Best commercial software for tax return

If you need extra hand-holding and educational resources while filing your taxes, TurboTax Deluxe might be your best tax software option. TurboTax offers good customer service and great tools. The TurboTax platform asks you questions and guides you as you fill in personal and tax information, ensuring you complete all the forms necessary to finish your tax return.

Along the way, it offers help topics you can select to learn more about each form, deduction or tax credit. We found this extremely useful for someone who may need help understanding tax concepts.

The navigation menus clearly direct you to specific tax categories, such as income, deductions and credits. Two things to watch out for: Upsells and fees. TurboTax is more expensive than its competitors. TurboTax Deluxe is a great option for someone who is a tax novice and needs help with filing their tax return. It offers many bells and whistles, such as well-written, clear educational articles and tool tips to help guide you through the tax filing process.

Even late on a Sunday afternoon, there was a short wait and the customer service representative provided clear and informative answers to our questions regarding tax expert assistance and pricing. There are multiple ways to contact customer support for tax filing assistance, including phone, chat and email options.

We also loved the helpful articles available throughout the program. TaxSlayer Classic is best for users who value great customer service. It offers great support options, including phone, chat and email. What we love most is that you can file both your federal and state taxes for free. Other software programs, like TaxAct and eFile. Programs such as eFile. Finally, it covers the widest variety of common filing scenarios among the competitors we evaluated, including most tax filing scenarios for parents, college students, retirees and employees.

Here are some of the forms you can file for free:. Its step-by-step process and simple layout can help you quickly complete your tax return. The software provides examples of deductible expenses and links to informative articles at the exact points in the process where you need them. We began our analysis by looking at eight online tax software providers: eFile.

We decided to exclude Credit Karma and Liberty Tax from our reviews. Credit Karma is in the process of selling its tax software business , and it remains unclear what this would mean for consumers. In December , the Department of Justice settled with Liberty Tax for not taking steps to prevent the filing of fraudulent returns prepared by its franchisee stores.

We reviewed each of the tax online software to determine the following best categories:. Best Free Online Tax Software. For best free online tax software, we analysed which provider offered the most impressive overall package of features while also charging no fees for federal and state tax return filings, lacked income or filing status restrictions, and offered the broadest selection of tax filing forms.

An easy-to-use platform is most important for many users. Self-employed, freelance workers generally have more complicated income tax filings. Ensuring that online tax software caters to the special needs of freelancers and self-employed individuals is essential at tax time.

We determined if the online tax software provider offered phone, live chat, email, or help articles for users, and evaluated each option. Also, we contacted customer service departments by phone to evaluate its hold time and customer service quality. What's the best professional tax software for you? It's a simple question, and it's not at all easy to answer.

Every tax preparer has a different standard for what is best for their business. Some tax pros are looking for a simple, basic tool to get the job done. Others want something with a lot of bells and whistles. UltimateTax's team has been doing a comparative study on professional tax software for three years in a row.

You will not find a more comprehensive breakdown of the features of the top software options on the market! UltimateTax is a company that values customer satisfaction above all else. A company that's motivated not just about making sales, but making its subscribers happy.

That's why the team puts in the hard work on the software comparison guide—for the sake of helping customers like YOU make the best decision. And that helps ensure you will truly be a satisfied customer if you choose to go with UltimateTax professional tax software. Whether you are a new tax preparer or an established one, the tax software guide will save you precious research time.

It provides a quick comparison chart of pricing and product features. This is followed by discrete reviews of each software, detailing what they have to offer.

Our in-house team feels confident that the guide achieves a fair and measured comparison of tax preparation business software. If you feel that any information needs updating or correcting, click here to leave your comment.

Your feedback as a preparer is welcome. Our in-house team has done extensive research and hands-on testing on the tax software programs listed here. The team's collective insights have contributed to this comparison guide. In performing their analyses, the team members relied on a shared set of criteria for evaluating tax professional software, presented as follows:. Most Essential Features: No program made it on the list if it lacked most of the features seen as crucial to professional tax preparation software.

The team was instructed to check if the software provided tax return e-filing, all vital forms and schedules, all state modules, status reports and multi-user access. Platform Availability: Is the professional tax preparation software available on a desktop setup, a web-based platform—or both?

With many businesses going virtual over the past year, this is a major consideration among today's tax professionals. Ease of Use: This is one of the key elements that separates one tax prep tool from another.

