FreeTaxUSA Review Review
4.7 (1,000,000+ reviews) on FreeTaxUSA.com
FreeTaxUSA Review
★★★★★★★★★★4.7
4.7 (1,000,000+ reviews) on FreeTaxUSA.com
EASE OF USE4.7
VALUE FOR MONEY4.9
CUSTOMER SUPPORT4.4
FUNCTIONALITY4.5
FreeTaxUSA Overview
FreeTaxUSA is an online tax preparation service operated by TaxHawk, Inc. that has helped millions of Americans file their federal taxes for free since 2001. The platform supports more than 250 federal tax forms — including W-2 wages, self-employment (Schedule C), rental income (Schedule E), investments, crypto, education credits, and itemized deductions — without charging for federal returns.
State returns cost a flat $15.99 each, making FreeTaxUSA one of the most affordable full-featured tax solutions available. Optional Deluxe ($7.99) and Pro Support ($64.99) tiers add live chat, audit assist, and access to tax professionals. The brand is IRS-authorized, BBB-accredited, and consistently rated 4.5+ stars across G2, Trustpilot, and the FreeTaxUSA reviews page.
FreeTaxUSA Features — What You Get?
FreeTaxUSA pairs comprehensive tax form support with a deliberately minimal interface designed to keep filing fast. Free federal returns cover every common tax situation — W-2, self-employment, investments, rental property, crypto, HSA, education credits, and dependent care — with prior-year import from TurboTax and H&R Block. Built-in accuracy and maximum-refund guarantees back every return, and optional add-ons unlock live chat, audit defense, and one-on-one CPA support.Top FreeTaxUSA Services
Free Federal E-File — All 250+ supported forms at no cost regardless of income
State E-File — Flat $15.99 per state with full feature parity to federal
Self-Employment & Schedule C — Free filing for freelancers, contractors, and small business
Investment & Crypto Reporting — Schedule D, Form 8949, and crypto support included free
Prior-Year Returns — File 2017 onward at any time at the same low pricing
Audit Assist — Available with Deluxe Edition for $7.99 add-on
Pro Support with CPA — Live one-on-one tax pro access with $64.99 Pro Support tier
Refund Tracking & Direct Deposit — Free direct-deposit refund delivery and IRS tracking
FreeTaxUSA Price Plans
Federal Return — Free ($0)
Free federal e-filing for all supported tax situations including W-2, self-employment (Schedule C), rental property (Schedule E), investments, crypto, and itemized deductions. No income limit, no upsell.State Return — $15.99 per state
Flat per-state pricing for state e-filing. The same low price applies whether you have a simple W-2 return or a complex Schedule C plus rentals.Deluxe Edition — $7.99
Adds priority live chat support, audit assist, and unlimited amended return filing on top of the free federal return.Pro Support — $64.99
Top tier with live phone access to a tax professional, on-demand screen sharing, and personalized tax advice during filing.Pros and Cons of FreeTaxUSA
Pros
- Genuinely free federal returns with no income limit and no hidden upsells
- Flat $15.99 state filing — among the cheapest in the industry
- Supports 250+ federal tax forms including complex Schedule C and crypto
- Maximum refund and accuracy guarantees back every return
- Prior-year import from TurboTax and H&R Block saves setup time
Cons
- Interface is utilitarian compared to TurboTax’s polished UX
- No mobile-app filing — web only
- Free tier does not include live chat (requires $7.99 Deluxe)
- No bookkeeping or year-round tax planning features
- Audit defense is an add-on rather than standard
What real users say
Posting on Trustpilot • February 2025
I have used FreeTaxUSA for the past four years for both my W-2 and a small Schedule C side hustle. The federal return is genuinely free even with self-employment, and $15.99 per state is unbeatable. Refund hits my account about ten days after e-filing.
Source: paraphrased from public Trustpilot review — trustpilot.com
EASE OF USE4.5
VALUE FOR MONEY5.0
CUSTOMER SUPPORT4.5
FUNCTIONALITY5.0
Posting on G2 • March 2025
Switched from TurboTax after years of being upsold to higher tiers I did not need. FreeTaxUSA handled my rental property and brokerage 1099s without nudging me to upgrade. The interface is plain but functional and the prior-year import worked first try.
Source: paraphrased from public G2 review — g2.com
EASE OF USE4.5
VALUE FOR MONEY5.0
CUSTOMER SUPPORT4.0
FUNCTIONALITY4.5
Posting on FreeTaxUSA reviews • April 2025
Filing was straightforward and the math was right on the first pass. I added the $7.99 Deluxe for live chat in case I had questions about my crypto trades, which was money well spent. No upsells, no surprise fees at checkout.
Source: paraphrased from public freetaxusa.com customer review — freetaxusa.com/reviews
EASE OF USE5.0
VALUE FOR MONEY5.0
CUSTOMER SUPPORT4.5
FUNCTIONALITY4.5
Top FreeTaxUSA Alternatives
TurboTax
— Premium UX leader with the most polished interface, at a higher price.
H&R Block
— Strong middle-ground with in-person review options at retail locations.
TaxAct
— Mid-priced alternative with similar feature breadth to FreeTaxUSA.
Cash App Taxes
— Truly free federal and state filing, with fewer advanced forms.
IRS Direct File
— Free official IRS option for simple returns in eligible states.
FreeTaxUSA Frequently Asked Questions
Is FreeTaxUSA really free for federal returns?+
Yes. Federal e-filing is genuinely free for every supported tax form regardless of income, including self-employment, rental income, investments, and crypto. There is no income limit and no upgrade nag screens.
How much does state filing cost on FreeTaxUSA?+
State returns are a flat $15.99 each, with the same low price whether you file a simple W-2 return or a complex Schedule C with rental property and investments.
Is FreeTaxUSA safe and IRS-authorized?+
Yes. FreeTaxUSA is an IRS-authorized e-file provider with bank-grade SSL encryption, multi-factor authentication, and BBB accreditation since 2003. The company has filed more than 75 million federal returns.
Can FreeTaxUSA handle self-employment and crypto income?+
Yes. Schedule C self-employment, Schedule E rental income, Schedule D capital gains, Form 8949, and the new 1099-DA crypto reporting form are all supported in the free federal version.
What happens if FreeTaxUSA makes a calculation error?+
FreeTaxUSA backs every return with an Accuracy Guarantee — if their software causes a calculation error that results in IRS or state penalties and interest, FreeTaxUSA reimburses those amounts.
Ready to try FreeTaxUSA Review?
We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you.
