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6 best tax software options for the self-employed

Nicolas StrautBy Nicolas StrautUpdated 10 min read

Affiliate disclosure: Solvent may earn a commission through a link here; that doesn't change any figure shown.1

Key takeaways

  • Paying your filing fee out of your refund adds $40 at TurboTax and $42 at H&R Block, current as of publish.2
  • When choosing self-employed tax software, look for a free tier that covers Schedule C, since most don't, and price the state return separately, since the state fee ranges from $0 to $64.99 and decides most close comparisons.
  • The best tax software options for the self-employed are FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes, and TurboTax Premium, since FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes file a Schedule C for the least money and TurboTax Premium leads on brokerage and crypto imports.
In this article

For a Schedule C filer with one state return, FreeTaxUSA costs $15.99 and Cash App Taxes costs nothing. TaxSlayer Self-Employed runs $122.98, TaxAct $174.98, and H&R Block Self-Employed $179. TurboTax Premium starts at $139 federal with no published state price. All six file a Schedule C, and all prices were read at publish. This guide covers the best options for any self-employed filer. If you're leaving TurboTax and only want cheaper alternatives, read the TurboTax Self-Employed alternatives guide.

Best tax software for the self-employed at a glance

The table below compares the best tax software for freelancers on price and Schedule C support.

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SoftwareBest suited toFederal priceState priceTotal, one stateFree Schedule C
Cash App TaxesA single-state Schedule C with no unusual forms$0$0$0Yes
FreeTaxUSAMost 1099 filers, including multi-state$0$15.99$15.99Yes
TaxSlayer Self-EmployedFilers who want a paid product without top-tier pricing$74.99$47.99$122.98No
TaxAct Self-EmployedFilers who may also need a separate business return$109.99$64.99$174.98No
H&R Block Self-EmployedFilers who may want an in-person handoff$130$49$179No
TurboTax PremiumHeavy brokerage or crypto import needs$139 to $149Not publishedNot computableNo

Prices are current as of publish and subject to change during the filing season.

What each option costs with one state return

Every price above was read from the vendor's own pricing page, not a test return.3 The single most useful fact here: every paid product's free tier excludes a Schedule C. TurboTax doesn't publish a state price. Third-party sources disagree on that price, so we don't use one.

Best tax software for the self-employed

Each of the six products is judged on five things: federal price, state price, total with one state, free-tier Schedule C support, and who it fits.

Best overall: FreeTaxUSA

Ideal for

A 1099 contractor or sole proprietor who wants a correctly filed Schedule C for the least money, with no interview-style hand-holding, including multi-state filers at $15.99 per state.

Our take

FreeTaxUSA charges $15.99 per state and $0 federal. That is the lowest non-zero price here and over $100 below every paid competitor, and you'll get the same result as products that charge more for guidance and support. FreeTaxUSA is also a Free File partner, though its own offer caps at $51,000 of AGI vs the $89,000 program ceiling.

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SpecFreeTaxUSA
CategoryBest overall
Federal price$0
State price$15.99
Total, one state$15.99
Free Schedule CYes
Best suited toMost 1099 filers, including multi-state

Pros

  • Files a federal Schedule C at no cost, with no form-based upgrade trigger.
  • Two state returns still cost about $32 at $15.99 each.
  • $15.99 total with one state is more than $100 below every paid product here.

Cons

  • The state return isn't free, so a single-state filer pays less at Cash App Taxes.
  • Its own Free File offer caps at $51,000 of AGI, below the $89,000 ceiling.
  • Doesn't match TurboTax's brokerage and crypto import pipelines.

Best free option: Cash App Taxes

Ideal for

A freelancer with a single state return, one or two 1099s, and no unusual forms, who wants filing to cost nothing.

Our take

Cash App Taxes is $0 federal and $0 state, the only product here that files a Schedule C for nothing. Its limit is coverage. Cash App Taxes has historically supported one state only, and its unsupported-situations list couldn't be confirmed because two help URLs were dead.

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SpecCash App Taxes
CategoryBest free option
Federal price$0
State price$0
Total, one state$0
Free Schedule CYes
Best suited toA single-state Schedule C with no unusual forms

Pros

  • Total cost of $0, federal and state, for a Schedule C filer.
  • The only product here with a free state return.
  • No filing fee means no refund-processing charge, $39.99 to $54 elsewhere.

Cons

  • Historically one state only, ruling out multi-state filers.
  • The unsupported-situations list couldn't be verified; two help URLs returned 404.
  • No paid tier to escalate to if the return turns out complicated.

Best mid-priced: TaxSlayer Self-Employed

Ideal for

A filer who wants a paid, guided product with support access, without top-tier pricing, and who reads the tier structure carefully.

Our take

TaxSlayer Self-Employed is $74.99 federal plus $47.99 per state, or $122.98 with one state. That is the cheapest total among the paid products here, though a $39.99 refund-transfer fee adds roughly a third more. Self-employment income moves you to Classic at $44.99, not Self-Employed at $74.99, and the top tier buys support, not the Schedule C.

