8 Best Tax Preparation Software for Small Business in 2026, Compared

Quick comparison

The best tax preparation software for small business

#1

TurboTax Business

Best for: Small business owners who want the best-known guided filing, with expert help available when the return gets complicated

★★★★★★★★★★4.4/5 on G2 (94 reviews, checked Nov 2026)

Visit turbotax.intuit.com

Starting price$79 federal (sole proprietor DIY online; S-corp and partnership $639 with Expert Assist)

Free planNo — free to start, pay when you file

TurboTax Business is the best-known name in this list, and it earns the top spot for owners who want guidance rather than a blank form. The online product starts at $79 federal for a sole proprietor filing Schedule C with a personal return, and it imports income and expenses from QuickBooks or a spreadsheet, carries last year's figures forward, and checks for deductions as you go. Audit protection is included at no extra cost.

The price climbs steeply with entity type. Expert Assist for an S-corp or partnership costs $639 federal, and handing the whole return to an expert costs $1,549. State filing is extra on every plan. Buy TurboTax Business when you want the most guided filing and the option of expert help; buy TaxAct Business when the return is an entity return and the budget matters more.

What we like

• Guided interview format walks a non-accountant through Schedule C, K-1s and entity returns step by step
• Unlimited expert help and a final review come with Expert Assist, and audit protection is included at no extra cost
• Imports income and expenses from QuickBooks and spreadsheets, and carries last year's return forward
• Rated 4.4 out of 5 on G2 from 94 reviews, the highest review count in this list

Watch out for

• Entity returns get expensive fast: Expert Assist for an S-corp or partnership costs $639 federal, and Full Service costs $1,549
• The desktop Business edition runs on Windows only, with no Mac version
• State filing is extra on every plan, and prices rise as the filing deadline approaches

#2

TaxAct Business

Best for: Owners who want the cheapest online filing for an S-corp, partnership or C-corp return

Visit taxact.com

Starting price$109.99 federal (sole proprietor online; $159.99 partnership, $169.99 S-corp or C-corp)

Free planNo — start for free, pay when you file

TaxAct Business is the value pick for entity returns: it is the only consumer-priced tool here that files partnership, S-corp and C-corp returns online. A sole proprietor pays $109.99 federal, a partnership $159.99, and an S-corp or C-corp $169.99, with K-1 upload and automatic classification included. You start the return for free and pay only when you file.

The catch is the state return at $59.99 per state, and expert help costs extra — unlimited Xpert Assist is $89, and Full Service starts at $219 for a sole proprietor. TaxAct says more than 690,000 businesses have filed with it since 2003. Pick TaxAct Business when the return is an entity return and you are comfortable filing it yourself.

What we like

• The only consumer-priced tool here that files 1065, 1120-S and 1120 returns online
• Lowest entity-return prices in this list: $159.99 for a partnership and $169.99 for an S-corp or C-corp
• Start the return for free and pay only when you file, with K-1 upload and automatic classification
• More than 690,000 businesses have filed with TaxAct since 2003, per the vendor's own page

Watch out for

• State returns cost $59.99 per state on top of the federal price
• Live expert help costs extra on every business edition: unlimited Xpert Assist is $89, and Full Service starts at $219 for a sole proprietor
• The S-corp and C-corp editions cost the same $169.99 whether the return is simple or complex — there is no cheaper tier for a one-shareholder S-corp

#3

H&R Block

Best for: Owners who file personal and business returns together on Windows and want one desktop program for both

★★★★★★★★★★4.0/5 on G2 (21 reviews, checked Nov 2026)

Visit hrblock.com

Starting price$100 (Premium & Business, preorder price; one state program included)

Free planNo

H&R Block Premium & Business is a desktop program that files personal and business returns in one place, which suits owners who file both together. It is on preorder at $100 and includes 5 federal e-files and one state program, with state e-file at $19.95. AI Tax Assist is built in, and a network of offices stands behind the software if you want in-person help.

The limits are the desktop itself: there is no online edition for business returns, and the software needs regular update downloads through the season. G2 reviewers also report an error checker that sometimes re-flags corrected errors. Pick H&R Block when you file personal and business returns together on Windows and want the cheapest desktop route.

