FreeTaxUSA Review: Affordable Prices for Simple Filers

7.2/ 10
SCORE

FreeTaxUSA Tax Service

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Pros

• 100% free federal tax filing
• Supports most federal tax forms
• Transparent pricing
• Clean interface and navigation
• Lets you import many tax documents

Cons

• Fee for state tax returns
• No option for live tax help
• No option to have a pro prepare or file your return

A lot of tax software lets you file free in the simplest tax situations. But then they push you into paying for an upgraded tier throughout the filing process — or you discover right before you file that you have to pay for a service you thought was free.

But FreeTaxUSA stands out because it has four distinct packages, all of which let you file federal returns free — but state filing and additional features cost extra.

The best tax software can reduce the time and costs associated with filing but you want to tread carefully. No one likes to be surprised by hidden costs right before they file. And if you make an error, you could get hit with IRS penalties, overpay your tax bill or miss out on the biggest refund possible.

Below, I’ll break down where FreeTaxUSA stands out, where it falls short, who it works best for and how it stacks up against the competition.

I’m a certified financial planner and a personal finance writer who’s been covering taxes for almost a decade. And let’s be clear: I hate filing my taxes as much as you do. It’s time-consuming and often expensive. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation estimates that the average American taxpayer will spend 13 hours and $290 to file their 1040 return.

To simplify things as the April 15, 2026, deadline for filing 2025 returns approaches, I tested seven major tax software programs, including big names like TurboTax and H&R Block, as well as some lesser-known options, like Cash App Taxes and TaxSlayer. I evaluated each using the following: Price and affordability, eligibility and use cases, experience and ease of use, features, expert support and tax professional access.

FreeTaxUSA: Pricing and affordability (10/10)

We gave FreeTaxUSA a perfect 10/10 for its free federal filing service, reasonable state filing fees and clear disclosure of add-on pricing. The clear and transparent pricing is how all tax software should be.

FreeTaxUSA says federal tax filing is always free, although it offers two paid tiers that provide higher levels of support. Note that the basic tier already includes all the features you need to file your federal taxes — including ones that might be considered “premium” with other services — regardless of your situation. With the higher tiers, you’re paying solely for the additional customer support or professional help. If you’re comfortable DIY-ing your taxes, you can file free even if you’re itemizing deductions, you’re a contractor or business owner or you have investment income.

Filing a federal tax extension is also free.

Tier structure comparison

When I rated FreeTaxUSA and other tax filing services on pricing and affordability, I didn’t just consider the costs. Discovering a slew of hidden charges after you’ve spent hours on your return is among the most exasperating parts of tax filing so I also looked at transparency and less-than-upfront costs.

One of my favorite things about FreeTaxUSA is how easy it is to understand the pricing. You won’t be forced to upgrade, even if your tax situation is a bit complicated, and add-ons are clearly disclosed. You’ll only need to shell out for a more expensive tier if you want additional support.

State filing fees

FreeTaxUSA doesn’t charge for federal returns (although upgraded support levels are available). But you will pay a $15.99 fee to file state returns. Despite the fee, it’s still on the lower end of its competitors.

Hidden costs and upgrades

There aren’t many hidden costs or upgrades with FreeTaxUSA but there are a few options that cost extra:

• Audit defense support: Costs an extra $19.99.
• Pay filing fees with your refund: $24.99.
• Pay taxes with credit card: 2.5% of total due.
• Unlimited amended returns: $16.98 for current year returns, $17.97 for prior year returns
• Professionally printed or bound return: $8.96 (printed) or $17.96 (bound)
• Prior year returns (2018-2024): $0 for federal, $17.99 for state

FreeTaxUSA: Eligibility and use cases (7/10)

No tax filing service is perfect for every situation. FreeTaxUSA works well for many individual filers but it has a few limitations.

FreeTaxUSA gets a 7/10 on overall eligibility because it supports an impressive range of tax forms and situations without requiring an upgrade to a paid version.

Simple filers (Standard deduction)

Like most truly free tax filing services, FreeTaxUSA works best for simple filers who take the standard deduction. It uses a step-by-step interview process to guide you through the filing basics and flag potential oversights. For example, when I said my filing status was single and tried to claim a dependent, it suggested head of household as the correct status. It also supports more than 350 tax credits and deductions.