How easy is it to install the tax software and start using it? Can it be mastered fairly quickly? Are the program settings and functions clear and accessible? User Experience: How satisfactory is the experience of using the software, as a whole? Does it make electronic tax preparation a lot faster and simpler? Does it assist you in determining the correct tax forms and how to do them correctly? Are you able to complete tax returns faster without sacrificing accuracy?

Can you file multiple returns or access various tax forms without paying additional fees? Return Validation: Can running this professional tax software help you mitigate errors?

Does it offer diagnostic tools which can tell you if your filled-out form is correct and complete? Customer Support: Does the software provider offer tax pro advice and user assistance to their customers? How can they access these support services? Can customers look up specific issues on an online support database or forum?

Info Security: Tax preparation involves the processing of sensitive customer information. Can the software handle secure data transmission? Does it provide safe and secure file storage? Does it support cyber security features like two-factor authentication? Add-on Services: Can you use the software to collect IRS refunds via bank products to earn additional revenue?

What bank products are supported? What other services are supported? The key measures of tax software comparison revolve around usage and functionality. But there is one more point of comparison to discuss: Affordability. Let's face it, price matters to any company that cares about the bottom line. And while quality shouldn't take a backseat to cost savings, a purchaser should take a closer look at the difference in quality between products.

What if the difference is not that great? Tax preparation is an established process that doesn't change that much from year to year. Electronic tax preparation tools don't display a great deal of variation from each other, either. They all accomplish the same functions , more or less. The differences lie more in ease of use, user experience design, gated features, and customer support.

And pricing. The price differences between various software products can be significant. What is behind these differences in pricing? Much of the time, pricing variations indicate the company's sales strategy. That means offering similar products that are targeted to separate categories of users.

Low-priced tax software options are aimed at new tax preparers, boutique agencies and cost-conscious purchasers. Mid-priced software products are pitched to mid-sized offices. Premium and enterprise editions cater to high-volume tax preparation businesses that serve corporate clientele.

The high-end offerings may pack in features not offered by the lower priced software products. Such premium features might not be necessary for small-and-medium tax preparation businesses. Price also reflects the market advantage of having an established brand.

A well-known name like Intuit can leverage its top-tier branding to demand higher subscription rates compared to the competition. For the savvy purchaser, the key factor is not price alone, but value for price. You're looking to get the best value tax software available—one that will satisfy your precise needs at a price point you can be happy about. One more thing to keep in mind: it can be a good idea to purchase your software months before the start of the tax season.

Many products are available at a discounted rate if bought several months before the tax season. The prices on this comparison chart are based on the MSRP of the products. You may be able to find them at a lower price point.

Summary: UltimateTax offers affordable, simple, and accurate tax preparation software for tax pros who specialize in e-filing s. It also has an advanced package that supports corporate returns—the most affordable corporate returns solution on the market. UltimateTax is one of the smaller players in the tax prep software market. But its product is tried and tested to be as capable as any other on the market.

And its user base is steadily growing—UltimateTax Desktop alone is now used by over 50, tax preparers annually. If you think about it, there's one great advantage of using a less than mega-popular product. And that's the more personalized brand of service that customers can receive! UltimateTax serves thousands of customers rather than hundreds of thousands, so the company can devote more time and resources to each individual subscriber. Their support team isn't gonna get stretched thin!

No surprise, great customer service is one of the big selling points of UltimateTax! That's according to trusted user reviews on Google and TrustPilot.

And so it goes. Review after review singles out UltimateTax's top-notch customer support. But what about the product itself? UltimateTax gets good reviews on that, too. The company makes easy-to-use, feature-rich tax preparation software for both desktop and online platforms. UltimateTax gives tax preparers two modes for processing tax forms. One is data form entry mode, which simply presents a tax form to be filled out with information.

The other is interview mode, which guides you through the process of completing a tax form with prompts and indicators. Smart diagnostics can review processed returns and warn you if there are errors. Don't experience the hassle of submitting a return only to have it get rejected!

You can enjoy paperless filing if you have an EFIN , real-time progress reports on e-filings, regular automatic back-ups to ensure that your data is protected, e-signature support, check printing, reports, and context-sensitive help built into the software. Four different UltimateTax packages are made available to meet the needs of several different types of users, from new tax preparers to industry veterans.

UltimateTax Pay-Per-Return offers great value to the new tax preparer dipping their toes in the business. While it's well-suited for use by an individual tax preparer, UltimateTax PPR allows for quick expansion in case you need it! The software supports up to 10 users out of the box! No need to send a request to customer support, no need to pay extra for additional accounts! Add up to 10 user accounts as you like—hassle-free! This one works well for the small tax office catering to several hundred clients.

