What are the best free virtual tax prep services for a sole proprietor who needs help with business income and quarterly taxes?

Here are some of the best free or low-cost virtual tax prep options for a sole proprietor who needs help with business income, Schedule C, and quarterly estimated taxes:

Best options to look at

1. IRS Free File / Free File Fillable Forms

• Best for: People comfortable doing their own return, or with simple returns
• Cost: Free if your income qualifies; Free File Fillable Forms is free for most taxpayers
• What it helps with: Federal filing, including self-employment income
• Limits: Little or no live help; quarterly taxes are not really “handled” for you, but you can use it to file and calculate based on your records

2. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)

• Best for: Lower-income taxpayers, especially if you want in-person or remote help
• Cost: Free
• What it helps with: Many VITA sites support self-employment income, often with income limits and complexity limits
• Pros: Real people help prepare the return
• Limits: Not every site handles business returns, and many only help if your self-employment is fairly simple

3. Tax-Aide (AARP Foundation Tax-Aide)

• Best for: Taxpayers age 50+ or anyone with low/moderate income in many locations
• Cost: Free
• What it helps with: Commonly supports Schedule C in some cases, depending on volunteer training and site rules
• Pros: Good volunteer support, sometimes remote/virtual appointments
• Limits: Availability and scope vary by location

4. Cash App Taxes

• Best for: Free DIY filing for simple business returns
• Cost: Free
• What it helps with: Federal and state filing for many taxpayers, including some self-employment cases
• Limits: No full virtual CPA-style help; not ideal if your business taxes are more complex or you want quarterly planning support

5. TurboTax Live Basic / Deluxe / Self-Employed

• Best for: If you want live expert help and are okay with paying, though sometimes there are promos
• Cost: Not free in most self-employed cases
• What it helps with: Schedule C, deductions, estimated tax guidance, live assistance
• Note: Mentioning it because it’s one of the most common virtual-support choices, but it generally isn’t free for sole proprietors

6. H&R Block Online with Tax Pro Review / Online Assist

• Best for: People wanting guided prep and some live help
• Cost: Usually not free for Schedule C help
• What it helps with: Business income and some estimated tax support
• Note: Useful, but typically not free once you add self-employment forms

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Best “free” picks by situation

If you want true free help from a person

• VITA
• AARP Tax-Aide

If you’re okay doing it yourself but want free filing

• IRS Free File
• Cash App Taxes

If you specifically need help with quarterly estimated taxes

Most free filing services won’t fully manage quarterly taxes for you, so you may want:

• A VITA/AARP volunteer to help estimate them
• IRS tools like the Estimated Tax Worksheet and IRS withholding/estimated tax resources
• A tax professional only for a one-time review if your business income varies a lot

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What to ask before booking any free virtual service

Because self-employment support varies, ask:

1. Do you prepare Schedule C returns?
2. Do you help with estimated quarterly taxes?
3. Is the appointment virtual/remote?
4. Are there income limits?
5. Do you support multiple expense categories, home office, mileage, etc.?
6. Will you help with state returns too?

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My practical recommendation

For a sole proprietor needing real help:

1. Start with VITA or AARP Tax-Aide if you qualify and they support Schedule C.
2. If not, use IRS Free File or Cash App Taxes to file for free.
3. For quarterly taxes, use IRS estimated tax resources or ask a volunteer preparer to help calculate payments.

If you want, I can also give you:

• a state-by-state finder for free virtual tax help, or
• a shortlist based on your income level and whether you have a home office, mileage, or other deductions.