How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Only three options are genuinely free for self-employed filers: FreeTaxUSA (free federal with Schedule C), Cash App Taxes (free federal and state), and IRS Free File (free if your AGI is $89,000 or less).
- TurboTax Free, H&R Block Free, TaxSlayer Simply Free and TaxAct Free all exclude self-employment income from their free tiers, so a Schedule C forces an upgrade.
- MyFreeTaxes covers self-employment income free for filers under $89,000, making it an underused option for lower-income freelancers.
- If you earn too much for the free programs, 1040.com charges one flat $34.99 for federal and state with every form included.
- Always start from the IRS Free File portal rather than a vendor homepage if you want the free offer to actually apply.
Quick comparison
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9 free tax software options for self-employed filers, honestly ranked
Starting price$0 federal
Free planYes
FreeTaxUSA is the rare product whose free tier does not punish you for having business income. Schedule C, Schedule SE, home office deductions, quarterly estimated calculations: all included in the $0 federal return. The company makes its money on the $15.99 state return and optional upgrades like Deluxe support, not by paywalling your forms.
The experience is less hand-holding than the big brands. If you know your way around a Schedule C, that is a fine trade for paying nothing on the federal side. For most freelancers, the total bill is $15.99 plus a state return, which is hard to beat.
What we like- Federal filing is free for every tax situation including Schedule C, with no form-based upsells
- State returns are a flat $15.99
- Long track record as an IRS-authorized provider
Watch out for- The interface is plainer than TurboTax or H&R Block
- State filing always costs extra
#2
Cash App Taxes
Best for: filers who want zero fees on federal and state
Visit cash.app
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) takes the simplest possible approach: one free product, no paid tiers, no upsells at checkout. Self-employment income is covered, state filing is included, and audit defense comes free, which competitors typically charge extra for.
The guidance is more basic than TurboTax's interview flow, so confident filers get the most out of it. But on pure price, nothing beats free, and unlike most free editions, this one does not evaporate the moment you enter 1099 income.
What we like- Free federal and state filing with no tier games
- Handles self-employment income
- Includes free audit defense
Watch out for- Fewer guidance features than premium competitors
- Support options are thinner than H&R Block or TurboTax
#3
IRS Free File
Best for: filers with AGI of $89,000 or less
Visit irs.gov
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
IRS Free File is the government's own free-filing program, run with private software partners, and it remains the best deal most people have never used. If your adjusted gross income is $89,000 or less, you get full guided software free, with program rules that ban hidden fees and upsells.
The catch is access: you must begin at the IRS Free File page, not the vendor's homepage, or the free offer will not apply. Each partner also layers on its own criteria around age, state and income type, so check two or three partners before settling. Self-employed filers under the cap should start here.
What we like- Genuinely free guided tax software from name-brand partners
- No upselling permitted by program rules
- Some partners include free state filing
Watch out for- Income cap of $89,000 AGI for the 2025 tax year
- Each partner sets its own extra eligibility rules
- You must start from the IRS portal
Starting price$0
Free planYes
TurboTax makes this list as a warning as much as a recommendation. The Free Edition is genuinely free, but only for straightforward W-2 situations. The moment you add Schedule C income, you are routed to a paid edition, and the price climbs fast from there.
If your freelance work is a tiny side gig and the rest of your return is simple, it is still worth knowing where the paywall sits. But for anyone whose primary income is self-employment, TurboTax Free is not a free option in practice.
What we like- The smoothest interview experience in the industry
- Excellent mobile app
- Free audit support on the paid tiers
Watch out for- The free edition covers simple returns only, so self-employment income forces a paid upgrade
#5
H&R Block Free Online
Best for: simple returns with broader free form coverage
Visit hrblock.com
Starting price$0
Free planYes
H&R Block's free online product is arguably the strongest of the big-brand free tiers, covering situations like student loan interest and limited schedules that competitors paywall. The company states plainly that Free Online is for simple returns and not everyone qualifies.
For self-employed filers, the honest read is the same as TurboTax: the free tier will not carry a Schedule C. Where H&R Block earns its place is as the fallback brand with physical offices, which matters if your return gets complicated mid-season and you want a human.
What we like- The free tier accepts more forms than TurboTax Free Edition
- In-person offices as a backup
- Free audit support
Watch out for- Still limited to simple returns, so Schedule C requires an upgrade
- State filing costs extra on paid tiers
Starting price$0
Free planYes
TaxSlayer's Simply Free tier handles W-2 income, unemployment and education credits at no cost, which suits simple returns. Freelancers will need the Self-Employed edition at $74.99 for federal, which undercuts the equivalent TurboTax and H&R Block products by a wide margin.
There is no trick here, just thinner margins and a plainer product. If you have outgrown the truly free options because of income or complexity, TaxSlayer's paid tier is one of the cheapest legitimate ways to file a Schedule C.
What we like- Simply Free tier costs $0 for basic federal filing
- The Self-Employed edition is $74.99 federal, cheaper than TurboTax or H&R Block equivalents
- Straightforward flat pricing
Watch out for- The free tier does not cover self-employment
- The interface is utilitarian
Starting price$0
Free planYes
TaxAct deserves credit for transparency: its site lists "freelance, contractor, side hustle, or self-employed income and expenses" under situations the free edition does not cover. About 40% of users qualify for free filing, and self-employed filers are not among them.
