Cash App Taxes alternative for the returns it cannot file

Cash App Taxes is genuinely free. Federal and state filing both cost $0, there are no paid tiers and no upsells, and it covers W-2 income, 1099 income, investments, and a Schedule C. If your return fits inside it and you are happy doing the data entry yourself, that price is hard to beat and we are not going to pretend otherwise. TaxFile is paid software and has no free plan. People look for a Cash App Taxes alternative because of the fine print: it does not support multiple state returns, part-year state returns, or nonresident state returns, it does not handle foreign earned income, income from an estate or trust, or the health coverage tax credit, and you have to download the Cash App mobile app to log in before you can file. Its support team is not a professional tax tier and cannot answer tax questions.

TaxFile charges for the work it does. You upload your W-2s and 1099s or just chat, and the AI reads your documents, prepares your federal and state return, and proactively surfaces the deductions and credits you qualify for, including Schedule C, mileage, home office, and QBI write-offs that a blank form will never point out. It runs an automated error check and hands back a review-ready return that you approve before it is e-filed through an authorized IRS e-file provider. Plans are $39 for a simple federal return, $89 for self-employed, and $199 for business, plus $19 per state. TaxFile is self-prepared tax software, not personalized tax advice, refunds are never guaranteed, and your data is encrypted and never sold. Pricing on every provider changes each season, so confirm current figures before you file.