# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (freelancers) on 2026-10-06

## In short

On 2026-10-06, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best tax preparation software for freelancers". It named 12 brands; the first six, in order, were FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer, TaxSlayer Self-Employed, TurboTax, H&R Block and H&R Block Self-Employed.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best tax preparation software for freelancers |
| Asked on | 2026-10-06 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 12 |
| Sources cited | 3 |
| Audience | freelancers |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-06 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-10-06
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-10-06 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> Here's how I'd rank them for a freelancer filing a Schedule C:
> 
> **1. FreeTaxUSA** - My default recommendation. Federal filing is $0 even with Schedule C, self-employment tax, home office, depreciation, and 1099-NEC/K income; state is about $16. It's the only mainstream option that doesn't paywall self-employment. The interface is plain and it won't hold your hand much, but the math and forms are the same. If your situation is "one or two 1099s plus some business expenses," this is the obvious pick. ([pricing comparison](https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes))
> 
> **2. TaxSlayer Self-Employed** - The best middle ground, roughly $55-75 federal. You get a guided Schedule C walkthrough, quarterly estimated-tax tools, and unlimited phone/email support plus tax-pro Q&A included rather than as an upsell. Worth it if FreeTaxUSA feels too bare but TurboTax feels like a ripoff.
> 
> **3. H&R Block Self-Employed** - Around $85 federal plus state. The reason to pick it over TaxSlayer is the escape hatch: if you get stuck, you can hand the return to a human, either virtually or at a physical office. Good import support and a genuin

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

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

## Sources the engine cited

- https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes (other)
- https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-turbotax-alternative (other)
- https://investormint.com/small-business/best-tax-software-self-employed-2026 (other)

The question page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/freelancers

Alerts and membership: Answer Watch Pro, 79 USD per month: https://bikoosh.com/answers. Bikoosh is monitoring assistance, not complete protection.

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.