Methodology & Sources
Reviewed against primary IRS sources by Max on 2026-02-15. This is not tax advice — content covers software features and pricing only.
- Cash App Taxes product page, verified 2026-02-15
- IRS Free File Alliance eligibility, IR-2024-04
- Block Inc. product disclosures
Cash App Taxes (owned by Block, the company behind Square and Cash App) is the only tax software on this site that costs exactly $0 — federal and state. There is no paid upgrade tier. There is no “Free Edition” bait-and-switch. You pay nothing. This is also why you almost never see it at the top of affiliate-driven comparison sites: Cash App Taxes has no affiliate program, so sites that earn commissions have zero financial incentive to recommend it.
We earn nothing from Cash App Taxes. We’re listing it first for simple returns because it’s the correct answer.
Tax laws change annually — verify current pricing and eligibility with Cash App Taxes directly before filing.
What Cash App Taxes covers
- W-2 income — all standard situations
- Schedule C — sole proprietorship / freelance (yes, free)
- Schedule D — capital gains and losses
- Form 8949 — sales of capital assets
- 1099-NEC, 1099-K, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV
- EITC, CTC, ACTC, education credits
- HSA contributions (Form 8889)
- Student loan interest
The one-state limit
Cash App Taxes supports one state return only. If you lived or worked in two states during 2025, you cannot use Cash App Taxes for the complete return. Go to FreeTaxUSA ($14.99 per state) or TurboTax (multi-state wizard).
Who should use Cash App Taxes
- W-2 employee, single state, no rental or business income → Cash App Taxes, $0
- Direct File refugee with a simple W-2 return → Cash App Taxes, $0
- Freelancer with Schedule C, single state, who wants free → Cash App Taxes, $0 (or FreeTaxUSA if you prefer a more dedicated interface)
Who should not use Cash App Taxes
- Multi-state filers
- Non-resident aliens (1040-NR) — go to Sprintax
- S-Corp / Partnership (1120-S / 1065) — go to TaxAct Business or TurboTax Business
- High-volume crypto traders who need exchange CSV import automation
Realistic Expectation — W-2 employees, Direct File refugees, simple single-state returns
For W-2 filers in a single state: $0 total, no catch. For Schedule C freelancers in a single state: $0 total. The interface is not as polished as TurboTax, but it handles the return correctly.
Commission Disclosure (FTC 16 CFR 255)
Cash App Taxes: $0 — no affiliate program
We earn nothing from Cash App Taxes. This is why it rarely appears at the top of competitor lists despite being the cheapest option for many filers.