FreeTaxUSA Review
FreeTaxUSA files federal returns at no cost for every situation it supports — including self-employment, rental income and investments — and charges a flat fee per state return. That pricing model is the opposite of the mainstream products, which gate schedules behind tiers. The trade-off is a plainer interface and thinner import automation, so you type more.
Pricing observed August 2026 · Think Bigger Today editorial team
Plans and published prices
Prices shown were read from the vendor's public pricing page on the observation date below. Filing-season prices usually rise as the deadline approaches — confirm the current price on the vendor site before you pay.
| Plan | Who it covers | Federal | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal return (all supported situations) | W-2, self-employment, investments, rental income, credits | $0 | $15.99 per state |
| Deluxe add-on | Priority support, audit assistance, unlimited amended returns | $7.99 add-on | $15.99 per state |
| Pro Support add-on | Screen-share and tax-pro help while you prepare | $64.99 add-on | $15.99 per state |
Observed August 2026 on the vendor's pricing page.
What it does well
- Complex federal returns cost nothing: Schedule C, Schedule E and investment income are not paywalled.
- Flat, published state price rather than a tier-dependent add-on.
- Prices are stable and stated up front rather than climbing through the season.
- Supports prior-year returns and amended returns.
Its limits
- Fewer automated imports than the mainstream products, so brokerage and payroll data often need manual entry.
- The interface is functional rather than guided; it reads closer to the forms.
- No in-person option — support is online only, with expert help as a paid add-on.
- State support is broad but not universal; check your state before starting.
Who it suits
- · Freelancers and contractors with a Schedule C who refuse to pay a self-employed tier price.
- · Filers comfortable entering figures themselves.
- · Single-state filers wanting a predictable total cost.
Who should look elsewhere
- · Investors with many brokerage transactions who need bulk import.
- · Anyone who wants a preparer to take the return over entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Think Bigger Today keeps its editorial standards independent of commercial relationships. This review was written by our team using publicly available information, including regulatory filings and published rate sheets. FreeTaxUSA did not review, approve or endorse it, and is not responsible for its accuracy. Companies that work with us commercially get no preferential coverage, scoring or placement. This page may link to our free matching service, for which we can be paid a referral fee — that fee never decides what we publish, and you may or may not be matched with FreeTaxUSA. Figures can change without notice; always confirm the current terms with the provider. Nothing here is financial, legal or tax advice.
How we built this review
- Content and methodology updated
- Written and maintained by
- Think Bigger Today editorial team
Data sources and observation years
- FreeTaxUSA public pricing page — observed August 2026. Prices change during filing season
- IRS annual inflation adjustments (revenue procedure) — observed tax year 2026
We do not claim to be licensed advisers and we publish no anonymous expert reviews. What we do commit to is method: where a figure comes from an ingested dataset we name that source and show when it was observed, and where we cannot verify it we leave it out. See how we source our data.