# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (freelancers) on 2026-10-28

## In short

On 2026-10-28, 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, TurboTax Premium and QuickBooks.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best tax preparation software for freelancers |
| Asked on | 2026-10-28 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 12 |
| Sources cited | 7 |
| Audience | freelancers |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-28 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-freelancers-2026-10-28
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-10-28 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> ## My actual recommendations, in order
> 
> **1. FreeTaxUSA** - what I'd tell most freelancers to use. Schedule C, Schedule SE, home office, vehicle, depreciation, and QBI are all in the free federal tier; you only pay for state (~$15.99). There's no "self-employed upgrade" paywall, which is the whole trick the big brands run. The interface is plain but competent. Unless your return is genuinely complicated, this is the right answer and saves you ~$100+.
> 
> **2. TaxSlayer Self-Employed** - the best middle ground. Roughly $53 federal + $40 state (~$93 all-in), and at that tier you get self-employed-specific guidance plus access to a tax pro. Forbes and The College Investor both land on it as the value pick for Schedule C filers. Choose this over FreeTaxUSA if you want hand-holding and phone support but refuse to pay TurboTax prices.
> 
> **3. TurboTax Premium** - only if your time is worth more than the money. ~$139 federal + ~$39-64 state. What you're buying is the smoothest interview, the best 1099/brokerage/platform imports, mileage and expense import from QuickBooks, and optional live CPA review. It is the most polished self-employment experience and also the most expensive by a wide marg

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

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

## Sources the engine cited

- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/taxes/best-tax-software-for-self-employed/ (other)
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/15201/comparing-prices-turbotax-hr-block-tax-act/ (other)
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/20925/taxslayer-review/ (other)
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/17356/free-tax-software/ (other)
- https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/the-best-tax-prep-software-for-every-tax-situation (other)
- https://www.keepertax.com/switch-from/flyfin (other)
- https://www.moneycrashers.com/keeper-tax-review/ (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.