Self-employed tax software and TurboTax alternatives
Filing a Schedule C pushes most people off free tiers. These roundups and reviews compare what each product charges for self-employment income, using prices read from vendor pages.
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Works out each quarterly payment from your expected profit, using the safe harbor or current-year method.
Tax year 2026 · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, 2026 Form 1040-ES
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Frequently asked questions
Can I file a Schedule C for free?
Yes. Cash App Taxes is the only fully free option Solvent compared, for both the federal and state return, and FreeTaxUSA is close behind. Both file a full Schedule C. Learn more: 5 best TurboTax Self-Employed alternatives
What do the paid tax apps add?
Interface, import automation and support access. The tax result on a Schedule C is the same. Whether the extra cost is worth it depends on how much data you would otherwise type in by hand. Learn more: 6 best tax software options for the self-employed
Can TurboTax Premium file an S corp return?
No. It is a personal return product and does not prepare Form 1120-S or Form 1065. Intuit sells business returns separately. Learn more: TurboTax Premium review: Is it worth it in 2026?
Can I switch software after starting a TurboTax return?
You can, but no other product imports an in-progress TurboTax file, so you enter your data again from the start. Compare the total cost before you begin. Learn more: 5 best TurboTax Self-Employed alternatives
Is Keeper tax software?
Not quite. Keeper is a bookkeeping subscription with filing attached, billed by the year, which is a different kind of product from a per-return tax app like TurboTax. Learn more: Keeper Tax review 2026
Key terms
- Self-employment tax
- Social Security and Medicare for people who work for themselves, 15.3%. Every product here works it out from your Schedule C profit.Learn more: What is self-employment tax?
- Estimated tax payments
- The four payments a year you make on income with no withholding. Tax software files the annual return; these are paid separately.Learn more: Estimated tax payments in 2026, federal and state