Nine free routes to a filed tax return exist for a small business, but only four of them accept business income without charging: FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes, OLT.com and HMRC’s own Self Assessment service in the UK. The big-brand free editions from TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct and TaxSlayer stop at W-2 income — the moment you have a Schedule C, they are paid products. Prices are USD and were checked on 22 October 2026. How we score · All Kurums Free lists
TL;DR — the free tax tool that fits
- US sole proprietor, federal + state free: Cash App Taxes — self-employment, 1099 and small business returns at $0 for both; needs a Cash App account.
- US sole proprietor, want a conventional tax site: FreeTaxUSA — federal $0 including Schedule C; state $15.99.
- Cheapest state add-on: OLT.com — federal $0 with self-employment, state $9.95.
- UK sole trader: HMRC Self Assessment online — free, government-run; partnerships need commercial software.
- Simple W-2 return only: TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct and TaxSlayer free editions — none accepts business income.
Which tax filing tools for small business tools have a free plan in 2026?
Every tool below files a return at no charge within its stated scope. The scope is the whole story: four accept business income free (Cash App Taxes, FreeTaxUSA, OLT.com, HMRC), one is a government program with eligibility rules (IRS Free File), and four are commercial “free editions” that exclude self-employment entirely (TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer). We also list GnuCash for the bookkeeping that feeds a return and Avalara’s free sales-tax lookup; TaxJar was excluded as trial-only. IRS Direct File is not listed: the IRS has said it will not be available in the 2026 filing season.
Limits in this category are eligibility rather than seats or storage: an income cap (IRS Free File, $89,000 AGI), a form list (the commercial free editions) or a per-state fee (FreeTaxUSA $15.99, OLT $9.95). The Free Score weights Core job heavily here because a free edition that cannot file a Schedule C does not do the job for a business.
The table shows each tool’s binding limit and its Free Score. Open a row for the full Scorecard with the exact exclusions, the upgrade trigger, the paid step and the page we checked.
| Company | Free as | Key limit | Card | Free Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C |
Free forever | Federal + state $0 · Cash App account | No | 90 | Scorecard ↓ |
| F |
Free forever | Federal $0 all situations · state $15.99 | No | 84 | Scorecard ↓ |
| O |
Free forever | Federal $0 incl. Schedule C · state $9.95 | No | 78 | Scorecard ↓ |
| H |
Free forever | UK · sole traders · no partnerships | No | 76 | Scorecard ↓ |
| I |
Free forever | AGI ≤ $89,000 · seasonal | No | 70 | Scorecard ↓ |
| G |
Open source | Bookkeeping only · no filing | No | 54 | Scorecard ↓ |
| H |
Free forever | W-2 only · no Schedule C · state $0 | No | 46 | Scorecard ↓ |
| T |
Free forever | Form 1040 only · no schedules | No | 40 | Scorecard ↓ |
| T |
Free forever | Income ≤ $100K · no dependents · no SE | No | 38 | Scorecard ↓ |
| T |
Free forever | Simple 1040 · ~37% qualify | No | 36 | Scorecard ↓ |
| A |
Free forever | Rate lookup only | No | 34 | Scorecard ↓ |
Free tiers verified 22 October 2026 on each vendor’s pricing page (third-party sources named in the Scorecard where the vendor page was silent). Order is by Free Score only; sponsorship never changes it.
What do the free tax tool plans actually include?
Open any row for the eight-field Scorecard. The “Why it ranks here” note under each row explains the score in plain terms.
1C
Cash App TaxesUS · 100% free federal and state filing including self-employment, 1099, small business and stock or crypto salesFree foreverFederal + state $0 · Cash App accountNo card90⌄
- What’s free
- Federal and state returns free, including self-employment, 1099 income, small business, stock and bitcoin sales
- Hard limits
- Requires a Cash App account, phone number and identity verification · one state implied · multi-state and non-resident support not stated
- Time limit
- None stated
- Card required
- No. The page states filing is 100% free; a Cash App account is required.
- Upgrade trigger
- None — there is no paid tier; unsupported situations must be filed elsewhere
- Cheapest paid step
- None
- Best free for
- A sole proprietor who wants federal and state filed free in one pass
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · cash.app/taxes
2F
FreeTaxUSAUS · federal return free for every tax situation including the Self-Employed tier; state $15.99Free foreverFederal $0 all situations · state $15.99No card84⌄
- What’s free
- Federal return $0 for all situations, Schedule C listed as supported
- Hard limits
- State $15.99 per state · no Form 2555, 1040NR or 6198 · not for filers living outside the US · prior-year state $17.99
- Time limit
- None stated
- Card required
- Not stated; needed only if you buy a state return or support add-on.
