FreeTaxUSA vs Taxfix

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.

Taxfix provides digital tax returns that users can prepare themselves or have prepared by independent tax advisers. In Basic, a question-led process guides users through a return and provides an initial refund estimate. The Start plan offers a free estimated refund calculation, with submission through Basic. Taxfix sends returns to the tax office through the official ELSTER interface. Basic works in a browser and through Android and iOS apps. For Expert, users answer questions and upload documents; an adviser reviews and prepares the return for the user to confirm. The listed Expert fee is 20% of the refund, with a minimum of €99.99, and may apply even if the return is not submitted. A separate solution for VAT-liable self-employed people combines bookkeeping, receipt capture, VAT pre-returns, and income tax returns including EÜR. Uploaded receipts and invoices are read for details such as amount, date, and tax rate. Taxfix says it uses encryption, does not share data with third parties, and operates servers mainly in Germany or elsewhere in the EU while observing GoBD and GDPR. Basic is free until submission; individual annual filing costs €39.99 a year, and one-time filing costs €49.99, paid once payment.