TurboTax Self-Employed is the version of TurboTax built for freelancers, contractors, gig workers, and small-business owners. It walks you through every Schedule C category, finds deductions most filers miss, and imports 1099s directly from major payment processors.
Why TurboTax for self-employed
- Industry-specific deduction guidance — different prompts whether you drive Uber, freelance design, or run an Etsy shop
- Auto-import of 1099s from Uber, DoorDash, Stripe, PayPal, eBay, Etsy, and 100+ others
- Live CPA review (optional) — a credentialed tax pro reviews your return before you file
- Maximum refund guarantee — if a competitor gets you more, TurboTax refunds the prep fee
- Audit support included — guidance if the IRS comes knocking
Start TurboTax Self-Employed →
Who should use it
Anyone with self-employment income, side-hustle 1099s, gig work, freelance billing, or small-business profits. If you only have a W-2 and no side income, the free or basic versions are enough — you don't need Self-Employed.
- Best-in-class deduction discovery for freelancers
- Imports nearly every 1099 platform automatically
- Optional Live CPA review for added confidence
- Free to start — you only pay if you e-file
- More expensive than budget software like FreeTaxUSA
- The upsell prompts during filing are persistent
- State return is a separate fee
FAQ
Is TurboTax really free?
You can prepare your return for free. The fee is only charged when you e-file. Self-Employed is in the paid tier — typical pricing $115–$195 depending on add-ons.
Can I switch from another tax software?
Yes — TurboTax can import last year's return as a PDF from any major competitor (H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA, TaxAct), which carries forward your basis and prior-year info.
Will it find the home-office deduction?
Yes. The Self-Employed version walks through both the simplified ($5/sq ft) and actual-expense methods and picks whichever yields the bigger deduction.
What about quarterly estimated taxes?
After filing, TurboTax generates your 2026 quarterly vouchers and can email you reminders before each due date.
Is my data safe?
Intuit uses bank-grade encryption and multi-factor authentication. It is a known target for phishing, so always navigate to turbotax.intuit.com directly — never click "TurboTax" links in unsolicited email.