- Upgrade trigger
- Filing a state return, or wanting live chat (Deluxe) or a tax professional (Pro Support)
- Cheapest paid step
- State $15.99 per state · Deluxe Support $7.99 · Pro Support $64.99 per return
- Best free for
- A US sole proprietor who wants a conventional, well-documented tax site with a free federal Schedule C
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · freetaxusa.com/pricing
Why it ranks here. Free federal with no form-based exclusions for business income, and a published price list. Friction is the state fee: the second return most businesses need is paid.
3O
OLT.comUS · free federal including self-employed, rental and crypto; the cheapest state add-on on this listFree foreverFederal $0 incl. Schedule C · state $9.95No card78⌄
- What’s free
- Federal return free including self-employed and freelance income, rental, crypto and stock sales, home-ownership deductions
- Hard limits
- State $9.95 per state · Premium federal $7.95 · prices shown as promotional
- Time limit
- None stated
- Card required
- Not stated; needed only for state or Premium.
- Upgrade trigger
- Filing a state return or wanting Premium support
- Cheapest paid step
- State $9.95 · Premium Edition $7.95 per federal return
- Best free for
- A budget Schedule C filer who needs one state return
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · olt.com homepage (pricing page returned an error)
Why it ranks here. Same shape as FreeTaxUSA with a cheaper state fee. The pricing page would not load and the figures are labelled promotional, so capacity and core job are scored a notch lower pending re-verification.
4H
HMRC Self Assessment onlineUK · HMRC’s own free online filing for Self Assessment, including self-employed sole traders and landlordsFree foreverUK · sole traders · no partnershipsNo card76⌄
- What’s free
- Free government service for Self Assessment, including sole-trader and property income
- Hard limits
- Not for partnerships, trusts and estates, non-residents, Lloyd’s underwriters or multiple chargeable-event gains · Making Tax Digital may require software for some taxpayers
- Time limit
- File from 6 April after the tax year; penalties after the deadline
- Card required
- No. Government service with no fee stated.
- Upgrade trigger
- A partnership or non-resident return, which needs commercial software
- Cheapest paid step
- None (commercial software varies)
- Best free for
- A UK sole trader or landlord filing their own return
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · gov.uk
Why it ranks here. The only non-US entry and the only one run by the tax authority itself. Capacity is docked for the partnership exclusion and the MTD uncertainty, which the GOV.UK page does not address.
5I
IRS Free FileUS · guided partner software free for filers under the income cap; Fillable Forms at any income, federal onlyFree foreverAGI ≤ $89,000 · seasonalNo card70⌄
- What’s free
- Guided tax software from IRS partners for federal returns; Free File Fillable Forms at any income level
- Hard limits
- Guided software: AGI $89,000 or less and each partner’s own criteria · current-year only · Fillable Forms do limited calculations and no state · must start from IRS.gov
- Time limit
- Seasonal — the page currently says the program has closed and to check back in January 2027
- Card required
- No. The IRS states filing is free for eligible taxpayers.
- Upgrade trigger
- AGI above $89,000 or not meeting a partner’s criteria; some partners charge for state
- Cheapest paid step
- Partner-dependent state fees
- Best free for
- A sole proprietor under the AGI cap who starts from IRS.gov and picks a partner that includes Schedule C
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · irs.gov
Why it ranks here. Free and official, but seasonal, income-capped and dependent on which partner you land on. Duration is docked because the program is closed between seasons; the Fillable Forms route is federal only.
6G
GnuCashInternational · free desktop accounting with invoicing, A/R, A/P and budgeting that feeds a tax returnOpen sourceBookkeeping only · no filingNo card54⌄
- What’s free
- Free desktop accounting: small-business invoicing, accounts receivable and payable, tax and billing terms, budgeting
- Hard limits
- Desktop only · does not file returns · no tax-form export stated on the features page
- Time limit
- None
- Card required
- No. Free software.