You can still use FreeTaxUSA if you’re itemizing or are filing less-common tax forms, but it’s built with simple filers who take the standard deduction in mind.

Investment income (Schedule D)

FreeTaxUSA provides support for Schedule D filing to report capital gains and losses. You can manually input the information from your 1099-B form that you receive from your brokerage or you can upload a PDF. That’s a key advantage over Cash App Taxes, which also provides 100% free federal filing but requires manual input of most 1099-B forms. However, FreeTaxUSA’s import feature for 1099-Bs is still in beta mode as of December so I’d recommend checking all the details carefully.

The support for investment income is OK, particularly for filers who only place the occasional stock or crypto trade. High-volume traders can get around some of the manual data entry by summarizing their long-term and short-term capital gains and losses. But if you have a large number of stock or crypto trades, consider a service like TurboTax that lets you import data directly from your brokerage. If you have more complex types of investment income, like share sales from an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), it’s best to use a service that provides specialized guidance.

There are a few investment-related situations that aren’t currently supported by FreeTaxUSA. For example, while you can report employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) sales from your 1099-B, it doesn’t support entering ESPP income that’s taxable as ordinary income but is not included on your W-2.

Self-employment/small business (Schedule C)

FreeTaxUSA fully supports Schedule C filing for people who freelance, have self-employment income or own a small business in its free package.

You can now upload or snap a photo of your 1099-NECs, which can be a huge time-saver if you’re a full-time freelancer who’s inundated with these forms at tax time. But as with the 1099-B import feature, it’s still in beta mode so you’ll want to double-check the info that’s automatically populated before you file.

Rental properties and advanced forms

FreeTaxUSA supports filing for rental properties and many less common tax situations, including Schedule E for rental income, royalties and partnerships K-1 income. You can also use the software to track expenses related to rental property, calculate depreciation and mortgage interest and handle related deductions.

The service also supports foreign tax credits if the income is reported on a 1099-INT, 1099-DIV or K-1. However, FreeTaxUSA doesn’t currently support Form 2555, which is used to report foreign earned income.

FreeTaxUSA: User experience and ease of use (8/10)

Filing your taxes is a headache even under the best of circumstances, but a poor user experience only adds to the pain. Fortunately, FreeTaxUSA is fairly easy to use, especially if you’re only filing basic tax forms.

FreeTaxUSA’s interface may be basic, but it’s clean and easy to use, which is why it gets an 8/10 in this category.

Onboarding and data Import

The initial onboarding is fairly painless. You can import a prior year’s tax return to have it autofill the information, or you can manually enter it. You can also upload your W-2 or snap a photo of it and upload it to save time. FreeTaxUSA is expanding the import feature to many other tax forms, like 1099-Bs.

Interface and navigation

FreeTaxUSA’s interface isn’t fancy but it’s simple and easy to navigate. The guided interview is easy to understand and ensures you’re not missing out on any tax breaks, like often-overlooked tax credits and deductions. It’s also easy to switch between sections or revisit a previous section without losing the information you’ve provided. There are occasional nudges to upgrade to a paid version or feature but I didn’t find them overly intrusive.

Mobile and desktop filing experience

You can complete the entire filing process from start to finish using FreeTaxUSA’s desktop service or its mobile app. I found both versions to be stable and responsive. While mobile filing in general usually isn’t a problem for simple tax filing, I’d recommend sticking with desktop filing if you have a lot of tax forms because it’s easier to check for errors.

FreeTaxUSA: Features (6/10)

Most FreeTaxUSA features are pretty basic but that’s expected for a service that provides free filing for a wide range of tax situations.

FreeTaxUSA has basic features, like a final accuracy check and maximum error guarantee, but it gets a 6/10 in this category because it offers few extras.

Final review/accuracy check

FreeTaxUSA does a final check to make sure your return is complete and accurate before you file. There’s a 100% accuracy guarantee that promises if its calculations are inaccurate, you’ll be reimbursed for any IRS or state penalties and interest you incur. Like its competitors, FreeTaxUSA’s accuracy guarantee doesn’t apply if you make a mistake while filing your taxes.

Error checking

As you prepare your return, FreeTaxUSA checks the information in real time. You’ll get a yellow alert if something looks off and a red alert if there’s an error that you need to correct before moving on to the next section.

