Not tax advice. Information here is general guidance. Tax laws change. Verify with the IRS or a licensed CPA for your specific situation.
FreeTaxUSA review — 2026
★★★★★ Overall score: 5/5
Free federal filing forever. $14.99 state. The honest budget option.
Monthly: $0.00/mo
Annual (first year): $0.00/year
Annual (renewal): $0.00/year
Money-back: 0 days
Annual (first year): $0.00/year
Annual (renewal): $0.00/year
Money-back: 0 days
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Protection
| Malware detection rate | 0% |
|---|---|
| False-positive rate | n/a |
| AV-TEST score | n/a |
| Real-time protection | ✓ |
| Ransomware protection | ✗ |
| Firewall | ✗ |
Bundled features
| VPN included | ✗ |
|---|---|
| Password manager | ✗ |
| Parental controls | ✗ |
| Dark web monitoring | ✗ |
| Identity theft protection | ✗ |
| Cloud backup | ✗ |
Compatibility
| Devices covered | Web |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Web |
Our review
FreeTaxUSA is the **honest free tax software**. Free federal forever, $14.99 state. No deceptive upsells. Best for confident self-filers with complex returns who don't need hand-holding. Saves $80-$150/year vs TurboTax.
Pros
- **Free federal filing forever**, all complexity levels (self-employed, investors, rentals)
- $14.99 per state (vs $39.99+ at competitors)
- No deceptive 'free' upsells
- Strong calculations and forms support
- Audit assist add-on ($19.99)
Cons
- No interview-style guidance as polished as TurboTax
- No in-person backup
- No live CPA review (vs TurboTax Live)
- Smaller brand — feels less professional