- Upgrade trigger
- None; donations
- Cheapest paid step
- None
- Best free for
- Keeping the books that a free filer will type into
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · gnucash.org/features
Why it ranks here. Does not file anything, so core job scores almost nothing; included because a free return still needs clean books and GnuCash is the free, unlimited way to keep them.
7H
H&R Block Free OnlineUS · free federal and free state for simple returns; self-employed filers pay $130 plus $49 per stateFree foreverW-2 only · no Schedule C · state $0No card46⌄
- What’s free
- Free federal and $0 state for simple returns — W-2, 1099-INT and DIV up to $1,500, 1099-G, 1099-R; about 52% of filers qualify
- Hard limits
- No Schedule C or E, no capital gains · state $0 only on the Free tier
- Time limit
- None stated
- Card required
- Not stated.
- Upgrade trigger
- Any self-employment income (Self-Employed $130 federal + $49 per state)
- Cheapest paid step
- Deluxe $65 federal + $49 per state; Self-Employed $130 + $49
- Best free for
- A simple filer; business owners pay
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · hrblock.com/online-tax-filing
Why it ranks here. The widest free eligibility of the big brands and free state included — but zero on core job, because business income is excluded outright.
8T
TaxAct FreeUS · Free Edition for simple 1040 returns; no business, investment or rental incomeFree foreverForm 1040 only · no schedulesNo card40⌄
- What’s free
- Free Edition for simple Form 1040 returns: W-2, unemployment, retirement, EITC, CTC, student-loan interest
- Hard limits
- Form 1040 only, no schedules · state additional · about 40% qualify
- Time limit
- None stated
- Card required
- Not stated.
- Upgrade trigger
- Any business, investment, rental, itemized or HSA income
- Cheapest paid step
- DIY with Expert Help from $45 + state; Self-Employed price not listed
- Best free for
- A simple W-2 filer
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · taxact.com (page shows conflicting $45 and $54 figures)
Why it ranks here. Narrower than H&R Block and state is paid even on the free tier. Not a business tool.
9T
TaxSlayer Simply FreeUS · one free federal and one free state return for very simple filers under $100,000Free foreverIncome ≤ $100K · no dependents · no SENo card38⌄
- What’s free
- One free federal and one free state return for simple filers
- Hard limits
- Taxable income $100,000 or less · interest $1,500 or less · no dependents · under 65 · no EITC, CTC or self-employment · extra states $47.99 · free state ‘may be included at certain times’
- Time limit
- Free state availability varies during the season
- Card required
- Not stated.
- Upgrade trigger
- Dependents, credits or self-employment income → Classic or Self-Employed
- Cheapest paid step
- Classic — price ‘determined at time of print or e-file’, not listed
- Best free for
- A single or joint filer with nothing but a W-2
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · taxslayer.com
Why it ranks here. The most restrictive free edition here and the only one whose paid price is not published. Listed so readers know where the line is.
10T
TurboTax Free EditionUS · $0 federal and state for simple Form 1040 returns; any self-employment or investment income is paidFree foreverSimple 1040 · ~37% qualifyNo card36⌄
- What’s free
- $0 federal and $0 state for simple Form 1040 returns; about 37% of taxpayers qualify
- Hard limits
- No Schedule A, 1099-G, 1099-NEC or self-employment, stock, crypto or rental income · offer ‘may change or end at any time’
- Time limit
- The offer may end without notice
- Card required
- Not stated.
- Upgrade trigger
- Any self-employment or investment income
- Cheapest paid step
- DIY tiers $0–$139 federal; Deluxe and Premium not itemized on the page
- Best free for
- A W-2 filer — not a business
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · turbotax.intuit.com
Why it ranks here. The tightest eligibility of the major vendors and an offer the page says can end at any time. The brand most people search for is the least useful free option for a business.
11A
Avalara Sales Tax CalculatorUS · free sales-tax rate lookup by address, city, state or ZIP with no accountFree foreverRate lookup onlyNo card34⌄
- What’s free
- Free lookup of US sales-tax rates by address and the tax amount on a price
- Hard limits
- Lookup only — no filing, no returns · rates rounded to the nearest hundredth
- Time limit
- None
- Card required
- No. No account required.
- Upgrade trigger
- Needing rates in bulk or filing (AvaTax)
- Cheapest paid step
- Not stated; the AvaTax page failed to load
- Best free for
- A quick rate check before quoting a customer
- Verified
- Oct 2026 · avalara.com/taxrates
Why it ranks here. A utility, not a filing tool; included because sales-tax lookups are the question a small seller asks most, and this one is free with no sign-up. TaxJar’s equivalent is trial-only.
