Avalara AvataxvsTurboTax Premium

Pros

Cons

Pros

• Industry-leading user experience with the most polished, intuitive, step-by-step guided interview process available—consistently rated as the premium choice for filers who want maximum hand-holding .
• Snap-and-autofill feature for 1099-NEC and 1099-K forms lets you photograph documents with your phone and have the information auto-populated, saving significant time for freelancers with multiple clients .
• Provides robust guidance for business deductions including home office, vehicle expenses (with mileage vs. actual expense comparison), and industry-specific write-offs that other platforms may overlook .

Cons

• Most expensive option for self-employed filers—Self-Employed tier typically costs 99–120+ for federal returns plus 39–64 per state, with dynamic pricing that can push costs even higher during peak season .
• Dynamic pricing triggers upgrades for relatively simple situations, and many users report being charged $120 or more for their self-employed return despite lower advertised starting prices .
• Free edition is extremely limited (simple W-2 income only); almost any self-employment income, even small side-hustle earnings from a single 1099, pushes you into the paid Self-Employed tier