BestFreeTaxFiling

FreeTaxUSA 2026 Review: Free Federal Filing for Every Tax Situation

FreeTaxUSA is the best-kept secret in tax software. While TurboTax and H&R Block charge $69 to $159 for anything beyond a simple W-2 return, FreeTaxUSA offers free federal filing for every tax situation, including self-employment, investments, rental income, itemized deductions, HSA contributions, and cryptocurrency. The only cost is $15.99 per state return.

Pricing Breakdown

TierPriceWhat You Get
Free$0 federalAll forms, all schedules, e-file, direct deposit, prior-year import
State$15.99/stateState return filing (required if your state has income tax)
Deluxe$7.99Priority support, amended returns, audit assistance
Pro$44.99Professional tax review, audit defense, live chat

Compare this to TurboTax Self-Employed at $159 + $64/state, or H&R Block Self-Employed at $110 + state fees. FreeTaxUSA covers the same forms for $0 federal + $15.99 state.

Complete Form Support

FreeTaxUSA supports nearly every form and schedule the IRS offers, all included in the free federal tier. Here is a sample of what is covered:

✓Schedule A (Itemized Deductions)
✓Schedule B (Interest/Dividends)
✓Schedule C (Self-Employment)
✓Schedule D (Capital Gains)
✓Schedule E (Rental/Royalty Income)
✓Schedule F (Farm Income)
✓Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax)
✓Form 8889 (HSA)
✓Form 8949 (Crypto/Securities)
✓Form 2441 (Child Care Credit)
✓Form 8863 (Education Credits)
✓Form 8962 (Premium Tax Credit)
✓Form 1116 (Foreign Tax Credit)
✓Schedule H (Household Employment)

See the complete form coverage matrix for a side-by-side comparison with other free options.

Who FreeTaxUSA Is Best For

Self-employed and freelancers

Schedule C, Schedule SE, 1099-NEC, and 1099-K are all supported for free. This is the best option if you need free federal filing with self-employment income and do not mind paying $15.99 for state.

Investors and crypto holders

Schedule D, Form 8949, and dividend/interest reporting are all free. Import your 1099-B directly. TurboTax charges $129+ for this level of support.

Itemizers and homeowners

Schedule A is fully supported. Mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable contributions, and state/local taxes are all handled in the free tier.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

People who need free state filing

If the $15.99 state fee is a dealbreaker, consider Cash App Taxes (completely free federal and state) or check if your state has a free direct-file portal.

People who want extensive hand-holding

FreeTaxUSA has a competent interview-style walkthrough, but it is not as polished as TurboTax or H&R Block. If you need a premium UX experience and are willing to pay for it, the paid competitors do have better interfaces.

FreeTaxUSA as an IRS Free File Partner

FreeTaxUSA participates in the IRS Free File program through its TaxHawk brand. If you access it through IRS.gov/freefile, both federal and state are completely free if your AGI is $45,000 or less. However, if you go directly to FreeTaxUSA.com, you get free federal filing regardless of income but state costs $15.99.

Tip: If your AGI is under $45,000, start at IRS.gov/freefile and select the TaxHawk/FreeTaxUSA option to get both federal and state for free. If your AGI is above $45,000, go directly to FreeTaxUSA.com for free federal filing.

Related Guides

All Options ComparedMaster comparison tableForm Coverage MatrixWhich forms each option supportsCash App Taxes ReviewThe only 100% free optionSelf-Employed GuideFree filing for 1099 income

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FreeTaxUSA really free?
Federal filing is completely free for all income levels and all tax situations. There is no AGI limit and no form restrictions on the free federal tier. State filing costs $15.99 per state. The optional Deluxe upgrade ($7.99) adds priority support and amended returns. The Pro upgrade ($44.99) adds audit defense and professional review.
What forms does FreeTaxUSA support for free?
FreeTaxUSA supports nearly every IRS form and schedule in the free federal tier. This includes Schedule C (self-employment), Schedule D (capital gains), Schedule E (rental income), Schedule A (itemized deductions), Form 8889 (HSA), Form 8949 (crypto/securities), education credits, child tax credit, EITC, and more. The only features behind the paywall are priority support and audit defense.
Is FreeTaxUSA an IRS Free File partner?
Yes, FreeTaxUSA participates in IRS Free File through its TaxHawk brand. Through the Free File program, both federal and state are free if your AGI is $45,000 or less. If you access FreeTaxUSA directly (not through IRS.gov/freefile), federal is always free but state costs $15.99 regardless of income.
How does FreeTaxUSA compare to TurboTax?
FreeTaxUSA supports far more forms for free than TurboTax Free Edition. TurboTax Free only covers simple Form 1040 returns without investments, self-employment, or itemized deductions. FreeTaxUSA covers all of these for free. The main trade-off is that FreeTaxUSA has a more basic interface and less hand-holding than TurboTax.
Is FreeTaxUSA safe and legitimate?
Yes. FreeTaxUSA (operated by TaxHawk, Inc.) has been an IRS-authorized e-file provider since 2001. It uses 256-bit encryption and multi-factor authentication. FreeTaxUSA has prepared over 80 million returns. It is also an official IRS Free File Alliance member.