What we like

• One desktop program files personal and business returns together, with 5 federal e-files included
• One state program is included in the price, and state e-file costs $19.95
• AI Tax Assist gives expert-backed guidance inside the desktop software
• In-person help is available at H&R Block offices if the software is not enough

Watch out for

• Desktop software only — there is no online edition for business entity returns
• The $100 price is a preorder offer, so it rises once the preorder period ends
• G2 reviewers report frequent update downloads and an error checker that sometimes re-flags corrected errors

#4

FreeTaxUSA

Best for: Sole proprietors who want their federal return to cost nothing and do not need an entity return

Visit freetaxusa.com

Starting priceFree ($0 federal for every situation; $15.99 per state)

Free planYes — $0 federal filing for every situation

FreeTaxUSA is the cheapest way to file a sole proprietor's taxes: the federal return is $0 for every situation the software supports, including Schedule C, rental income and K-1s received, and the state return costs $15.99. There are no tiers and no form-based upsells — the price is the same whether the return is simple or complex. Extensions are free.

The limit is scope, not price. FreeTaxUSA files Form 1040 only, so a partnership, S-corp or C-corp return needs another tool entirely. Live help is also an add-on: Deluxe live chat costs $7.99 and Pro Support with a tax pro costs $64.99. Pick FreeTaxUSA when the business is a sole proprietorship and the federal return should cost nothing.

What we like

• Federal filing is $0 for every situation, including Schedule C, rentals and K-1s received — with no income limit
• State returns cost $15.99 each, the cheapest state fee in this list by a wide margin
• Optional Pro Support at $64.99 adds a tax pro by phone or chat plus a final review
• Extensions are free, and prior-year returns back to 2018 are $0 federal

Watch out for

• No business entity returns: it files Form 1040 only, so partnerships, S-corps and C-corps need another tool
• There is no live expert help in the free product — help costs $7.99 for Deluxe live chat or $64.99 for Pro Support
• Audit Defense costs $19.99 extra, and paying from your refund adds $24.99

#5

TaxSlayer

Best for: Self-employed filers who want guided Schedule C filing with audit defense for less than TurboTax charges

Visit taxslayer.com

Starting price$74.99 federal (Self-Employed; $39.99 per state)

Free planYes — Simply Free plan ($0 federal for simple returns)

TaxSlayer's Self-Employed plan is the budget guided option for Schedule C filers: $74.99 federal, with tax pros who specialize in self-employment available on the plan and quarterly estimate reminders built in. The price moves through the season — it was $52.99 early in the year — and TaxSlayer's own homepage now lists Classic at $19.99 against $44.99 in September, so confirm the Self-Employed price at checkout.

State returns cost $39.99 each, and the plan covers personal returns with self-employment income only — entity returns need TaxSlayer Pro or another tool. Audit defense with tax-pro representation for up to 3 years is included. Pick TaxSlayer when the return is a Schedule C and you want guided filing with audit defense for less than TurboTax charges.

What we like

• Self-Employed plan is built for Schedule C filers, with industry-specific deduction guidance
• Includes audit defense with tax-pro representation for up to 3 years after the return is accepted
• Access to tax pros with self-employment expertise, plus quarterly estimate reminders
• Simply Free plan files simple federal returns at $0, with one state return included

Watch out for

• State returns cost $39.99 each, the second-dearest state fee in this list
• The plan covers personal returns with self-employment income only — entity returns need TaxSlayer Pro or another tool
• TaxSlayer reprices through the season, so the $74.99 figure should be confirmed at checkout

#6

Drake Tax

Best for: Owners who file business returns for more than one entity, or small preparers who want a professional tool at a low entry price

★★★★★★★★★★4.6/5 on G2 (27 reviews, checked Nov 2026)

Visit drakesoftware.com

Starting price$379.99 (Pay-Per-Return, 10 individual returns included; business returns $74.99 each)

Free planNo

Drake Tax is professional software that an owner can buy directly, and it is the pro-grade pick for anyone who files business returns for more than one entity. Pay-Per-Return costs $379.99 and covers 10 individual returns, with business returns at $74.99 each, and every plan includes all 50 states, e-filing and unlimited support. It is rated 4.6 out of 5 on G2, the highest score here.

