FreeTaxUSA vs Steuerbot

FreeTaxUSA is an online service for preparing and e-filing federal and state tax returns. Federal filing is free for all tax situations, with no income limits or forced upgrades; state filing is a paid add-on. It supports income and deductions involving investments, rental property, self-employment, education, home ownership, and dependents, and says it covers over 350 credits and deductions. Users can import W-2s and 1099s or upload a prior-return PDF from TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, Cash App, or OLT. Filing tools include IRS e-file, direct deposit, printable returns, prior-year information import, and free tax extension filing. The service is available on web and mobile devices. FreeTaxUSA says data is encrypted, its physical servers have strict access controls and 24/7 monitoring, and it does not sell tax return information. Basic help is offered by email and an in-app support center, with typical replies within half an hour. It does not support foreign employment income on Form 2555, nonresident alien returns, or filings by customers or preparers living outside the United States.

Steuerbot guides people through preparing and digitally submitting an income tax return to the tax office. Its chat asks straightforward questions and offers added explanations when needed. A prefilled return transfers important tax data into the case for the user to review and confirm. Refund calculation is always free; submitting the return costs €39.99, paid once. A pay-later option has an individual offer, with fees due after the tax refund arrives. Steuerbot supports investment and rental income, but does not support income from self-employment, commercial operations, or agriculture and forestry. It names employees, civil servants, pensioners, and trainees as users for tax returns, and students and school-based trainees for loss carryforwards. The service is available through browser, iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows. Users can contact support in the app; the maker says trained tax experts respond within 24 hours. Steuerbot says it follows GDPR requirements, transfers data over encrypted HTTPS/SSL connections, and submits tax data through the official ELSTER interface. It says its servers are in Germany and that it retains data for five years after submission for tax office queries.