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SpecTaxSlayer Self-Employed
CategoryBest mid-priced
Federal price$74.99
State price$47.99
Total, one state$122.98
Free Schedule CNo
Best suited toFilers who want a paid product without top-tier pricing

Pros

  • Cheapest of the paid products at $122.98 with one state.
  • Classic at $44.99 already handles a Schedule C, so the $74.99 tier is optional.
  • The $47.99 state return beats TaxAct's $64.99 and H&R Block's $49.

Cons

  • The free tier doesn't cover self-employment income.
  • At $122.98, nearly eight times FreeTaxUSA's $15.99 for the same forms.
  • Refund transfer fee is $39.99.

Best if you also need a business return: TaxAct Self-Employed

Ideal for

A sole proprietor who has made an S corp election, or who files as a partnership, and wants the personal and business returns from one vendor. The business return needs TaxAct's separate downloadable business product.

Our take

TaxAct Self-Employed is $109.99 federal plus $64.99 per state, or $174.98 with one state, and the state fee is the highest here. TaxAct also sells a separate downloadable business product for partnership and S corp returns, which the Self-Employed online tier doesn't cover. TaxAct Free excludes "business and farm income," and the refund transfer fee is $54, the highest here.

Scroll horizontally to see more columns.
SpecTaxAct Self-Employed
CategoryBest if you also need a business return
Federal price$109.99
State price$64.99
Total, one state$174.98
Free Schedule CNo
Best suited toFilers who may also need a separate business return

Pros

  • A separate downloadable business product is available for partnership and S corp returns.
  • Federal price of $109.99 sits below H&R Block's $130 and TurboTax's $139.
  • Publishes both prices, so the $174.98 total is verifiable up front.

Cons

  • Highest per-state fee here at $64.99, so two states pass $239.
  • The free tier excludes "business and farm income," forcing an upgrade.
  • Refund transfer fee is $54, the highest here.

Best for in-person help: H&R Block Self-Employed

Ideal for

A filer who wants to start online but keep the option of handing the return to a person in an office, usually because last year's return raised a question they couldn't answer alone.

Our take

H&R Block Self-Employed is $130 federal plus $49 per state, or $179 with one state, the highest computable total here at over eleven times FreeTaxUSA's $15.99. The extra cost pays for the handoff: H&R Block lets you start online and hand the return to someone in one of its offices. TurboTax sells in-person help too, but only as its Expert Full Service tier. Free Online excludes "income from self-employment or freelance work reported on Schedule C," and paying from your refund adds $42.

Scroll horizontally to see more columns.
SpecH&R Block Self-Employed
CategoryBest for in-person help
Federal price$130
State price$49
Total, one state$179
Free Schedule CNo
Best suited toFilers who may want an in-person handoff

Pros

  • You can start online and hand the return to someone in one of its offices.
  • The $49 state return beats TaxAct's $64.99.
  • Publishes both prices, so the $179 total is verifiable up front.

Cons

  • At $179, the highest computable total here.
  • Free Online excludes self-employment income reported on Schedule C.
  • Refund transfer fee is $42.

Best for investment and crypto imports: TurboTax Premium

Ideal for

A self-employed filer whose return also carries heavy brokerage or crypto activity, where the alternative to an import pipeline is keying in transactions by hand.

Our take

TurboTax Premium starts at $139 federal and rises to $149 in Intuit's late-season window. No state price is shown anywhere, so the total isn't computable, and we don't use a conflicting third-party number. The main reason to pay is import: TurboTax's brokerage and crypto pipelines are the strongest here, and TurboTax calculates next year's estimated payments and prepares 1040-ES vouchers.

Scroll horizontally to see more columns.
SpecTurboTax Premium
CategoryBest for investment and crypto imports
Federal price$139 to $149
State priceNot published
Total, one stateNot computable
Free Schedule CNo
Best suited toHeavy brokerage or crypto import needs

Pros

  • The strongest brokerage and crypto import pipelines here.
  • Calculates next year's estimated payments and prepares 1040-ES vouchers.
  • Discloses its late-season pricing window, so $149 is at least predictable.

Cons

  • No published state price, so the real total can't be computed.
  • The $40 refund-processing fee can't be removed once the return is pending.
  • Free Edition excludes "business or 1099-NEC income." The price rises to $149 from April 1.

See TurboTax Premium reviewed in full for its FTC history.

How we compared these tax software options

Every price came from each vendor's own pricing page on a stated date, not a test return we filed. Totals are federal plus one state, paid by card, judged on the five fields used above.

Which forms force you off the free tier?

Free tiers are gated by form, not income. Schedule C, the IRS form for a sole proprietor's profit or loss, upgrades nearly every self-employed filer.4 H&R Block Free Online excludes self-employment income, TurboTax Free Edition excludes "business or 1099-NEC income," and TaxAct Free excludes "business and farm income."

