If you're self-employed, filing taxes is more complicated than it was when you had a W-2 job. You're filing Schedule C, tracking deductions across multiple categories, calculating self-employment tax, and probably dealing with quarterly estimated payments. TurboTax and H&R Block are the two most popular options — here's how they compare for freelancers specifically.
Pricing for Self-Employed Filers
Both companies offer self-employed tiers, and neither is cheap. TurboTax Self-Employed runs approximately $120 for federal plus $60 per state return. H&R Block Self-Employed costs approximately $110 for federal plus $45 per state. H&R Block is consistently $25-40 less expensive for the same tier of service.
Both offer free filing tiers, but neither free version supports Schedule C. If you're self-employed, you're paying for the premium tier regardless of which service you choose.
Schedule C Experience
This is where the comparison matters most for freelancers. TurboTax has a slight edge in the Schedule C walkthrough — its interview-style questions are more granular and tend to surface deductions you might miss. The expense categorization is more detailed, and it does a better job of explaining why specific deductions apply to your situation.
H&R Block's Schedule C flow is competent but less hand-holding. It covers the same ground but assumes you know more about which deductions apply to you. For first-time freelance filers, TurboTax's guided approach is more likely to maximize your deductions. For experienced filers who know their categories, H&R Block gets the job done faster.
Deduction Finder
TurboTax's deduction finder is more aggressive — it asks industry-specific questions and probes for less obvious deductions like the home office deduction, health insurance premiums, and professional development expenses. Their system claims to find an average of $1,600+ more in deductions versus filing by hand, though that number depends heavily on your situation.
H&R Block covers the standard deductions well but doesn't dig as deep on industry-specific opportunities. If you're confident you know your deductions, this doesn't matter. If you're not sure what you can deduct, TurboTax is more likely to catch things you'd miss.
Audit Support
Both offer audit support, but the tiers differ. TurboTax includes audit support (guidance and document preparation) in their self-employed tier. Full audit representation (someone actually talks to the IRS on your behalf) costs an additional $50-60 add-on called MAX Defend.
H&R Block includes more robust audit support in their premium tiers, and their in-person offices offer audit representation as part of their existing relationship. If audit protection is a priority, H&R Block's support ecosystem is arguably stronger because of their physical office network.
| Feature | TurboTax SE | H&R Block SE |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Filing Price | ~$120 | ~$110 |
| State Filing Price | ~$60 | ~$45 |
| Schedule C Guidance | Excellent (detailed) | Good (efficient) |
| Deduction Finder | More thorough | Standard coverage |
| Audit Support Included | Guidance only | Guidance + office access |
| Full Audit Defense | $50-60 add-on | Available at offices |
| QuickBooks Integration | Direct import | Manual import |
| In-Person Option | Limited | Nationwide offices |
| Best For | Maximizing deductions | Value + audit confidence |
The QuickBooks Factor
If you use QuickBooks Self-Employed for bookkeeping (which we recommend in our bookkeeping comparison), TurboTax has a significant advantage. Your income, expenses, and Schedule C categories transfer directly with one click. H&R Block can import QuickBooks data too, but the process is less seamless.
Our Recommendation
For freelancers who want to maximize every deduction and are willing to pay more for it, TurboTax Self-Employed is the stronger choice — particularly if you use QuickBooks. For freelancers who want solid coverage at a lower price and value having physical offices available for support, H&R Block is the better value.
Either way, the most important thing is knowing which deductions apply to you before you start filing. The software can only find deductions you have records for.