Include TaxAct in your research only to rule it out quickly. The clarity of its exclusions is useful, but this free tier will not file your freelance taxes.
What we like- The free edition is clearly scoped
- Paid tiers start low
- The site spells out exactly what is not covered
Watch out for- The free edition explicitly excludes freelance, contractor and self-employed income, so it is a non-starter for Schedule C filers
#8
1040.com
Best for: a cheap flat rate when free options do not fit
Visit 1040.com
Starting price$34.99
Free planNo
1040.com is not free software, and it does not pretend to be. Its pitch is a single flat rate of $34.99 for federal plus state, with all forms included, which makes it cheaper than any big-brand self-employed tier. If you earn too much for Free File and want to avoid the $100-plus checkout totals elsewhere, this is the value play.
The product is deliberately simple, so filers who want extensive guidance may miss it. But for a freelancer who knows their numbers and wants the cheapest legitimate full filing, $34.99 all-in is difficult to argue with.
What we like- One flat $34.99 covers federal and state with every form including Schedule C
- No upsells or tier maze
- Simple three-step flow
Watch out for- Not free
- Fewer guidance and support features than the big brands
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
MyFreeTaxes is United Way's free filing program, and it is one of the least-known good deals for freelancers. The self-guided option is free under $89,000 of income and explicitly covers self-employment income from 1099s, plus rental property and home ownership situations.
If your freelance income is modest, this deserves a look before you pay anyone. The tradeoff is the income ceiling and a less polished experience than commercial software, but the price is right and the support comes from IRS-certified volunteers.
What we like- Free self-guided filing for incomes under $89,000, and self-employment income is explicitly included
- Backed by United Way with IRS-certified support
- Also offers free VITA preparation under $69,000
Watch out for- The income cap excludes higher earners
- The volunteer-prepared option has limited self-employment support
How we chose
We focused on the question that matters for this keyword: which free or free-tier products actually cover self-employment income. We read vendor homepages and pricing pages, the IRS Free File program pages, and the fine print on free-tier eligibility, and we checked reviewer and Reddit consensus on where the paywalls appear. We treated vendor-published eligibility language as the source of truth and did not test filings hands-on.
The Schedule C test: how to read a free tier
Every tax company advertises a free edition, but "free" usually means "free for a simple W-2 return." Before you invest an hour entering data, run the Schedule C test: search the vendor's own site for whether the free tier covers self-employment, freelance, or contractor income. TaxAct publishes its exclusions clearly; TurboTax and H&R Block route you to paid editions mid-flow.
The products that pass the test are FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes, IRS Free File partners (within eligibility), and MyFreeTaxes. Note the pattern: the genuinely free options for freelancers are the value brands and the government program, not the big-brand free editions. If you fall outside every free program, compare flat-rate options like 1040.com against the big-brand self-employed tiers before paying triple digits.
What self-employed filers should prepare before filing
Gather every 1099-NEC and 1099-K, plus records of business expenses: home office, mileage, software, supplies, health insurance premiums and retirement contributions. Decide whether you are taking the standard deduction or itemizing, and have last year's return handy for carryovers. If you paid quarterly estimated taxes, have those payment records ready. Free software handles the forms fine, but no software finds deductions for expenses you never entered, so the preparation matters more than the brand.
Frequently asked questions
Is there really free tax software for self-employed people?
Yes, but only a few. FreeTaxUSA files your federal return free including Schedule C, Cash App Taxes is free for federal and state, and IRS Free File partners are free if your AGI is $89,000 or less. The big-brand free editions from TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxSlayer and TaxAct exclude self-employment income.
Why does TurboTax Free not cover my freelance income?
TurboTax scopes its Free Edition to simple tax situations, generally W-2 income with the standard deduction. Self-employment income requires Schedule C, which sits in its paid tiers. This is standard across the big brands: the free tier is a funnel to paid editions.
What is the income limit for IRS Free File?
For the 2025 tax year, guided Free File software is available to filers with adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less. Free File Fillable Forms has no income limit but offers no guidance. Always start from the IRS Free File portal so the free terms apply.
Do I need to pay for state filing with free tax software?
It depends. Cash App Taxes includes state filing free, and some IRS Free File partners include a free state return. FreeTaxUSA charges $15.99 per state. Check the state terms before you start, since state fees are the most common surprise charge.
What if I earn too much for the free options?
Compare flat-rate filers like 1040.com ($34.99 for federal and state with all forms) against the self-employed tiers of TaxSlayer, H&R Block and TurboTax. For most freelancers, the flat-rate or value-brand option costs far less than the big-brand premium tiers for the same forms.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.freetaxusa.com
- https://cash.app
- https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-free-file-do-your-taxes-for-free
- https://turbotax.intuit.com
- https://www.hrblock.com
- https://www.taxslayer.com
- https://www.taxact.com
- https://1040.com/
- https://myfreetaxes.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
FreeTaxUSA
TurboTax Free Edition
TaxSlayer
TaxAct Free Edition
MyFreeTaxes