# FreeTaxUSA vs TurboTax: price, refund and help compared

Source: https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/choosing-software/freetaxusa-vs-turbotax
Publisher: Tax Software Desk (taxsoftwaredesk.com), independent editorial site
Topic: Choosing Tax Software
Last updated: 2026-09-19

> In FreeTaxUSA vs TurboTax, the refund should be identical for identical inputs; the real difference is price and guidance. FreeTaxUSA files every supported federal form free and charges $15.99 per 2025 state return, while TurboTax is free only for simple Form 1040 returns and charges more as forms are added, in exchange for more prompts and imports.

## Key facts

- FreeTaxUSA federal return: Free for every supported form
- FreeTaxUSA state return (2025): $15.99
- FreeTaxUSA Deluxe (live chat, unlimited amendments): $7.99
- TurboTax Free Edition: Simple Form 1040 only, about 37% of filers
- FreeTaxUSA in IRS Free File: Yes, as TaxHawk, for AGI of $89,000 or less

## Is FreeTaxUSA as good as TurboTax?

For accuracy, FreeTaxUSA vs TurboTax is a tie: both are authorized e-file products that apply the same Internal Revenue Code to the numbers you enter. Where they differ is how much the software does for you and what it costs when your return is more than a simple W-2 filing.

FreeTaxUSA is a web-based product that charges nothing for any federal form it supports, including itemized deductions, self-employment and investment sales. TurboTax offers a more guided interview, form imports from banks and brokers, and a downloadable desktop edition, but its free tier stops at a simple Form 1040. If you know your way around your own forms, FreeTaxUSA usually costs far less; if you want to be walked through every question, TurboTax's extra cost buys that.

## FreeTaxUSA vs TurboTax refund difference: why they should match

Your refund is set by tax law, not by the software brand. If FreeTaxUSA and TurboTax show different refunds for the same year, one of the two returns has a different input, a skipped question or a form in one product that is missing from the other.

### How to find the source of a refund gap

1. Print or preview the Form 1040 from each product for the same tax year.
2. Compare adjusted gross income first. If AGI differs, an income item or an adjustment such as student loan interest or an HSA contribution was entered differently.
3. If AGI matches, compare the deduction line. One product may have used the standard deduction while the other itemized on Schedule A, or one may be missing a Schedule 1-A deduction.
4. If taxable income matches, compare credits: the Child Tax Credit, education credits on Form 8863 and the Earned Income Tax Credit are frequent culprits.
5. Finally compare total payments: a missing W-2 withholding box or estimated payment changes the refund without changing the tax.

The state return adds a second layer. A state figure that differs while the federal numbers match usually means a state-only question, such as residency dates or a state credit, was answered differently.

## What each one costs for a 2025 return

FreeTaxUSA publishes flat prices, which makes it easy to total in advance. The figures below are from its pricing page for 2025 returns, checked in September 2026.

| Item | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Federal return, any supported form | Free |
| State return | $15.99 |
| Amended return (current year) | $16.98 |
| Deluxe: live chat, priority support, unlimited amended returns | $7.99 |
| Pro Support: access to a tax pro and a final review | $64.99 |
| Audit Defense | $19.99 |
| Prior-year federal / state return | Free / $17.99 |
| Paying fees out of your federal refund | $24.99 |

FreeTaxUSA prices for 2025 returns

TurboTax prices by tier. The Free Edition is $0 for federal, state and filing if your return is a simple Form 1040 with no schedules except the EITC, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest and Schedule 1-A. A mortgage interest deduction, unemployment on Form 1099-G, stock or crypto sales, rental property or 1099-NEC income moves you into a paid tier, and Intuit shows the price at checkout. The upgrade triggers are listed in detail on [Is TurboTax free?](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/choosing-software/is-turbotax-free).

> **The refund-payment fee:** Both products let you pay fees out of your refund, and FreeTaxUSA charges $24.99 for that option. Paying by card at filing avoids it.

## TurboTax vs FreeTaxUSA: interview style and help

TurboTax asks more plain-language questions and hides form names, which helps first-time filers and people with new situations. FreeTaxUSA's interview is shorter and often names the form or line you are working on, so it rewards people who already know what they received.

