FreeTaxUSA vs TaxAct vs TurboTax if you have dividends or interest: what each charges and handles, from their own pages
This page compares the three programs for one kind of filer: someone with a W-2 and interest or dividends, for example from a money market fund or a T-bill ETF. Every cell comes from the company's own page as shown on October 31, 2026. In short:
- FreeTaxUSA files the federal return free at any amount of dividends; the state return is $15.99.
- TaxAct's free version takes no dividends or interest; Deluxe is $59.99 and each state $64.99, and its pages do not say whether Deluxe or Premier ($99.99) is the version for dividends.
- TurboTax's free version, state included, takes up to $1,500; above that Deluxe, shown at $79, plus a state price the page does not show.
- All three say they file Form 4547 with a return. TaxAct and FreeTaxUSA (as TaxHawk) were IRS Free File partners for 2026; TurboTax was not.
H&R Block and Cash App Taxes are compared on free tax filing with dividends.
Side by side
| Item | FreeTaxUSA | TaxAct | TurboTax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free federal version, with dividends or interest | Yes, any amount: “Federal returns are always free.” FreeTaxUSA, Pricing | No: “Investment income: Stock, interest, dividends, crypto, or capital gains/losses” is not covered. TaxAct, Online products | Up to $1,500 of 1099-DIV, 1099-INT and 1099-OID combined, simple returns only. TurboTax, Free Edition |
| Federal price above that | Still $0. Optional Deluxe Support $7.99. FreeTaxUSA, Pricing | Deluxe $59.99 or Premier $99.99; its pages do not say which one covers dividends. Premier: “Good for those who earned income from investment assets.” TaxAct, Online products; TaxAct, Deluxe | Deluxe, shown at $79; its forms table includes 1099-DIV above $1,500 in Deluxe. TurboTax, Deluxe; TurboTax, Free Edition |
| State return | “State returns are only $15.99” FreeTaxUSA, Pricing | $64.99 per state (“+ $64.99per state filed.”) TaxAct, Deluxe | “You won’t pay for state with TurboTax Free Edition.” Paid versions: “State additional”, amount not shown on the page. TurboTax, Free Edition; TurboTax, Deluxe |
| Federal plus one state, $3,000 of dividends | $15.99 | $124.98 with Deluxe, $164.98 with Premier (which is needed is not stated) | $79 plus a state price not shown |
| U.S. government interest (state-tax-exempt part of Treasury fund dividends) | Help page: “Only enter amounts here that your state does NOT tax.” FreeTaxUSA, U.S. Government interest | Help page: the screen “Dividend Income – State Tax-Exempt Investments”. TaxAct, State tax-exempt dividends | No help article found; community answers only. TurboTax Community |
| Form 4547 (Trump account $1,000) with the return | Yes, for a dependent on the return: “Misc > Open an Investment Account > Open a Child Investment Account” FreeTaxUSA, Form 4547 | Yes, but “Form 4547 only available with select TaxAct products.” TaxAct, Trump Account | “Yes, TurboTax users can file IRS Form 4547 with their federal income tax return.” TurboTax, Form 4547 |
| IRS Free File partner for 2026 | Yes, as TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA). IRS, Free File partners for 2026 | Yes. IRS, Free File partners for 2026 | Not on the IRS's list of eight partners. IRS, Free File partners for 2026 |
| Prior-year returns | “File 2024 , 2023 , or any prior year back to 2018 .” Federal free, state $17.99. FreeTaxUSA, Prior year; FreeTaxUSA, Pricing | 2024 Deluxe online $54.99, “+$64.99 per State”; earlier years linked. TaxAct, 2024 taxes | Not checked for this page. |
Things the prices do not show
- The $1,500 line is the IRS's Schedule B threshold; it is why free versions that leave out Schedule B stop there. See free tax filing with dividends.
- The state-tax-exempt part of Treasury fund dividends must be entered by you. FreeTaxUSA and TaxAct explain where; see U.S. government interest in tax software.
- Form 4547 is needed for the Trump account $1,000 even when Treasury opened the account; see Form 4547 and tax software.
- IRS Free File versions are reached only through IRS.gov and have their own limits.
Quick answers
Is FreeTaxUSA cheaper than TaxAct with dividends?
As shown on October 31, 2026: FreeTaxUSA $0 federal plus $15.99 for a state; TaxAct $59.99 for Deluxe plus $64.99 for a state, or more with Premier. TaxAct's free version does not take dividends.
Is TurboTax free with dividends?
Up to $1,500 of dividends, interest and original issue discount combined, with state included, if the rest of the return is simple. Above that its Deluxe version, shown at $79.
Are FreeTaxUSA and TaxAct in IRS Free File?
For 2026 the IRS listed both (FreeTaxUSA as TaxHawk) among eight partners, for adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less in 2025. The partners for 2027 are announced when Free File opens.
How we checked
- Each company's pricing, product, help and article pages, read October 31, 2026. TaxAct and TurboTax draw prices with scripts, so we read those pages in a browser and kept the text.
- We did not prepare returns in the programs. A program may ask you to upgrade for situations its pages do not list.
What this page does not cover
- Which program to use. We report what each one publishes.
- Self-employment, rental and business returns, refund products and audit add-ons.
Rechecks and changes
We will read the pages again when prices for 2026 returns are posted, and update every cell then.
- . First published.
Sources are linked in each cell. This page contains no affiliate links. It is not tax advice.