CashApp Tax vs FreeTaxUSA Comparison Review: Which is Better for Filing with Rental Properties?

I've been using TurboTax forever but finally decided to break free from Intuit this year. Spent the past month trying both CashApp Tax (what used to be CreditKarma) and FreeTaxUSA to see which one handles my situation better. For context, I own a couple rental units with depreciable assets plus the usual deductible expenses that come with property management. Both platforms were surprisingly user-friendly and calculated identical refund amounts, which was reassuring. Navigation-wise, FreeTaxUSA wins hands down. You can jump around to different sections using tabs and links, while CashApp forces you through this tedious question sequence just to modify a single entry at the end. FreeTaxUSA impressed me by importing virtually everything from my 2020 tax return (previously done with TurboTax), including all my depreciable assets with only one minor discrepancy. CashApp doesn't seem to offer this import feature beyond basic personal info. The biggest difference was the Depreciation and Amortization report. FreeTaxUSA generated a comprehensive one similar to TurboTax's version, which is crucial for both audit protection and future filings. CashApp customer service claimed something similar would be available "once the site goes live before the 24th" - weird since the site was already operational. CashApp also only asked about Section 179 depreciation without addressing the special depreciation allowance I've taken in previous years. FreeTaxUSA handled all this correctly. For my situation, I'm happy paying the $15 for FreeTaxUSA. It feels nearly identical to TurboTax but with the features I need for rental property reporting. That said, if you've got a simple tax situation without depreciation complexities, CashApp Tax works great and is completely free for both federal and state filing. Either way - stop giving your money to Intuit/TurboTax! Update: E-filing through FreeTaxUSA was smooth. Got both federal and state refunds within about 8 days.

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20 comments

Lorenzo McCormick

•8M

Tax pro here. Your assessment is spot on about these platforms. The depreciation reporting difference is huge for rental property owners. That depreciation schedule is something you absolutely need to maintain year after year. With FreeTaxUSA, you're getting a more complete package for complex situations like rental properties. The $15 price point is extremely reasonable considering what you're getting. Just know that if you ever get audited, having those proper depreciation records will save you massive headaches. For simpler returns (W-2 income, standard deduction), either platform works well. But once you add schedule E property or have to track basis in assets, FreeTaxUSA has the edge in features that matter.

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Lorenzo McCormick

•8M

FreeTaxUSA does handle K-1 forms quite well. The interface walks you through entering each box on the K-1 methodically, and it properly flows that information to the correct schedules on your return. For combination situations with both partnership interests and rental properties, it keeps everything organized without the confusing jumps between screens that TurboTax often has. Just be sure to have all your K-1 documentation ready when you start, as well as any basis information from previous years.

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Kai Santiago

•8M

I recently switched from those expensive tax prep services to https://taxr.ai and it was a game-changer for my rental property situation. After struggling to manually enter all my receipts and documents into both CashApp and FreeTaxUSA, I found taxr.ai could extract the data automatically from my rental statements and depreciation schedules. It analyzed my previous returns and identified several missed deductions related to my property improvements that I hadn't properly categorized. The best part was how it explained everything in plain English instead of tax jargon.

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Kai Santiago

•8M

It handles rental depreciation recapture perfectly - that's actually one of its strengths. The system identifies any previously claimed depreciation and calculates the recapture amounts automatically if you're selling a property. It prevents those costly mistakes that trigger amendments. Regarding price comparison with FreeTaxUSA, it's more of an additional tool rather than a replacement. I still use FreeTaxUSA for the actual filing, but taxr.ai helps me organize everything beforehand and catches optimization opportunities. The money I saved from the additional deductions it found more than covered the cost. For multiple properties like your duplexes, it's particularly helpful since it maintains separate depreciation schedules for each property.

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Dananyl Lear

•8M

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it was exactly what I needed! I've been stressing about tracking depreciation across my properties correctly. The system extracted my historical depreciation data from my old returns and organized everything by property. Found a $1,200 deduction I would have missed related to some HVAC work that should have been depreciated differently. Ended up using FreeTaxUSA for the actual filing with much more confidence in my numbers!

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Noah huntAce420

•8M

I had a similar experience but also ran into issues with both platforms when trying to file an amended return for my rental property. After 3 weeks of getting nowhere with their customer service, I found https://claimyr.com and used their service to actually speak to someone at the IRS. Got connected in about 20 minutes when I had spent DAYS trying on my own. They have a good demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. Helped me sort out how to properly handle the amended depreciation schedule and confirm I wasn't going to trigger an audit with my corrections.

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Noah huntAce420

•8M

It works by using an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent finally picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to them. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you instead of doing it yourself. I was definitely skeptical too - I had previously spent over 3 hours on hold and eventually got disconnected. The 20 minutes I mentioned isn't the total hold time - that's just how long it took before I got the callback connecting me with the agent they reached. The system had been calling and waiting on my behalf for about 85 minutes according to the tracker they provide.

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Fidel Carson

•8M

I have to eat my words here. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr myself since I've been trying to resolve an issue with my rental property depreciation calculations from 2022. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes (the system showed it made 6 call attempts). The agent walked me through exactly how to document my capital improvements versus repairs for my rental. Saved me from filing an incorrect amended return that would have definitely triggered an audit. Just wanted to update since my previous comment was unnecessarily harsh.

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Maggie Martinez

•21d

Thanks for this detailed comparison! I'm in a similar situation with multiple rental properties and have been dreading the switch from TurboTax, but your experience gives me confidence. The depreciation reporting issue you mentioned with CashApp is a dealbreaker for me - I need those comprehensive records for my accountant and potential audits. One question: did FreeTaxUSA handle the import of your rental property basis information correctly? I've got properties purchased in different years with various improvement costs that I'm worried about losing in the transition. Also really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences with the additional tools like taxr.ai and claimyr. The rental property depreciation tracking can get so complex, especially when you're dealing with improvements vs repairs classifications.

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