", "domain": "zenithfinancialadvisors.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "# Best tax prep software for freelancers\n\nHere's who I'd actually name, in order:\n\n**1. FreeTaxUSA - my default recommendation.** Federal filing is free *including Schedule C* and self-employment tax, with state around $15. It's not pretty, but it handles 1099-NEC income, home office, mileage, depreciation, and quarterly estimates properly. For the vast majority of freelancers, it does the same job as TurboTax for ~$170 less. ([FreeTaxUSA comparison](https://taxo.com/best-tax-software-2026-comparison/))\n\n**2. Cash App Taxes - if you want $0 total.** Genuinely free for both federal and state, with Schedule C support and no upsell tiers. The catches are real though: single state only, no multi-state filing, no tax pro access, no foreign income, and state filing isn't available in all states (roughly 40 + DC). Great for a simple one-state freelance return. ([College Investor review](https://thecollegeinvestor.com/39045/cash-app-taxes-review/))\n\n**3. H&R Block Self-Employed - the best paid option.** Around $85 federal + $37/state. It's close to TurboTax in hand-holding quality for meaningfully less, and the ability to walk into an office if your return gets complicated (first year with", "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"}}