Best Tax Software for Freelance Writers in 2026
Let’s talk about your options.
The right tax software won’t make tax season fun, but it can stop it from wrecking your brain and your weekend (when it comes around).
Want to invest in something to make your life easier? Let’s talk about your options.
Why tax software matters for freelance writers
When you write for multiple clients, across platforms and time zones, your taxes can get messy fast. A single late invoice, payment or lost receipt can throw off your numbers (and your stress levels).
Good tax software pulls everything into one place, sorts it, and gives you a clear picture of what you owe. It also helps you avoid any nasty surprises.
This guide looks at four platforms that work well for freelance writers: QuickBooks Self-Employed, FreshBooks, Wave, and Bonsai Tax.
QuickBooks Self-Employed
QuickBooks Self-Employed is the big name many accountants will mention first (mine did). It is built for self-employed people who juggle different income sources and a pile of expenses.
You can connect your bank accounts and cards, then let QuickBooks sort transactions into business and personal categories. The more you correct and confirm, the better it learns what counts as a deductible expense for your writing business.
It also estimates your quarterly taxes based on your income and expenses across the year. That means fewer surprises when payments are due and a clearer idea of how much of each invoice you should set aside.
QuickBooks supports Schedule C prep and pulls your income and expense data into useful reports. If you work with an accountant, they can usually plug into QuickBooks without you needing to export a mess of spreadsheets.
You can check QuickBooks out here.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks started life as invoicing software, which is why many freelancers first meet it there. If you spend half your time sending invoices and chasing late payments, this one will feel familiar.
You can send branded invoices, log expenses, and accept card payments through the same system. For many writers, the real win is seeing unpaid invoices and tax-relevant income in one dashboard so nothing slips through the cracks.
FreshBooks supports tax-friendly reports, including profit and loss, expense summaries, and tax-time exports. If you are in the UK, you can find features and integrations that help you stay on the right side of Making Tax Digital rules.
It is a good pick if your main headache is tracking who owes you money, not just what you owe the tax office.
You can check FreshBooks out here.
Wave
Wave is often the first serious accounting tool freelancers try, for a simple reason. The core accounting product has a free tier.
You can send unlimited invoices, connect bank accounts, and track income and expenses without paying a monthly fee. For a writer starting out or still building a client list, that matters more than another fancy feature.
Wave gives you basic reporting so you can see where your money comes from and where it goes. That data is what your accountant or tax software needs to help you file.
Paid options add things like payroll, payments, and extra support, but many solo writers sit happily on the free plan for a long time. If you are allergic to subscriptions, this is a good place to start.
You can check out Wave here.
Bonsai Tax
Bonsai is better known as an all-in-one tool for freelancers, with contracts, proposals, time tracking, and invoicing. Bonsai Tax plugs into that system and focuses on keeping more of your money in your pocket.
You connect your bank accounts and Bonsai flags possible write offs based on your spending. That includes things like software, coworking, courses, and even part of your phone bill, depending on your rules and location.
It also gives live estimates of what you will owe in taxes across the year. If you are the type who checks your income dashboard like the weather, this can calm the nerves.
Bonsai Tax comes as an addon on top of a Bonsai plan, so it makes the most sense if you already use their tools or want an all-in-one setup, not just tax help.
You can check out Bonsai Tax here.
How to pick the right platform
If your income is growing and you want something your accountant will recognise, QuickBooks Self-Employed is a strong bet. It has deep tax tools and feels built for people who think in invoices and receipts, not balance sheets.
If your main pain is billing clients, tracking who has paid, and avoiding late payments, FreshBooks may fit better. You get accounting tools without losing sight of client relationships.
If you are early in your freelance career or very cost sensitive, try Wave. It removes excuses to avoid proper bookkeeping and gives you enough structure for clean tax filing.
If you want contracts, proposals, time tracking, and tax tools under one login, Bonsai is worth a look. You might pay more, but you get one system that touches almost every part of your business.
Whichever platform you choose, treat it as a habit, not a yearly panic button.
Log in often, keep your categories tidy, and tax season will feel less like a horror show and more like paperwork you can deal with in an afternoon.
Are you ready to join a community of people building their dream writing careers?