{"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": "2026-10-14T01:24:58Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-10-14", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/freelancers", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "FreeTaxUSA", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "TurboTax", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Cash", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Cash App Taxes", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "TaxAct", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "TurboTax Premium", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "H&R Block", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "H&R Block Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Keeper", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "TaxSlayer Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.techrepublic.com/article/freetaxusa-vs-turbotax/", "domain": "techrepublic.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/freetaxusa-review/", "domain": "business.org", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://blog.taxact.com/cash-app-taxes-irs-reporting/", "domain": "blog.taxact.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://walletgrower.com/blog/file-taxes-free-2026", "domain": "walletgrower.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://investormint.com/small-business/best-tax-software-self-employed-2026", "domain": "investormint.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.capterra.com/p/206851/Keeper-Tax/reviews/", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.keepertax.com/switch-from/turbotax", "domain": "keepertax.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "## My actual recommendations, in order\n\n**1. FreeTaxUSA - the default I'd point most freelancers to.** Federal filing is free even with Schedule C, self-employment tax, 1099-NEC/1099-K income, home office, vehicle deductions, and depreciation. State is ~$16. It handles essentially everything TurboTax's $159 Premium tier does, with a plainer interface. If you want a human to look over it, their Pro Support add-on is cheap compared to the competition. ([TechRepublic comparison](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/freetaxusa-vs-turbotax/), [Business.org review](https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/freetaxusa-review/))\n\n**2. Cash App Taxes - if you want it genuinely free, federal *and* state.** Supports Schedule C, 1099-NEC/1099-K, no income cap, $0 for both returns. Caveats: it's mobile-first and clunkier on desktop, requires a Cash App account, and it doesn't handle multi-state or part-year/nonresident state returns - so if you moved states or work across states, skip it. ([TaxAct explainer](https://blog.taxact.com/cash-app-taxes-irs-reporting/), [free filing guide](https://walletgrower.com/blog/file-taxes-free-2026))\n\n**3. TurboTax Premium - worth it only for the imports and hand", "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"}}