Best tax software for freelancers and side gigs in 2025
W-2 job plus 1099 income and some stock sales. Schedule C pushes most services into paid tiers. Here's every service ranked by estimated total cost for this return.
Form 1040W-2 wagesFreelance / business incomeSelf-employment taxCapital gains (Schedule D)Stock sales (Form 8949)California return
Lowest estimate1FreeTaxUSAFree federal · Do it yourself. California return $15.99$15.99$163.01 less than the highest
Plans that can’t handle this return (12)
Cash App Taxes Free
- Stock sales (Form 8949) support not verified
- Self-employment tax support not verified
TaxAct Deluxe
- Stock sales (Form 8949) support not verified
- Freelance / business income support not verified
TaxAct Premier
- Freelance / business income support not verified
- Self-employment tax support not verified
TaxAct Self-Employed
- Self-employment tax support not verified
TurboTax Premium
- California price not verified
H&R Block Deluxe
- Doesn't support Stock sales (Form 8949) (Not on the tier's 'Federal tax forms included' list)
- Doesn't support Freelance / business income (Schedule C income only; business expenses need Self-Employed)
H&R Block Free Online
- Doesn't support Stock sales (Form 8949) (Capital gains and losses listed as excluded)
- Doesn't support Freelance / business income (Self-employment income (Schedule C) listed as excluded)
H&R Block Premium
- Doesn't support Freelance / business income (Schedule C income only; business expenses need Self-Employed)
TaxAct Free
- Doesn't support Stock sales (Form 8949) (Stock sales listed as not covered.)
- Doesn't support Freelance / business income (Business income and freelance/self-employed income listed as not covered.)
TaxSlayer Simply Free
- Doesn't support Stock sales (Form 8949) (Stocks listed as not included.)
- Doesn't support Freelance / business income (Self-employed features not included; eligible income limited to wages, tips, unemployment, interest.)
TurboTax Deluxe
- Doesn't support Stock sales (Form 8949)
- Doesn't support Freelance / business income (Schedule C income only; business expenses need Premium)
TurboTax Free Edition
- Doesn't support Stock sales (Form 8949) (Stock sales not covered.)
- Doesn't support Freelance / business income
This ranking assumes
- One federal return
- One California state return
- No paid expert assistance
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