# FreeTaxUSA

> The only major platform offering truly free federal tax filing for self-employed authors — including 1099 income and Schedule C — with state returns at $15.99 and optional CPA access for $64.99.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/bookkeeping-tax/freetaxusa
Website: https://www.freetaxusa.com/self-employed/
Category: Bookkeeping & Tax (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/bookkeeping-tax)
Pricing: freemium — $0–$15/annual
AI-powered: no
Editor's pick: yes
Tags: tax-filing, free, schedule-c, self-employed, annual, 1099-nec, home-office, audit-defense
Last verified: 2026-07-01
Best For: Authors who want completely free federal Schedule C filing with low-cost state returns and optional access to a CPA or enrolled agent
Platforms Connected: TurboTax (prior-year import), H&R Block (prior-year import), TaxAct (prior-year import), TaxSlayer (prior-year import), Cash App Taxes (prior-year import)
Tax Filing: yes
Tool Type: tax-filing

FreeTaxUSA is the rare major tax platform where self-employed authors can file a complete federal return — including 1099 income, Schedule C deductions, and self-employment tax — at absolutely no cost. There are no upsells to unlock Schedule C, no self-employed tier priced at $89, and no income limits on the free federal filing. The platform is operated by TaxHawk, Inc. (founded 2001), an IRS-authorized e-file provider and founding member of the IRS Free File Alliance, with 70+ million returns filed.

## What You Get

- **Free federal filing — full complexity:** Schedule C, SE, home office deduction (Form 8829, both methods), vehicle deductions, 1099-NEC/MISC/K, depreciation (Form 4562), and 350+ credits and deductions; all free
- **State filing ($15.99/state):** All states supported; most self-employed authors file one state, keeping total annual cost under $16
- **Quarterly estimated tax worksheet:** Generates Form 1040-ES to help authors calculate quarterly payments; must be submitted manually to IRS separately
- **Prior year import:** PDF import from TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, Cash App Taxes, and OLT; automatic pre-fill from prior FreeTaxUSA returns
- **Document upload:** Photo scan or PDF upload for W-2 and 1099 forms (beta feature — may require manual entry for complex 1099 situations)
- **Back tax filing:** Supports 2018–2024 tax year returns

## Who It's For

- **Budget-conscious self-published authors:** FreeTaxUSA saves $85–$139 versus TurboTax or H&R Block's self-employed tiers while covering the same Schedule C forms
- **Authors with multiple 1099 sources:** Handles Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and other royalty 1099s in a single return at no additional charge
- **Authors who want optional CPA access:** The Pro Support add-on ($64.99) assigns a dedicated CPA or enrolled agent to assist with filing — still among the most affordable CPA-assisted filing paths among major platforms

**Pricing:** $0 federal for all filers regardless of complexity. $15.99 per state return. Optional Deluxe add-on: $7.99 — adds live chat and phone support with tax experts plus unlimited free amended returns (1040-X). Optional Pro Support: $64.99 — assigns a dedicated CPA or enrolled agent to guide your return via phone and screen share. Optional Audit Defense: $19.99 — provided through TaxAudit; a licensed CPA or EA handles all IRS correspondence for 3 years on federal and 4 years on state returns. IRS Free File (2025 tax year AGI ≤ $51,000, or active-duty military AGI ≤ $89,000): $0 state and federal.

## Strengths

- **Genuinely free federal Schedule C:** Most competitors claiming "free" exclude Schedule C or require upgrading to a paid tier — FreeTaxUSA does not
- **Low-cost CPA access:** Pro Support at $64.99 remains substantially cheaper than TurboTax Full Service ($129–$219+) and H&R Block's comparable options
- **Long track record:** Founded 2001 with 70+ million returns filed; IRS-authorized e-file provider; A+ BBB rating
- **Competitive audit defense:** $19.99 via TaxAudit covers up to $1 million in professional representation over 3–4 years; deeply competitive pricing for this coverage

## Limitations

- **State filing is not free:** $15.99/state is reasonable but not $0 — authors expecting a fully free experience (as with Cash App Taxes) will encounter this charge. The bimodal Trustpilot reviews (~2.8/5, 153 reviews) largely reflect users surprised by this fee.
- **Schedule C misc expenses capped at 8 line items:** Authors with detailed expense tracking must consolidate categories; TurboTax and H&R Block do not have this cap
- **No mobile app:** Web-only filing interface; no iOS or Android app
- **Beta 1099 import:** The photo/PDF import for 1099-NEC is in beta — authors with multiple publisher 1099s (Amazon, IngramSpark, D2D) may need to enter income manually
- **No direct quarterly payment submission:** FreeTaxUSA generates Form 1040-ES but cannot send estimated payments to the IRS; authors must submit manually via IRS Direct Pay
- **Less deduction guidance than TurboTax:** FreeTaxUSA asks standard questions but does not surface lesser-known deductions with AI-style coaching — experienced filers benefit most; newcomers to self-employment may miss write-offs

## Alternatives

Cash App Taxes is the only platform offering $0 federal and $0 state for Schedule C filers, but it does not support multi-state filing and requires a Cash App account. For authors who need state filing in two or more states, FreeTaxUSA is the better choice. For authors who want hands-off CPA filing rather than DIY, FlyFin Standard ($192/year) includes CPA preparation and e-filing.