Audit risk assessment

FreeTaxUSA doesn’t offer audit risk assessment, however, you can purchase audit defense from their third-party partner, Protection Plus, for an additional $19.99. You’ll receive support from a team of CPAs and enrolled agents (EAs) for three full years (for federal returns) or four years (for state returns) after you file if you’re audited by the IRS or your state’s taxing authority.

Tax guidance and education

FreeTaxUSA offers limited guidance and education in the form of hover-over tips that guide you through each section of your return. There’s also a searchable knowledge base that offers guidance about basic tax topics and how to use FreeTaxUSA.

Maximum refund guarantee

If you get a larger refund or a smaller tax bill from a rival filing service, FreeTaxUSA will refund your purchase and give you a code to file a free amended return. However, if you didn’t get the maximum refund because you made an error, the guarantee doesn’t apply.

Additional features

FreeTaxUSA is light on additional features. There’s no AI tax assist feature, refund advance option or live tax support. However, if you’re just seeking basic free filing, you probably don’t need a lot of bells and whistles.

FreeTaxUSA: Expert support or tax professional access (5/10)

FreeTaxUSA offers basic access to customer support via email, plus an in-app help center for general tax questions. However, like other tax services, FreeTaxUSA makes you pay for access to a pro.

FreeTaxUSA offers access to tax pros through its Pro Support package, but it only gets a 5/10 because it doesn’t give you the option to have a pro prepare or file your return.

Review of live support options

The $7.99 Deluxe package gets you access to priority customer support and live chat. But if you want access to a certified public accountant (CPA) or enrolled agent (EA), you’ll need to choose the Pro Support package for $44.99.

With Pro Support, you can contact a pro by phone to ask questions and get personalized tax advice. You can also use live screenshare with Pro Support. While you can get guidance on your federal and state taxes, you’ll still need to prepare and submit your return on your own. FreeTaxUSA doesn’t give you the option to have a tax pro file or sign your tax return.

You can schedule a call with a tax pro from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Saturday from Jan. 2 through April 30. Off-season hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Final verdict

FreeTaxUSA supports a surprisingly broad number of tax situations with its free version. Although you’ll need to pay for additional support, prices are disclosed upfront and shouldn’t cause any surprises. The software gets two thumbs up for its ease of use and simple navigation. While it’s not the best choice for those who want professional tax guidance, it’s a solid choice for most DIY filers.

FreeTaxUSA Score Breakdown

Methodology: How we test and evaluate tax software

We tested each platform on mobile and desktop using the same basic tax scenarios. Here’s what we considered for each of the five categories.

Price and affordability

We looked at each price tier and how it stacked up against competitors’ similar offerings. Availability of a free option was important, but we also considered the likelihood that a user could actually file free without being forced to upgrade. We also looked at how transparent each service was with their pricing. Services lost points if they didn’t clearly disclose costs of add-ons upfront.

Eligibility and use cases

We tested each software using the same basic filing scenarios, including simple filing with a W-2 and the standard deduction, itemized returns, investment income, rental income and small-business/self-employment filings. We gave maximum points when a service could handle a broad range of filing situations without requiring extensive manual input or calculations.

Experience and ease of use

The best tax filing services make preparing your return as simple as possible. To evaluate experience and ease of use, we looked at the setup process (including whether you could simplify the setup process by importing last year’s tax return or uploading your W-2). We also considered whether the service makes filing easier with an easy-to-understand interview process. Each software lost points for things that make for a poor user experience, like a confusing navigation or requiring users to start over if they downgraded to a less-expensive tier.

Features

Many tax software programs have an array of tools to ensure your return is accurate and maximize your refund. We have top ratings in this category for services with robust error-checking tools, audit defense services, a maximum refund guarantee and an option to receive an advance on your refund.

Expert support and tax professional access

Pretty much every filing service lets you DIY your return, but sometimes you need professional guidance. We gave top points to services that offer access to a CPA, EA or other tax pros, as well as those that provide easy access to customer service and technical support.

Scoring approach

Each category received a score on a scale of 1 to 10. The overall score was an evenly weighted average of each category, based on performance relative to competitors and the needs of typical DIY filers, as well as those with common filing situations that require extra guidance or access to a tax professional.