# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (freelancers) on 2026-10-11

## In short

On 2026-10-11, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best tax preparation software for freelancers". It named 8 brands, in this order: FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes, TurboTax, TurboTax Premium, H&R Block, H&R Block Self-Employed, TaxSlayer Self-Employed and Keeper.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best tax preparation software for freelancers |
| Asked on | 2026-10-11 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 8 |
| Sources cited | 6 |
| Audience | freelancers |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-11 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-10-11
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-10-11 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> For a freelancer with a Schedule C, here's what I'd actually recommend, in order:
> 
> **1. FreeTaxUSA** - my default pick for most freelancers. Federal filing is free at every complexity level including Schedule C, 1099-NEC, home office, and depreciation, with state around $15-16. It's a real IRS-authorized e-file provider, not a stripped-down "simple returns only" tier, so you're not paying $150+ for forms that cost the software nothing. Downside: you categorize your own expenses, and live help is a paid add-on.
> 
> **2. Cash App Taxes** - if you want it completely free, federal *and* state, with no income cap. It covers Schedule C, 1099-NEC, crypto, and rentals at $0. The tradeoffs are real: no live support, no multi-state returns, and it's weak at walking you through depreciation or a first-year business. Best for a straightforward one-state freelance return.
> 
> **3. TurboTax Premium (Self-Employed)** - the most expensive option (roughly $119-$159 federal plus ~$60/state, more for Live Assisted) and worth it mainly for two things: the best 1099/bank/Uber-Lyft-style data imports, and the strongest deduction interview if you genuinely don't know what's deductible. If you've filed with the

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FreeTaxUSA | recommended |
| 2 | Cash App Taxes | recommended |
| 3 | TurboTax | recommended |
| 4 | TurboTax Premium | recommended |
| 5 | H&R Block | recommended |
| 6 | H&R Block Self-Employed | recommended |
| 7 | TaxSlayer Self-Employed | recommended |
| 8 | Keeper | recommended |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://investormint.com/small-business/best-tax-software-self-employed-2026 (other)
- https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes (other)
- https://www.supermoney.com/turbotax-vs-freetaxusa (other)
- https://beancount.io/blog/2026/07/12/irs-direct-file-2026-free-tax-filing-alternatives-guide (other)
- https://www.finder.com/best-tax-software/keeper-tax (other)
- https://www.techradar.com/reviews/keeper-tax (review)

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.