The trade-off is the learning curve: Drake assumes tax knowledge, and its form-based screens feel old-fashioned next to TurboTax or TaxAct. Updates also arrive frequently and log users out during the season. Buy Drake Tax when you file returns for clients or for several entities; for a single return of your own, TaxAct Business costs far less.

What we like

• All 50 states included at no extra charge, with e-filing and unlimited support on every plan
• Pay-per-return pricing suits low volume: $379.99 covers 10 individual returns, with business returns at $74.99 each
• Rated 4.6 out of 5 on G2 from 27 reviews, the highest score in this list
• Keyboard-friendly, form-based workflow that preparers praise for speed once learned

Watch out for

• Built for preparers, not owners: the interface assumes tax knowledge and has a steeper learning curve
• Updates arrive frequently and log users out during the season, per G2 reviewers
• Pay-per-return covers individual returns only — every business return adds $74.99

#7

ProSeries

Best for: Small firms that file a handful of business returns a year and already live in Intuit's world

★★★★★★★★★★4.3/5 on G2 (131 reviews, checked Nov 2026)

Visit accountants.intuit.com

Starting price$100 per federal business return (pay-per-return; Fast Path annual license required)

Free planNo

ProSeries is Intuit's professional tax software for firms that file a handful of business returns and want depth without Lacerte's price. The tax-year 2026 per-return sheet prices a federal business return at $100, with a 1040 at $72 and state returns from $64. In-program help answers questions without leaving the return, and client data imports from QuickBooks Desktop.

The catch is the Fast Path annual license, which is required to e-file on pay-per-return and whose price Intuit does not publish on the pricing sheet. Only four state downloads are free each year, and renewal prices rise most years. Pick ProSeries when you already live in Intuit's world and file a small number of business returns.

What we like

• Forms-based workflow that experienced preparers work in quickly, with in-program help on every screen
• Deep QuickBooks integration: client data imports from QuickBooks Desktop
• Pay-per-return pricing means a firm that files a handful of business returns pays per return, not a flat license
• Rated 4.3 out of 5 on G2 from 131 reviews

Watch out for

• A Fast Path annual license is required to e-file on pay-per-return, and Intuit does not publish its price on the pricing sheet
• Only four free state downloads a year; extra state returns cost more
• Renewal prices rise most years, and renewing customers report paying more than new ones

#8

Lacerte

Best for: Firms that prepare business returns for clients and need the deepest diagnostics available

Visit accountants.intuit.com

Starting price$599/year (pay-per-return license, marked down from $813; per-return fees apply)

Free planNo

Lacerte is Intuit's flagship professional software and the deepest tool in this list: 25,000+ diagnostics and 7,200+ tax forms, with Intuit Tax Advisor built in to turn return data into client tax plans. The pay-per-return license costs $599 a year, marked down from $813, and every plan includes unlimited 1099 and W-2 filing plus digital signatures.

It is built for firms, not for an owner filing one return: a single business return needs the $599 license plus a per-return fee, and bundles and unlimited plans are quote only. Reviewers on Capterra report that the price goes up each year. Pick Lacerte when a firm prepares business returns for clients and needs the deepest diagnostics available.

What we like

• 25,000+ diagnostics and 7,200+ tax forms cover the most complex returns in this list
• Intuit Tax Advisor is built in, turning return data into tax plans for clients
• Pay-per-return license starts at $599 a year, marked down from $813
• Unlimited 1099 and W-2 filing and digital signatures are included with every plan

Watch out for

• The most expensive entry here for a single business return: a $599 license plus a per-return fee
• Bundles and unlimited plans are quote only, so there is no published price to compare
• Reviewers on Capterra report that the price goes up each year

The best tax preparation software for small business depends on one fact before price: whether the business files its own return or files through the owner's personal return. A sole proprietor files Schedule C with a personal 1040, while a partnership, S-corp or C-corp files a separate entity return — and only some tools in this list handle the second kind. We ranked the eight tools below by fit for the most common buyer, a US owner filing their own return, and every price was checked on November 4, 2026.