Check your forms against Schedule C, Schedule SE, Form 8829, Form 4562, 1099-K income, and crypto, since any one can force a paid tier.

Which fees are not in the advertised price?

These fees can change which product is cheapest once you pay.

The refund processing fee

Paying your filing fee out of your refund adds $40 at TurboTax, $42 at H&R Block, $54 at TaxAct, and $39.99 at TaxSlayer. TurboTax doesn't let you remove the fee once the return is pending.

Why tax software costs more in April than in February

Intuit's compare page says it plainly: "strikethrough prices reflect anticipated late-season pricing (4/1-10/31; for S-corps & partnerships, 5/1-10/31)." That's why Premium runs $139 early and $149 later. All three vendors carry "prices determined at the time of print or e-file" language, and Intuit's own pages currently disagree.

What a second state return costs

The per-state fee is the largest hidden cost, from $0 at Cash App Taxes to $64.99 at TaxAct. Two states at TaxAct pass $239, vs about $32 at FreeTaxUSA.

Can you file a Schedule C for free?

Yes, you can file a Schedule C for free, in two ways. FreeTaxUSA files a federal Schedule C at no cost with $15.99 per state, and Cash App Taxes files both federal and state for nothing.

IRS Free File and the AGI thresholds that apply

The IRS Free File program's ceiling for 2025 income is $89,000, across eight partners.5 Individual partners set their own, lower thresholds. FreeTaxUSA's threshold is $51,000, so the program ceiling can make you think you qualify for a partner's offer when you don't.

Why IRS Direct File is not an option this year

Direct File isn't available this filing season, and even when it operated it never supported Schedule C income. We aren't linking the old directfile.irs.gov URL, which still serves a stale "now open" page.

How to choose tax software as a freelancer

All six above file a Schedule C, so choosing the best tax software for freelancers comes down to three checks.

Step 1: Count your state returns before comparing federal prices

The per-state fee has the widest spread of any figure here, $0 to $64.99, and decides most two-state comparisons alone.

Step 2: Check your forms against the free-tier exclusions above

The upgrade is triggered by a form, not income, so the exclusion list above decides whether you'll pay.

Step 3: Decide whether you're buying capability or guidance

Every product here files a Schedule C correctly. Paid tiers buy interface and support, so decide whether those are worth it to you.

Should you use an AI-native tool instead?

An AI-native tool is worth considering. These tools scan linked accounts for deductions and bill annually. The main one is Keeper, at $199 a year, and our Keeper review covers it in full. Keeper has to find $700 to $1,200 in missed deductions to beat FreeTaxUSA.

Run your numbers before you file

Tax software won't tell you what to send the IRS next quarter. Run your numbers through the Solvent quarterly tax estimator.

Frequently asked questions about tax software for the self-employed

What is the best tax app for self-employed individuals?

The cheapest capable options are FreeTaxUSA at $15.99 with one state and Cash App Taxes at nothing. Both file a full Schedule C. The paid apps charge more for interface, import automation, and support access, not for a different tax result.

Is TurboTax good if you're self-employed?

TurboTax handles self-employment well and has the strongest import pipelines for brokerage and crypto activity. It's also the most expensive option here and won't display its state fee. Whether TurboTax is worth the higher price depends on how much data you'd otherwise type in by hand.

What tax software does Dave Ramsey recommend?

Ramsey Solutions promotes its own affiliated tax service and doesn't review the market, so the recommendation is a commercial one. We compare products on published price and form coverage instead. That is a different exercise from asking who a commentator endorses.

About the author

Nicolas Straut

Nicolas Straut

Personal and business finance writer, former Forbes contributor

Nicolas Straut writes about self-employment and quarterly tax, LLC formation and costs, and tax software for Solvent. He has written about money for about ten years, including for the fintech companies NorthOne and Fundera. He files his own taxes as a freelancer. He isn't a CPA or an enrolled agent (EA).

More articles by Nicolas Straut →
Pricing is current as of publish and subject to change. Solvent may earn a commission from some links above. Solvent provides educational estimates, not tax advice. Confirm your specific situation with a qualified tax professional.

Sources

  1. https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking
  2. https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/get-your-taxes-done-using-turbotax-6/40-refund-processing-fee-122997 · https://www.hrblock.com/financial-services/tax-refund-payment/index.html
  3. https://cash.app/taxes · https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing/ · https://www.taxslayer.com/products/taxslayer-self-employment-taxes/ · https://www.taxact.com/taxes-online/file-your-own-taxes/self-employed-tax-filing · https://www.hrblock.com/online-tax-filing/self-employed-online-tax-filing/ · https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/premium/
  4. https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-c-form-1040
  5. https://www.irs.gov/e-file-do-your-taxes-for-free
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