FreeTaxUSA vs StudioTax

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.

StudioTax prepares and files Canadian personal income tax returns, from simple situations to returns involving self-employment or rental income. It supports CRA NETFILE, ReFILE, printed returns, Auto-fill my return, and Express Notice of Assessment. The personal license covers up to 10 returns, while CRA requirements limit filing to 20 returns per computer. The software is intended for individuals doing their own returns or preparing a small number for relatives and friends; tax professionals cannot use its NETFILE software for client returns. Desktop versions save returns on the computer, and StudioTax says personal information does not leave the computer. Windows and Mac versions support the T1135 foreign income form. Windows, iOS, and Android versions are certified for Revenu Québec NETFILE and printed returns; the Mac version is English-only and does not support Quebec provincial returns. StudioTax is free for eligible residents of Northwest Territories, Yukon, or Nunavut and for individuals with income of $20,000 per year or less, subject to its calculation rules. Returns from other tax programs must be transferred manually. StudioTax is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.