TaxAct Self-Employed
Freelance tax software
Accounting & finance software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$24.99 one-time
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What is TaxAct Self-Employed
TaxAct Self-Employed is a U.S. tax preparation software package designed to help freelancers, independent contractors, and sole proprietors prepare and file federal and state income tax returns. It focuses on self-employment tax needs such as Schedule C income and expense reporting and common small-business deductions. The product is primarily used for annual tax filing rather than ongoing bookkeeping, invoicing, or broader business management workflows.
Self-employment tax form support
It is built around common self-employed filing requirements, including Schedule C reporting and related deduction workflows. This makes it suitable for contractors and sole proprietors who need guided entry for business income and expenses. The focus is narrower than general business suites, but it aligns well with annual tax compliance tasks.
E-file oriented filing workflow
The product is designed for preparing returns and submitting them electronically, which fits typical individual and self-employed filing processes. It supports a guided, interview-style flow that reduces the need to manually navigate tax forms. This can be more straightforward than using broader accounting platforms that are not primarily tax-filing tools.
Tax-centric guidance and checks
TaxAct includes tax preparation guidance and review checks aimed at catching missing information before filing. This is helpful for users who do not work with a tax professional and want structured validation. The emphasis is on return accuracy and completeness rather than operational finance management.
Not a full accounting system
TaxAct Self-Employed is not designed for ongoing bookkeeping, invoicing, project tracking, or CRM-style client management. Users typically still need separate tools for day-to-day financial operations and customer workflows. This contrasts with business management platforms that combine accounting-adjacent features with sales and operations.
U.S.-centric tax coverage
The product targets U.S. federal and state income tax filing and is not intended for multi-country tax compliance. Businesses with cross-border operations, non-U.S. residency considerations, or complex entity structures may find the scope insufficient. It is best aligned to U.S.-based sole proprietors and similar profiles.
Annual cycle, recurring repurchase
Tax preparation software is typically purchased per tax year, which can create recurring annual costs and a seasonal usage pattern. It does not function as a continuously used finance platform across the year. Users seeking year-round financial visibility may prefer tools centered on ongoing accounting and operations.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Employed (Online) | $74.99 (promotional) / $109.99 (regular) + $39.99 per state filed | Everything in Premier plus freelance/contractor/sole-proprietor support (Schedule C); site shows “Start for Free” (pay only when you file). Add-ons noted on site (Unlimited Access / Xpert Assist). Sources: TaxAct product pages. |
| Self-Employed (Download/Desktop) | $159.99 (includes 5 federal e-files and 1 state) | Desktop/download edition for Windows; includes 5 federal e-files and 1 state return; additional state returns available for extra fee. |
Seller details
TaxAct, Inc.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA
1998
Private
https://www.taxact.com/
https://x.com/TaxAct
https://www.linkedin.com/company/taxact/
