TurboTax Self-Employed is the most widely used tax software among independent contractors and 1099 workers. It walks you through Schedule C line by line, catches deductions specific to your industry, and — if you use QuickBooks Self-Employed — imports your full year of income and expenses in one click. But at $129 for federal plus $49 for state, it costs nearly twice as much as H&R Block's competing product. Here is what you actually get, and whether the price is justified.
TurboTax Self-Employed Pricing for Independent Contractors
TurboTax Self-Employed costs $129 for federal filing plus $49 per state return. For most independent contractors filing in one state, the total comes to $178.
TurboTax frequently runs promotions in January and February — 20-30% discounts are common before the April 15 deadline. If you subscribe to QuickBooks Self-Employed's Tax Bundle ($25/month), TurboTax Self-Employed is included in that subscription, which often makes the bundle the better deal overall.
For context: H&R Block Self-Employed costs $85 for federal and state combined. That is a $90+ price gap for what is, on paper, the same core task: filing a Schedule C. The question is what TurboTax adds for that premium.
What's Included for Independent Contractors
TurboTax Self-Employed covers everything an independent contractor needs to file accurately:
- •Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business): TurboTax walks through every line, prompting you for income, deductions, and business use percentages. Industry-specific deduction lists (500+ niches including graphic design, consulting, rideshare, real estate, and more) help you find write-offs you might otherwise miss.
- •1099-NEC handling: Import your 1099-NEC forms directly from participating payers, or enter them manually. TurboTax checks that your reported income matches IRS records.
- •Self-employment tax calculation: Schedule SE is calculated automatically. TurboTax also applies the SE tax deduction (50% of SE tax) to your gross income, which many first-year contractors miss.
- •Deduction finder: Snap receipts with the mobile app, and TurboTax categorizes them. The deduction maximizer runs through common contractor write-offs — home office, vehicle mileage, equipment, software, professional development.
- •Quarterly tax estimates: After you file, TurboTax gives you estimated quarterly payment amounts for the coming year based on your current income. Use our quarterly tax calculator for a real-time estimate any time of year.
- •Audit support: TurboTax includes audit support documentation guidance and offers paid CPA support upgrades if you want professional review.
TurboTax vs H&R Block for Independent Contractors
Both products file Schedule C competently. The differences come down to price, integrations, and in-person access.
Price: H&R Block Self-Employed is $85 (federal + state). TurboTax Self-Employed is $129 federal + $49 state = $178 total. That is a $93 difference.
QuickBooks integration: TurboTax imports QuickBooks Self-Employed data in one click — income, expenses, and mileage all pre-populated. If you use QuickBooks, this alone can save two to three hours of data entry and dramatically reduces transcription errors. H&R Block has no equivalent QuickBooks import.
Deduction depth: TurboTax's industry-specific deduction guidance is more granular. If you work in a specialized field with unusual expense categories, TurboTax is more likely to prompt you for the right deductions.
In-person help: H&R Block has 12,000+ offices. If you want to hand your documents to a tax professional in person, H&R Block offers that; TurboTax does not.
State cost: H&R Block includes one state return in the $85 price. TurboTax charges $49 extra per state. For multi-state filers, this gap widens.
For our full side-by-side analysis, see the H&R Block review and the TurboTax review.
Is TurboTax Worth It If You Use QuickBooks?
Yes — and the math is straightforward. If you already pay for QuickBooks Self-Employed ($15/month), upgrading to the Tax Bundle ($25/month) adds TurboTax Self-Employed at no extra charge. The bundle costs $300/year vs. $180/year for standalone QuickBooks + $178 for TurboTax separately ($358 total). The bundle saves you about $58/year while adding the one-click import that makes filing painless.
If you use QuickBooks but not the Tax Bundle, buying TurboTax separately at $178 still makes sense — the import eliminates hours of manual re-entry and reduces the chance of errors that could trigger an IRS notice.
When to Choose TurboTax vs a CPA
TurboTax Self-Employed works well for most independent contractors with straightforward situations:
- •Single business (one Schedule C)
- •No employees
- •Standard deductions: home office, vehicle, software, equipment
- •Income from 1099-NEC clients, possibly some W-2 income too
- •No major life events (new S-Corp election, sold business assets, significant depreciation)
A CPA becomes worth the cost (typically $400-$1,500 for a freelancer return) when:
- •You are considering S-Corp election — the tax savings analysis and execution need professional guidance
- •You have employees or subcontractors requiring 1099-NEC issuance and payroll
- •You have complex depreciation (real estate, significant equipment)
- •You are audited or receive an IRS notice
- •Your net SE income exceeds $150,000 and you want proactive year-round planning
Use our self-employment tax calculator to estimate your liability before deciding whether to hire a CPA or file yourself.
Bottom Line: Who Should Use TurboTax as an Independent Contractor?
TurboTax Self-Employed is the right choice if: - You use QuickBooks Self-Employed (the Tax Bundle makes TurboTax effectively free) - You have complex or industry-specific deductions where the 500+ deduction categories add value - You earn $100,000+ and want the most thorough software-based deduction coverage - You want the most polished step-by-step filing experience
Choose H&R Block Self-Employed instead if: - You want to spend $93 less and your tax situation is straightforward - You do not use QuickBooks (the key TurboTax advantage disappears) - You want state included in the base price - You may need in-person tax help at one of their 12,000+ offices
For most independent contractors without a QuickBooks connection, H&R Block at $85 delivers equivalent accuracy at a significantly lower cost. For QuickBooks users, TurboTax's seamless integration justifies the premium — especially through the Tax Bundle.