How to choose the best tax preparation software for small business

• Match the tool to your entity type first. Schedule C filers can use any tool here; partnerships, S-corps and C-corps need TurboTax Business, TaxAct Business, H&R Block Premium & Business or a pro tool.
• Count the state returns. A state return adds $15.99 at FreeTaxUSA and $59.99 at TaxAct, so a two-state filer can pay more for states than for the federal return.
• Decide how much help you want. DIY filing starts at $0; adding a tax expert costs $89 at TaxAct, $229 at TurboTax for a sole proprietor, and $1,549 for TurboTax Full Service on an S-corp.
• Check the e-file limits. H&R Block includes 5 federal e-files and one state program; Drake's pay-per-return covers 10 individual returns.
• Think about next year. A tool that imports last year's return and your QuickBooks data saves an evening every season — TurboTax, TaxAct and ProSeries all do this.
• Try it with real numbers before you pay. TaxAct and TurboTax let you start for free and pay when you file, so run the return before committing.

Tax software is one system in your stack, not the whole stack. If the business also needs to be found online, our monthly SEO service handles the visibility side. And before you publish new pages for the services you sell, run your titles through the free SERP snippet preview tool — it shows exactly how the title and description will look in Google.

Whatever you shortlist, try it with real data before you pay. The free starts in this list are long enough to run one genuine return — your income, your deductions, your entity type — and that return tells you more than any review can. Check two things before you file: that the state return is included in the price you saw, and that the forms your entity needs are actually in the edition you picked.

Tax preparation software for small business pricing: what you will actually pay

Take a sole proprietor who files a federal return and one state return. On list prices, the bill is $15.99 at FreeTaxUSA ($0 federal plus $15.99 for the state), $114.98 at TaxSlayer ($74.99 plus $39.99), $119.95 at H&R Block ($100 with one state program included, plus $19.95 for state e-file) and $169.98 at TaxAct ($109.99 plus $59.99). TurboTax Business starts at $79 federal for the same filer, with the state return priced at checkout — the vendor's page does not list a separate state price for the DIY business product.

Now take an S-corp filing one federal return. TaxAct Business costs $169.99. TurboTax Expert Assist costs $639, and Full Service costs $1,549 — there is no DIY online S-corp price on TurboTax's page. Drake Tax pay-per-return costs $379.99 for the license plus $74.99 for the business return, which is $454.98 all-in. ProSeries charges $100 per federal business return, plus the Fast Path annual license whose price Intuit does not publish. Lacerte needs the $599-a-year license plus a per-return fee. The same S-corp return costs $169.99 at the cheap end and $1,549 at the dear end — and the gap is expert help, not forms.

Two costs sit outside every number above. First, prices move through the season: TaxSlayer's Self-Employed plan was $52.99 early in the year and $74.99 by September, and H&R Block's $100 is a preorder price. Second, the deadline matters — partnership and S-corp returns are due March 16, a month before personal returns, so an entity filer who buys late pays the late-season price.

Know the difference: a Schedule C filing vs a business entity return

The confusion in this category is between two kinds of return. A sole proprietor reports business income on Schedule C, which is part of the personal Form 1040 — so any tool here can file it, including the free ones. A partnership, S-corp or C-corp files a separate entity return (Form 1065, 1120-S or 1120), and only TurboTax Business, TaxAct Business, H&R Block Premium & Business and the three pro tools in this list file those. FreeTaxUSA and TaxSlayer cover Schedule C only, so an owner who picks one of them for an S-corp has bought the wrong tool entirely.

There is a second confusion: software versus a preparer. Software guides you through the return and you sign it yourself; a preparer or CPA does the work and signs as the preparer. TurboTax Full Service and TaxAct Xpert Full Service sit in between — an expert files for you, inside the software's price. If the return involves multiple entities, multi-state filings or a first-year election, the expert route is usually the cheaper mistake to avoid.

One more distinction: a tax return is not bookkeeping. None of these tools keeps your books during the year — they prepare the return from the numbers you bring. If the books are a mess in December, the return will be too. Our guide to the best accounting software for small businesses covers the year-round side.