The package comprises free unlimited e-filing, tax form support, all States included, and bank product rebates. UltimateTax Online is perfect for the on-the-go professional. You don't need to install anything. Access the online tax software from anywhere, file unlimited returns electronically, view real-time progress reports, and grant account access to as many as 10 users at once.

UltimateTax Desktop is very similar to Online. The key difference is that it needs to be installed on your office computers. UltimateTax Desktop lacks some of the mobility features of Online—such as accessibility on different types of devices, including a Macbook, Windows PC, or Chromebook. It does have the distinct advantage of supporting unlimited user accounts. Unlimited user accounts are provided. It is certainly the lowest priced option that allows for unlimited corporate e-filing.

UltimateTax places a strong emphasis on customer support, offered through its Service. An in-house team provides year-round technical assistance at no additional cost to UltimateTax subscribers. You can contact a help agent via phone, email or live chat. All customer support agents are based in the USA. You can get bank product options that let your firm process IRS refunds faster for clients and earn additional revenue through rebates. For your information, UltimateTax works in partnership with TaxWise for tax calculations and e-filing functions.

The UltimateTax software adds several proprietary features, including Service and the easy-to-use Launchpad workflow optimizer. Summary: Drake offers packages that bundle together tax preparation software, office management tools, and optionally Drake accounting software.

Note that in addition to each package, a subscriber still needs to purchase a Drake Tax software license to be able to e-file tax returns. Focuses on speedy tax preparation via automatic form filling and offers multiple tax-year analysis.

Plays well with Drake Accounting software. Drake Tax adds the functionality to e-file and print tax returns. In total, there are four Drake Tax software packages. Three packages offer versions of Drake on the Desktop, which has to be installed on your computer.

One package is available for Drake in the Cloud, which is an online application. To simplify the price breakdown, the cost of the Drake Tax software license is included in the price shown for each package.

The price breakdown shown on the Drake Software website looks different because the Drake Tax license fee is listed separately there.

Drake in the Cloud supports hosting for the Drake Accounting application. But take note that Drake Accounting Pro is not included in this particular package. If you only want to purchase the tax preparation software, then the other packages may appear more attractive.

Whatever package you choose, Drake on the Desktop will equip you with a set of various software tools. These include a digital filing cabinet for documents, a tax planner app, and a scheduler. Basically, the package includes a few office management software applications. Drake on the Desktop also provides e-filing functionality. The software supports the following tax forms and schedules: , NR, , , S, H, , , , All standard State returns are included as well.

Drake Tax also offers 12 tax forms in the Spanish language. The supported tax forms in Spanish include W-4, W-7, , and Drake Tax is your basic tax preparation software. It is designed to make the process of completing a return more efficient and streamlined. The software can automatically calculate a return as you fill out the data fields.

You can set up shortcut keys and macros to speed up tax return data entry tasks. One Drake Tax feature, Look Back, lets you view the prior year's tax return data. You can easily compare it with the current year's return. With a keyboard shortcut, you can toggle between Look Back and the current view. DoubleCheck is the name of Drake Tax's diagnostic tool.

It can track any changes that affect verified data entry items. If DoubleCheck detects such changes, it will automatically flag the entry for review. You can further speed up tax preparation using optional hardware add-ons. These include an e-signature pad and a 2D barcode scanner. The signature pad can simplify electronic tax filing by letting clients digitally sign returns. Written by Samantha Bookman. Table of Contents Buying guide for best business tax preparation software The basics of filing business taxes Common mistakes business owners make when filing taxes The most common deductions Recent tax code changes and tax rules Types of business tax preparation software Business tax preparation software features.

Buying guide for best business tax preparation software As tax filing season gears up, business owners inevitably wonder which business tax preparation software will help them file the most accurate information with federal, state and local revenue agencies, save them the most in taxes, and take up the least amount of precious time in completing their filing.

Most tax preparation software is released in the fourth quarter of the tax year it will be used for, so that businesses can begin preparing their returns well before the deadline. While the least expensive tax preparation software does not typically include Schedule C, most mid-range software has this form.

Normally, the deadline is on April 15; however, that date falls on a Sunday this year, and a federal holiday, Emancipation Day, will be recognized on Monday. The April 15 deadline will return in Filing a state return will cost an additional fee. Triple-check those returns! The U. Having trouble printing out your return? If the printer or computer is returning an error message, try upgrading the printer drivers as well as the tax preparation software itself.