Help is sold differently. FreeTaxUSA's basic support is email and an in-app support center at no charge; live chat comes with the $7.99 Deluxe option, and Pro Support adds a tax professional. TurboTax offers a support community and help articles free, with live expert help and full-service preparation in its higher-priced tiers.

## Imports and switching from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA

Moving to FreeTaxUSA means uploading a PDF of last year's Form 1040, and FreeTaxUSA accepts that transfer for new accounts. It cannot read a TurboTax desktop .tax file. Download the PDF from TurboTax before you close that account, and remove any password on it.

TurboTax's advantage is in current-year data entry: it offers automatic form imports from participating financial institutions and lets you add forms by photographing them on a phone. If you have many brokerage forms, that can save real time. If FreeTaxUSA refuses a W-2 upload or a PDF, see [FreeTaxUSA won't upload W-2](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/other-us-software/freetaxusa-wont-upload-w2).

## State returns, Free File and paid add-ons

FreeTaxUSA's only unavoidable charge is the state return. There may be a way around even that: TaxHawk, the company behind FreeTaxUSA, was one of the 8 IRS Free File partners for tax year 2025, open to people with AGI of $89,000 or less who start from IRS.gov. Check that offer's own state terms before you begin; see the [IRS Free File program](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/choosing-software/irs-free-file-program).

TurboTax is not an IRS Free File partner. Its desktop edition is a separate purchase, which suits people who want the return stored on their own computer; the trade-offs are on [TurboTax Online vs Desktop](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/choosing-software/turbotax-online-vs-desktop).

## FreeTaxUSA vs TaxAct

TaxAct is the other low-cost name people weigh against FreeTaxUSA. Both were IRS Free File partners in 2026, and both import a PDF of last year's return rather than a competitor's data file. TaxAct's PDF import must be done before you print or file the new return.

The deciding factor is usually the paid tier your return lands in. FreeTaxUSA keeps every supported federal form free, so compare its $15.99 state fee against TaxAct's checkout total for your actual forms. For every free and low-cost route in one place, start at our [best tax software guide](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/choosing-software).

> **Independent site:** Tax Software Desk is independent and is not affiliated with Intuit, H&R Block, TaxAct, FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer, Block Inc. (Cash App Taxes), Wealthsimple, UFile or any other software company.

## Common questions

### Is FreeTaxUSA really free?

The federal return is free for every form FreeTaxUSA supports. A 2025 state return costs $15.99, and optional extras such as Deluxe support ($7.99) or Audit Defense ($19.99) cost more.

### Why is my refund different on FreeTaxUSA than TurboTax?

Something was entered differently. Compare AGI, the deduction, credits and total payments on each Form 1040 in that order to find the line where the two returns split.

### Can FreeTaxUSA import my TurboTax return?

It imports a PDF of last year's Form 1040 for new accounts. It does not read TurboTax desktop .tax files, so download the PDF from TurboTax first.

### Is FreeTaxUSA legit and IRS approved?

FreeTaxUSA is operated by TaxHawk, which the IRS listed as one of its 8 Free File partners in January 2026. Reach its Free File offer through IRS.gov/freefile if your AGI is $89,000 or less.

### Does FreeTaxUSA have a desktop version?

No. FreeTaxUSA runs in a web browser. If you want a return saved as a file on your own computer, you need a desktop product such as TurboTax Desktop or H&R Block's software.

## Sources

- [FreeTaxUSA pricing](https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing/)
- [FreeTaxUSA: How to switch to FreeTaxUSA from TurboTax](https://community.freetaxusa.com/kb/articles/66-how-to-switch-to-freetaxusa-from-turbotax)
- [TurboTax Free Edition](https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-edition.jsp)
- [Use IRS Free File to conveniently file your return at no cost (IR-2026-05)](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/use-irs-free-file-to-conveniently-file-your-return-at-no-cost)
- [TaxAct: Import last year's return](https://support.taxact.com/support/425/import-last-years-return)