FreeTaxUSA Tax Software Review

- Federal starting price
- $0
- State returns starting price
- $14.99
Our verdict
A top option for free federal returns and low-cost state returns.
If you’re looking for a cheap way to file taxes this year, FreeTaxUSA may be a no-brainer. It's entirely free to file federal tax returns, regardless of how complex your tax situation is. It doesn't require you to upgrade to other plans as you go through the filing process, unlike some competitors. And you'll only pay $14.99 for state returns. You can also import old tax returns from other online tax preparers, such as TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxAct, and opt for paid extra services like amended returns, audit defense or professionally printed returns mailed to you. But it doesn't have phone support unless you pay for its extra service, Deluxe. It costs $24.99 to pay FreeTaxUSA with your refund, so we’d recommend just paying for the service with a card.
Best for: Free federal returns without pestering upgrades.
Pros
-
$0 federal returns
-
$14.99 state returns
-
E-file to IRS directly
-
Import past returns
-
Optional audit defense
Cons
-
Phone support requires Deluxe
-
Costs $24.99 to pay with your refund
FreeTaxUSA plans and cost
Unlike most other e-filing tax software, FreeTaxUSA doesn’t charge you more for having a “complex” return. Its pricing is simple, and it only charges for state returns.
Unless you want to upgrade to Pro Support or other additional services, you won’t pay anything to file a federal tax return with FreeTaxUSA.
Plan | Cost | Details |
---|---|---|
Free Edition | $0 for federal $14.99 for state |
|
Pro Support | $39.99 | File tax returns with help from a tax expert. Includes phone support and personal tax advice. |
Extra FreeTaxUSA services
These extra FreeTaxUSA features are completely optional.
Feature | Cost | Details |
---|---|---|
Audit Defense | $19.99 | Personal audit defense team that communicates with the IRS on your behalf. |
Unlimited amended returns | $15.98 | File 1040-X as many times as you need. |
Deluxe Support | $7.99 | Get access to live chat with tax specialists and unlimited amended returns. |
Prior year amended returns | $0 for federal $17.97 for state | File an amended return for the years 2017 to 2023. |
Professionally printed return | $7.97 | Get a printed copy of your tax return mailed to you. |
Professionally bound return | $15.97 | Get a copy of your tax return professionally bound and sent to you. |
What we like about FreeTaxUSA
FreeTaxUSA is undoubtedly one of the best options for a free federal tax return.
Why? Because everyone qualifies for free federal tax filing.
FreeTaxUSA doesn’t charge you more to file your taxes simply because you have more deductions to claim than what it would consider “simple.” It doesn’t force you to upgrade if you need to add a specific form or schedule, and there are no income limits to get the free federal filing, either.
One of the most affordable options out there
Among competitors, FreeTaxUSA has one of the lowest prices for returns: $0 for federal and just $14.99 for state. And that $0 federal cost applies to all filers, not just those with “simple” returns.
For comparison, TurboTax’s lowest state return price can be $0, but only if you have what they deem as a “simple” tax return, and only a portion of filers qualify for the free filing. If you don’t qualify for a free filing with the DIY option, it could cost you anywhere from $0 to $169 for federal or $0 to $39 for state.
And the forced upgrade is a similar story with H&R Block. If you can’t qualify for the H&R Block Free Online filing, the cost starts at $35 for federal and $37 for state.
Three guarantees
Very similar to other tax preparation services, FreeTaxUSA has some guarantees related to maximum refunds and accuracy.
- Free federal guarantee. FreeTaxUSA guarantees that your federal form is 100% free.
- Maximum refund guarantee. If you get a larger refund or smaller tax liability with another e-filing service, FreeTaxUSA will refund your purchases and give you a service code for a free amended return.
- Accuracy guarantee. If there was a calculation error that was FreeTaxUSA’s fault, they will pay penalties or interest to the IRS on your behalf.
Where it falls short
There isn’t much we didn’t like about FreeTaxUSA. Overall, it’s a low-cost way to get your taxes done, with clear pricing and solid services.
However, it’s worth noting that FreeTaxUSA doesn’t offer phone support unless you opt for its extra service, Deluxe. With the Free Edition, support is available via email or in-app.
And if you’re looking for the best way to pay for your tax preparation, paying FreeTaxUSA with your refund isn’t the best route. It costs $24.99 to pay FreeTaxUSA for tax preparation with your refund. Most tax preparation companies and e-file companies charge something similar, but there’s no cost to pay them with a card — just something to consider.
Odd pricing for amended returns
If being able to file amended returns is something you want, from a cost-effective standpoint, it makes more sense to go with the Deluxe support since it only costs $7.99, compared to the Amended Return service for $15.98.
Deluxe Support costs $7.99 and lets you live chat with customer support, get audit assistance and file unlimited amended returns. We’re not sure why the amended support costs more than the Deluxe Support that includes it, but we figured we’d point that out to save you some cash if that’s something you’re interested in.
Compare tax filing services
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Customer reviews and ratings
BBB accredited | Yes |
---|---|
BBB rating | A- |
BBB customer reviews | 1.44 out of 5 stars, based on 27 customer reviews |
Trustpilot score | 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on 79 customer reviews |
Customer reviews verified as of | 06 February 2025 |
FreeTaxUSA has fewer ratings and reviews than big names like TurboTax or H&R Block, but it also has more positive reviews than we expected. On Trustpilot, over half of the reviews are 5-star ratings.
A review from 2025 states they’ve been a FreeTaxUSA customer for over 10 years and have never had an issue, stating FreeTaxUSA is reliable and customer support is responsive. Another customer writes that they’ve used FreeTaxUSA for years and have had a straightforward experience with easy-to-do filing. They also said the state return cost is well worth the price.
In another review, one customer stated they were a long-time TurboTax customer, and halfway through filing with them, they switched to FreeTaxUSA. They reported that just halfway through filing with TurboTax, the cost was almost $180 — much less than the $14.99 they paid to file with FreeTaxUSA. They also noted all the figures matched with what TurboTax had, and the interface was seamless.
On the other side of the fence, unsatisfied customers report not receiving their returns when they expected. Another tries to warn others that only the federal return is free, and someone else reports that they were charged extra fees that came out of their refund. But on the whole, FreeTaxUSA responds to most negative reviews in an attempt to resolve issues.
Your reviews

Bethany Finder
Editor, Banking
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