Best tax software for freelancers and the self-employed in the US (2026)
Tax software compared on what a federal return with freelance income costs, alongside the IRS's own free routes.
Quick answer
For a freelancer with $60,000 adjusted gross income, IRS Free File's guided partner software is free below $95,000 AGI, though partner coverage of self-employment forms varies and it reopens in January 2027. TaxAct's Self-Employed tier costs $109.99 plus state. TurboTax publishes only price ranges, so it is listed without a rank.
Key points
- IRS Free File guided software is free if your adjusted gross income is $95,000 or less.
- Free File Fillable Forms is free at any income, but you complete the forms yourself.
- TaxAct's Self-Employed tier is $109.99 for the federal return, plus state.
- TaxAct's and TurboTax's free tiers exclude freelance and 1099-NEC income.
- TurboTax publishes price ranges, not a single self-employed price, so it is not ranked.
- H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes could not be read and are not yet included.
What you would pay
Set your own numbers. The list below is ranked with this same calculator at our reference profile: one federal return with freelance income and $60,000 adjusted gross income (state return priced separately).
- IRS Free File Guided software$0.00Partner coverage of self-employment forms varies
- TaxAct Self-Employed$109.99
Regular published prices only. Introductory offers and tax are left out. Figures are arithmetic on the provider’s own numbers, not a recommendation.
The list, in order
Order follows the published method on How we rank. Providers cannot pay for a position.
IRS Free File
Free federal filing through IRS partner software if your adjusted gross income is $95,000 or less, or free fillable forms at any income if you do the work.
Suits: filers under $95,000 AGI who are comfortable checking which forms a partner supports. Watch for: it is closed until January 2027, and each partner sets its own eligibility and forms.
- Guided software
- Free, AGI $95,000 or less
- Fillable forms
- Free, any income
- Status
- Reopens January 2027
TaxAct
Four online tiers from a free federal return to Self-Employed at $109.99, with state returns extra. The free tier excludes freelance and self-employed income.
Suits: freelancers who want a published price for a self-employed return. Watch for: the live-expert add-on is $45 on one part of the page and $60 on another.
- Free
- $0 (no self-employed income)
- Deluxe
- $59.99
- Premier
- $99.99
- Self-Employed
- $109.99 + state
TurboTax Online
Do-it-yourself returns priced from $0 to $139, Expert Assist from $59 to $209, and Expert Full Service from $129. Free Edition covers simple Form 1040 returns only.
Suits: filers who want the option of live expert help. Watch for: the page gives price ranges, not a single price for a self-employed return, so it is not ranked.
- Do It Yourself
- $0–$139 + state
- Expert Assist
- $59–$209
- Full Service
- From $129
- Free Edition
- Excludes 1099-NEC
Figures read from each provider’s own page on 29 October 2026. Federal return prices; state returns cost extra where stated. Reference profile: one federal return with freelance income and $60,000 adjusted gross income (state return priced separately). Unranked entries publish no price that fits it.
- H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes — their pages refused automated reads on 29 Oct 2026. To be confirmed by hand.
Freelance income moves you out of most free tax filing tiers, because it needs Schedule C and Schedule SE. This comparison sets the commercial self-employed tiers against the IRS's own free routes.
How the ranking works
We ranked options by the federal price of a return with freelance income and $60,000 adjusted gross income, using prices read from each provider's page on 29 October 2026, for the season filing 2025 returns. State returns are priced separately and left out. See how we rank.
| Option | Covers freelance income? | Federal price |
|---|---|---|
| IRS Free File (guided) | Depends on partner | $0, AGI $95,000 or less |
| IRS Free File Fillable Forms | You complete the forms | $0, any income |
| TaxAct Self-Employed | Yes | $109.99 + state |
| TurboTax Online | Premium tiers | $0–$139 range; not ranked |
The IRS's free routes
The IRS Free File page offers guided software for adjusted gross income of $95,000 or less, through partners in 36 states for filers aged 17 to 85, and Fillable Forms for any income. On 29 October 2026 it said Free File had closed and would reopen in January 2027. Coverage of self-employment forms varies by partner.
Commercial software
TaxAct lists Free at $0, Deluxe at $59.99, Premier at $99.99 and Self-Employed at $109.99, each plus state. Its free tier excludes freelance and self-employed income. Its live-expert add-on is listed at $45 in one place and $60 in another.
TurboTax lists Do It Yourself from $0 to $139, Expert Assist from $59 to $209 and Expert Full Service from $129. Its Free Edition excludes 1099-NEC income. Because only ranges are published, it is listed without a rank.
What self-employed filers owe
The IRS sets self-employment tax at 15.3% on net earnings of $400 or more, and generally expects estimated payments if you will owe $1,000 or more. Our guide to filing as self-employed in the US and UK covers both.
Not yet included
H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes refused automated reads on 29 October 2026. The UK comparison covers Self Assessment software, and the tax software price finder works it out in dollars.
Keep reading
Best Self Assessment software for sole traders in the UK (2026)
Self Assessment software compared on price for a sole trader's return, and on which products handle Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
Guide · US & UKFiling taxes as self-employed: Schedule C and estimated tax vs Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital
Working for yourself means paying tax yourself, during the year as well as at the end. Here is how the US and UK systems work, with dates, rates and worked examples.
Calculator · US editionTax software price finder
The same calculator on its own page, in dollars.
Questions
Can I file self-employment taxes for free?
Possibly. IRS Free File offers guided software from partners if your adjusted gross income is $95,000 or less, but each partner sets its own eligibility and supported forms, so check that it handles Schedule C. Free File Fillable Forms is free at any income if you fill in the forms yourself.
Why do free tiers exclude freelance income?
Commercial free tiers cover simple returns. TaxAct says its free tier excludes freelance, contractor and self-employed income, and TurboTax says its Free Edition excludes 1099-NEC and business income. Self-employment needs extra forms, including Schedule C and Schedule SE, which the paid tiers include.
When is IRS Free File available?
The IRS Free File page said on 29 October 2026 that Free File has closed and to check back in January 2027. The IRS e-file page gives April 15, 2027 as the deadline for 2026 tax returns. Free File reopens at the start of each filing season.
Is the state return included in these prices?
No. TaxAct and TurboTax both list the state return as an additional cost on top of the federal price, and neither page we read showed the state price. IRS Free File covers federal returns; some partners also offer free state filing under their own terms.
Do I need to pay estimated tax as a freelancer?
The IRS says individuals, including sole proprietors, generally have to make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file. Self-employment tax of 15.3% applies to net earnings of $400 or more. Our guide on filing as self-employed explains both.