Software
Business
Streaming
Finance
Learning
Books
Leisure
AI
ReviewsFour 'free' tax filing options with very different definitions of the word. Here's who qualifies, who gets squeezed, and who files every return free.
| TurboTax Free Edition | FreeTaxUSA | H&R Block Free Online | Cash App | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Free-ish | Free Forever | Free-ish | Free Forever |
| Free Score | 45/100 | 85/100 | 52/100 | 78/100 |
| Value | 6/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Card needed | No | No | No | No |
| Account | Required | Required | Required | Required (identity verification) |
| Limits | Only ~37% of filers qualify; simple Form 1040 returns only | State returns cost ~$15 | Simple returns only — similar restrictions to TurboTax | Fees on instant transfers and credit card funding |
| You get | Federal and state filing for simple Form 1040 returns | Free federal filing for all return types — no income or complexity limit | Free federal and state for simple returns | Free person-to-person payments |
| Real cost | Nothing if you qualify — but 63% of filers discover they don't, often after entering all their data. | An account. Federal filing is free for all complexity levels; state costs ~$15. | An account. Free for simple returns; upgrades for complexity. | An account and your transaction data. Instant transfers cost a fee. |
| Full review | Read → | Read → | Read → | Read → |
Our pick
FreeTaxUSA wins: free federal filing for every complexity level, flat $15 for state, no bait-and-switch. Cash App Taxes covers most returns completely free. TurboTax and H&R Block are free only for the simplest returns — and both are designed to upgrade you mid-flow.
More comparisonsBest Free Image Editors ComparedBest Free Video Editors ComparedBest Free Streaming Services ComparedFree Password Managers ComparedFree VPNs Compared — The Honest GuideFree Office Suites ComparedFree Messaging Apps ComparedBest Free Learning Platforms ComparedFree Website Hosting Compared