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TaxAct’s consumer tax software offers four online tiers: Free, Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed. The Self-Employed tier is the one TaxAct describes for freelancers, gig workers, contract workers, and sole proprietors filing an individual return with business income. It is not the same product as TaxAct Professional, which is for tax preparers. The prices shown on TaxAct’s product page are subject to change, and state filing costs extra.
Which TaxAct version do you need?
Choose based on the income and forms on your individual return, not simply on whether you consider your finances “simple.” TaxAct describes its tiers by the return situations they are intended to cover:
| Tier | TaxAct-described fit | Displayed federal price | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Qualifying simple returns, including W-2 income and unemployment situations | $0 | Eligibility depends on income and deductions; state filing is additional. |
| Deluxe | Homeowner deductions and family situations such as childcare | $59.99 | Displayed price may change; state filing is additional. |
| Premier | Investment sales, home sales, and rental income | $99.99 | Displayed price may change; state filing is additional. |
| Self-Employed | Freelance, side-gig, contract, and sole-proprietor income | $109.99 | Displayed price may change; state filing is additional. |
These are the online federal prices displayed on TaxAct’s consumer product-selection page when accessed October 5, 2026. TaxAct says the actual price is determined at payment, printing, or e-file and may change without notice. Treat the figures as a dated snapshot, not a checkout quote; check the final total before filing.
Free: only if your return qualifies
The Free tier is for qualifying simple returns. TaxAct says eligibility depends on income and deductions, so a return with a W-2 does not automatically qualify. Check the current eligibility criteria in the product flow before assuming the federal preparation will be free.
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Deluxe: homeowner and family deductions
TaxAct positions Deluxe for situations such as homeowner deductions and childcare. If your return includes those circumstances, compare the tier’s supported forms and current price with your needs before starting.
Premier: investments and rental income
Premier is TaxAct’s stated tier for investment sales, home sales, and rental income. It is the tier to investigate when those items appear on an individual return.
Self-Employed: business income on an individual return
Self-Employed is intended for people reporting income from freelance work, side hustles, gig work, contracts, or a sole proprietorship. It addresses the additional forms and calculations associated with that income.
Is TaxAct Self-Employed suitable for Schedule C?
TaxAct’s dedicated sole-proprietor online filing page says the consumer product covers Form 1040, Schedule C and Schedule F, self-employment taxes, and business deductions. It also describes guidance and error checks, and says the software can import PDF data from Form 1040 returns prepared with TurboTax or H&R Block. These are TaxAct’s descriptions of its features; they are not independent findings about how well the software performs.
For a sole proprietor or freelancer filing a personal return with business income, those stated forms make Self-Employed the relevant TaxAct consumer tier to examine. The product information cited here does not establish that this individual-filing tier prepares partnership or corporation entity returns. A business owner who needs an entity return should identify that filing requirement separately rather than assume the consumer Self-Employed package covers it.
Consumer Self-Employed is not TaxAct Professional
TaxAct has a separate professional product line for tax preparers. The consumer Self-Employed tier is for an individual preparing a personal return; TaxAct Professional is a distinct product family aimed at professionals preparing returns for clients. TaxAct’s professional editions page describes that separate line. Do not treat the two products as interchangeable.
What will TaxAct cost?
The federal prices shown in the table are only one part of the cost. TaxAct states that state filing is additional, and its displayed federal prices can change. The final amount may also depend on whether you add expert help or incur other applicable service or bundle charges.
- Confirm the federal tier fits the forms on your return.
- Check the current state-filing charge for your state.
- Decide whether you want Xpert Assist, and verify its current price and availability.
- Review the total shown at checkout before you pay, print, or e-file.
What help and guarantees does TaxAct offer?
Xpert Assist versus customer care
TaxAct lists Xpert Assist as an add-on for consumer 1040 products, describing it as live tax advice and assistance. That is different from ordinary customer care: TaxAct says customer care does not include tax advice. Check the product page or checkout flow for current availability, scope, and price before relying on expert help as part of your filing plan.
Guarantees are subject to terms
TaxAct advertises a maximum-refund guarantee, an accuracy guarantee of up to $100,000 for eligible individual self-prepared 1040 products, and a satisfaction guarantee. The accuracy figure is TaxAct’s stated maximum coverage, not a promise that every return or loss qualifies. Eligibility and other conditions apply, and the satisfaction guarantee has restrictions related to billing, printing, e-filing, rejection, and timing. Review the applicable terms on TaxAct’s product-selection page to determine whether your situation is covered. A guarantee does not assure a particular refund or remove the filer’s responsibility to provide accurate information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare TaxAct with another filing option
Compare products using your actual return requirements and full cost, rather than the headline federal price alone:
- Forms and income: Match W-2 and other simple income, homeowner or family deductions, investments and rental income, or Schedule C/F self-employment income to the forms each product supports.
- Total price: Add federal preparation, state filing, any live-advice add-on, and applicable service charges; verify all figures at checkout.
- Help level: Determine whether you need ordinary product/customer support or tax advice from a qualified expert, and confirm what the option includes.
- Product category: Make sure you are comparing individual DIY 1040 software with another individual product—not with professional preparer software or an entity-return service.
What this review can—and cannot—establish
The available product information establishes how TaxAct describes its tiers, listed prices, self-employment features, support option, and guarantee terms. It does not establish independent comparative accuracy, ease of use, or support quality. No hands-on performance assessment is implied here, and product details and prices can change.
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Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