Temporarily disable your virus protection program so that the tax software can install and update correctly. Other Products We Considered. The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks.

These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5. Tax Software Premium, Intuit, Inc. Shola Adesimilolu. From Tax Preparer to Business Owner. John Russell. Lasser's Your Income Tax Crucially, QuickBooks gets updated regularly, with several new features added recently, such as a built-in income tax estimator and a new month-end tool for professional accountants.

In addition, QuickBooks often runs promotions, which could see discounts over your monthly payments for using your chosen service. All plans include free award-winning UK phone support, no contract, mobile apps for iOS and Android, plus free and easy data migration.

QuickBooks also has the capacity to help you with payroll, with a selection of add-ons designed to ease that side of your business activities. Those continuing updates also mean that you can be sure you're using a software package that functions in harmony with the latest developments surrounding tax legislation and so on. QuickBooks - Best tax software for all SMB needs QuickBooks benefits from having the muscle of Intuit behind it, a large software company that has helped it become one of the leading lights in the world of accountancy software.

Xero is cloud-accounting software that lets you cover many different bases within one package. It allows you to carry out invoicing, inventory control, payroll and even expense claims as well as covering all of your bookkeeping and accountancy tasks. There are three different packages. The cheapest package has the most limitations so, for example, you can only send 5 invoices and quotes.

The costlier editions don't have these constraints. At the other end of the spectrum, the Premium edition can handle multiple currencies. Xero can connect to your bank accounts too, which provides an invaluable way of keeping your accounting overview dynamically up to date ready for tax filing time.

The cloud-based software is intuitive, user-friendly and works via any desktop web browser and on any platform too. Xero also boasts a very good iOS and Android app edition, making it a solid all-round tax software solution. Xero - Best SMB tax software for extra features Xero has built up its cloud-accounting services substantially in recent years and how has an easy to use package that can be tailored to suit the needs of small business owners, accountants and bookkeepers alike.

Central to its universal appeal is a simplistic dashboard design that lets multiple users makes use of its many and varied features and functions. The accountancy package is additional appealing thanks to several extra features that include expense and project tracking. Start a day free trial. FreshBooks comes in four different packages, starting with Lite, which is aimed at self-employed professionals.

The Plus package is targeted at growing small businesses and a Premium edition is aimed more at ventures that have growing numbers of staff. FreshBooks also has a Custom Pricing option for businesses that need to scale up their accounting and taxation requirements.

However, even the basic Lite package features a sizable list of functions, such as integration with bank accounts, practical tax time reporting and all of the tools needed to meet Making Tax Digital for VAT requirements. Move up through the packages and each one delivers more functionality as your business needs it.

FreshBooks comes with a comprehensive suite of support options, and while it can be used online on any platform via a web browser the mobile app editions for iOS and Android are also very easy to use.

FreshBooks - Best all round tax software for SMBs FreshBooks comes packed with great features that allow you to get on top of all your cloud-based accounting and invoicing needs. With an intuitive interface and competitive pricing options this accountancy package can also be used from just about any location and via any kind of device. Zoho Books forms just one small part of a much greater business concern based in India that offers all manner of solutions for anyone and everyone.

While the desktop route is a solid one Zoho Books also has an impressive app presence, making it a good mobile bet too. Zoho Books has, it explains, a pricing plan for everyone and the service has actually become a little cheaper than it used to be for each of the current packages. Choose from Basic, Standard and Professional options, or give it a test run for nothing.

ZohoBooks - Best tax software with an automated edge ZohoBooks is just one of many different software packages available from this software publisher. Freeagent is a fully featured accounting suite that covers tax records as well, and is a powerful, comprehensive option that suits small to medium businesses or individuals with a lot of records to keep.

You can either opt to manage everything yourself or grant your accountant access to Freeagent as well, with the software able to make life easier for both of you along the way. It's certainly one of the most modern tools here, with a slick and stylish interface on the web and mobile, and a pile of useful features: automatic bank feeds, project time tracking, support for invoices and payroll, and so on.

For tax management specifically, Freeagent keeps records of everything as you go, so you know exactly what you owe and why at the end of the year. You can submit your returns directly to HMRC through Freeagent with just a few clicks of the mouse, with tax forecasting and real-time updates included too.

No hidden costs, cancel at any time. Making Tax Digital-compatible. Unlike Sage or Freeagent, GoSimpleTax isn't a complete accounting solution for freelancers and businesses — it focuses specifically on getting your taxes in order, and it does a very good job of this.