Which free tax tool has no credit-card requirement?
Cash App Taxes, IRS Free File, HMRC, GnuCash and the Avalara calculator state outright that they are free with no card. FreeTaxUSA and OLT.com need a card only when you buy a state return or support. The four commercial free editions do not state a card requirement, and their free tier ends the moment you report business income, at which point you pay per return.
Nothing here auto-converts: tax software bills per return at filing time, not by subscription. The practical risk is different — starting in a free edition, entering a Schedule C and discovering at the review step that the return is now $130. Check the form list before you enter a single figure.
When does the free plan stop being enough?
Kurums Match: which free tax tool fits your situation?
US sole proprietor, one state
Cash App Taxes (both free) or FreeTaxUSA ($15.99 state).
US sole proprietor, two or more states
FreeTaxUSA or OLT.com, cheapest per state.
Income under $89,000, want the official route
IRS Free File from IRS.gov, choosing a partner that includes Schedule C — in season only.
UK sole trader or landlord
HMRC Self Assessment online.
Only a W-2, no business
H&R Block Free Online (free state included) or any of the other free editions.
Need clean books first
GnuCash, then any free filer.
Where can you find paid providers when a free plan is not enough?
The Kurums Solutions Directory lists more than 800 software vendors, service providers, investors and schools in 52 categories, compiled A–Z by our editors with a buyer’s guide for each — no one pays for a position.
How we score free tiers
Duration (30): free forever scores 30, a 30-day-plus trial 15, a trial of 14 days or less 8, credit-based tiers 12. Capacity (30): whether the limits carry a team of three for twelve months. Core job (25): whether the free tier does the category’s main work — here, preparing and e-filing a business-income return (Schedule C or Self Assessment) without a fee. Friction (15): no card 15; card but no auto-charge 8; auto-charge 0; self-hosting deducts for setup and maintenance.
Each free tier was checked on the vendor’s pricing page on 22 October 2026; where the vendor page was silent, the Scorecard names the third-party source used. Free tiers change, so this list is re-verified every quarter and a discontinued free plan stays listed for one month with a notice. Order is by Free Score only. Kurums Free sells no placement; sponsorship, affiliate links and vendor requests never change a score, a rank or a label. Vendors can submit corrections to the Kurums editorial team.
How did we verify these free tiers?
We opened each vendor’s pricing or product page and recorded the free tier’s scope, the stated exclusions, the per-state fee and the paid step. IRS Free File’s page currently shows the program closed until January 2027, so it is marked for re-verification in season. IRS Direct File was removed: its site says the pilot is now closed, and the IRS told states in November 2025 that it will not be available in the 2026 filing season. OLT.com’s pricing page returned an error and its figures come from the homepage, where they are labelled promotional. TaxAct’s page shows two different figures for the same tier; we quote the lower. TaxJar was excluded as trial-only.
Prices are USD except HMRC. We did not file a test return with any vendor; eligibility statements are the vendors’ own.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax software is really free for self-employed filers?
Cash App Taxes (federal and state), FreeTaxUSA and OLT.com (federal free, state $15.99 and $9.95). The free editions of TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct and TaxSlayer all exclude self-employment income.
Is TurboTax Free Edition free for a small business?
No. It covers simple Form 1040 returns only — about 37% of taxpayers — and any self-employment, 1099-NEC or investment income moves you to a paid tier.
Can I use IRS Free File for business income?
Yes, if your AGI is $89,000 or less and you choose a partner whose offer includes Schedule C. You must start from IRS.gov, and the program only runs during the filing season.
Is IRS Direct File still available?
No. The IRS told participating states in November 2025 that Direct File will not be available in the 2026 filing season, and directfile.irs.gov says the pilot is now closed. For free federal filing with a Schedule C, use Cash App Taxes, FreeTaxUSA, OLT.com or IRS Free File (AGI $89,000 or less).
What’s free for a UK small business?
HMRC’s own Self Assessment online service for sole traders and landlords. Partnerships and non-residents need commercial software, and Making Tax Digital may require software for some filers.
Which free tool handles sales tax?
Avalara’s free calculator looks up US rates by address with no account. None of the free filing tools files sales-tax returns; TaxJar offers a trial only.
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