Quick comparison: tool type by need

Mistakes to avoid

• Budgeting on the federal price alone. The state return is always extra — $15.99 at FreeTaxUSA, $59.99 at TaxAct — and a two-state filer can pay more for states than for the federal return.
• Buying a Schedule C tool for an entity return. FreeTaxUSA and TaxSlayer cannot file a 1065, 1120-S or 1120. Check the form list before you pay, not after you have entered the numbers.
• Buying on the early-season price. TaxSlayer's Self-Employed plan rose from $52.99 to $74.99 during the year, and H&R Block's $100 is a preorder price. The price at checkout is the price that counts.
• Paying for a pro license for one return. Drake Tax costs $379.99 before the first business return, and Lacerte needs a $599-a-year license plus a per-return fee. For one return of your own, TaxAct Business at $169.99 is the cheaper buy.
• Missing the March 16 deadline. Partnership and S-corp returns are due March 16, a month before personal returns. File an extension if you are not ready — FreeTaxUSA files extensions free.

How we chose

We checked each vendor's own pricing page on November 4, 2026 and recorded the starting price exactly as shown — TurboTax Business, TaxAct Business, FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer's homepage, Lacerte's pricing page and Intuit's tax-year 2026 ProSeries per-return sheet — and we ranked the tools by fit for the most common buyer, a US small business owner filing their own return, not by brand size. Three prices could not be verified on the vendor's own page today: H&R Block's page returned a 403, so its $100 preorder price comes from the October 23, 2026 preorder listing; Drake's pricing page would not load, so its $379.99 pay-per-return price comes from independent reads of that page in October 2026; and TaxSlayer's homepage does not list the Self-Employed tier's price, so its $74.99 comes from TaxSlayer's own pricing article of September 2026. Ratings are shown only where we opened the G2 page today — TurboTax Business 4.4 from 94 reviews, H&R Block 4.0 from 21, Drake Tax 4.6 from 27 and ProSeries 4.3 from 131 — and omitted elsewhere rather than estimated. The price bars show one-time starting prices per return, not monthly fees. No vendor paid for a place in this list, and none of the links here are affiliate links.

What to do next

Start with the free start or free federal filing of your top pick and run one real return through it. Check that the forms your entity needs are in the edition you picked, and that the state return is in the price before you pay. If the return involves more than one entity or a first-year election, price the expert route too — TurboTax Full Service and TaxAct Xpert Full Service both file the return for you. If the books are sorted but new customers are not finding you, our monthly SEO service handles the visibility side — or compare payroll options in our guide to payroll software for small business. Once your tools are in place, find out what's holding your rankings back.

Sources we checked (14)

• TurboTax Business pricing — turbotax.intuit.com/small-business-taxes (checked November 4, 2026)
• TaxAct Business pricing — taxact.com/business-returns (checked November 4, 2026)
• TaxAct Business state pricing — taxact.com/business-returns/state-taxes (checked November 4, 2026)
• H&R Block preorder prices — dealnews.com (October 23, 2026)
• FreeTaxUSA small business — freetaxusa.com/small-business (checked November 4, 2026)
• TaxSlayer pricing — taxslayer.com (checked November 4, 2026)
• TaxSlayer pricing article — taxslayer.com/blog/cheapest-way-to-file-taxes-online (September 9, 2026)
• Drake Tax pricing as read October 2026 — nexusunitedinc.com/drake-tax-software-cost
• ProSeries tax-year 2026 per-return pricing sheet — digitalasset.intuit.com (checked November 4, 2026)
• Lacerte pricing — accountants.intuit.com/tax-software/lacerte/pricing (checked November 4, 2026)
• TurboTax Business on G2 — g2.com/products/turbotax-business/reviews (checked November 4, 2026)
• H&R Block on G2 — g2.com/products/h-r-block/reviews (checked November 4, 2026)
• Drake Tax on G2 — g2.com/products/drake-tax/reviews (checked November 4, 2026)
• ProSeries on G2 — g2.com/products/intuit-proseries-tax/reviews (checked November 4, 2026)