Best Tax Software for Freelancers 2026: I’ve Filed With 3 of Them

Tax filing as a freelancer is different from tax filing as an employee. You need Schedule C (business profit/loss), Schedule SE (self-employment tax), and possibly Form 8829 (home office). Not all tax software handles these well, and the ones that do charge $50-200 for the privilege.

I’ve filed with FreeTaxUSA (2 years), TurboTax Self-Employed (1 year), and now use a CPA. Here’s the breakdown.

The Quick Comparison

1. FreeTaxUSA — Best Value (What I Used Years 1-2)

Price: Free federal + $14.99 state

FreeTaxUSA handles Schedule C, Schedule SE, home office deduction, and quarterly estimated tax carryover. For $15 total, it’s remarkable.

My experience: I filed two years of freelance taxes through FreeTaxUSA without issues. The interface is dated — it looks like a website from 2012. The guidance is minimal compared to TurboTax. But every form I needed was there, and the calculations were accurate.

What works:

• Free federal filing including Schedule C and SE
• All self-employment forms and deductions supported
• Prior year return import
• Audit support available ($7 add-on)

What doesn’t:

• Interface feels old and clunky
• Less guidance — you need to know what deductions you qualify for
• No integration with accounting software
• Customer support is limited

Who should use it: Freelancers with straightforward taxes (single income stream, standard deductions, no S-Corp) who want to save money on filing.

2. TurboTax Self-Employed — Best Guided Experience

Price: $130+ federal + $65+ state (prices creep up annually)

TurboTax is the Cadillac of DIY tax software. The self-employed version walks you through every deduction, asks plain-English questions, and finds deductions you might miss.

My experience (year 3): I switched to TurboTax because I was using QuickBooks Self-Employed at the time, and the integration was seamless — all income, expenses, and mileage transferred automatically. Schedule C was pre-populated. Filing took about 90 minutes instead of 3 hours with FreeTaxUSA.

What works:

• Beautiful, intuitive interface
• Step-by-step guidance through every deduction
• QuickBooks Self-Employed integration (killer feature)
• Deduction finder that suggests deductions you might miss
• Live CPA help available (for extra fee)

What doesn’t:

• Expensive ($130+ federal alone)
• Aggressive upselling of add-ons during the filing process
• Price keeps increasing every year
• No integration with FreshBooks or Wave

Who should use it: Freelancers using QuickBooks SE, first-time self-employment filers who want hand-holding, and people who value a polished experience over price.

3. H&R Block Self-Employed — Best for In-Person Help

Price: $115+ federal + $50+ state (online); in-office pricing varies

H&R Block’s main advantage: 12,000+ physical offices where you can get in-person help. If you’re confused about a specific deduction or have a question that’s hard to Google, walking into an office has value.

I haven’t used H&R Block personally, but several freelancer friends have. The consensus: the software is good (not as polished as TurboTax, better than FreeTaxUSA), and the in-person option provides peace of mind.

Who should use it: Freelancers who want the option of face-to-face tax help.

4. Cash App Taxes — Cheapest Option

Price: Completely free (federal + state)

Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) is 100% free and supports Schedule C. The catch: the guidance is minimal and the interface is basic. You need to know what you’re doing.

Who should use it: Freelancers with very simple taxes who want to pay $0.

When to Skip Software and Hire a CPA

I switched from DIY to a CPA in year 3. Here’s why:

My CPA found $3,200 in deductions I’d been missing. Over two years of DIY filing, I’d overlooked the self-employed health insurance deduction for 6 months, miscategorized some expenses, and didn’t optimize my home office calculation.

Her fee: $375/year. Deductions found: $3,200. Tax savings: ~$900. ROI: positive in year one.

Hire a CPA when:

• Income exceeds $75K (the tax-saving opportunities increase with income)
• You have an S-Corp (the 1120S return is complex)
• You have multiple income streams
• You’re behind on filings or have IRS issues
• Tax prep stresses you out enough to affect your work

How to find a good freelancer-friendly CPA:

• Ask other freelancers for referrals
• Look for CPAs who specialize in small business/self-employed
• Expect to pay $300-600 for basic freelance filing, $800-1,500 for S-Corp returns
• Interview them: “How many freelance/self-employed clients do you have?” (You want at least 20-30)

My Filing Timeline

January 15: Q4 estimated tax payment + collect 1099s from clients January 31: All 1099-NECs should be received (follow up with any missing ones) February 1-15: Export annual P&L from FreshBooks, organize deduction documentation February 15: Send everything to CPA March 1: Review CPA’s draft return, approve, and file March 15: S-Corp return due (Form 1120S) — CPA handles this April 15: Personal return due + Q1 estimated payment

Total time I spend on tax filing: about 2-3 hours of document preparation. My CPA does the rest. Three years ago, I spent 6-8 hours filing myself and still missed deductions.

The Bottom Line

Just starting out (income under $50K): FreeTaxUSA ($15) or Cash App Taxes (free). Learn the process, save money.

Growing but still DIY (income $50-75K): FreeTaxUSA ($15) if you’re confident, TurboTax SE ($130+) if you want guidance.

Established (income over $75K or S-Corp): Hire a CPA ($300-600). The tax savings from professional advice almost always exceed the fee.

The goal isn’t to pay the least for tax software. It’s to pay the least in total taxes. A $375 CPA who saves you $900 in taxes is cheaper than a $15 software that misses $900 in deductions.