The Best Income Tax software in 2026
We researched income tax software using vendors’ official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on the category’s core job, value for money, and verified features. This guide covers software for preparing and filing income tax returns.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
UltraTax CS#1 of 309.4/10A broad tax-preparation suite for firms handling varied return types and jurisdictions.
Pricing on request
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Runner-up
ProSeries#2 of 309.2/10Broad individual and business tax coverage, with paid plans from $539 per year.
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Top-ranked free plan
TurboTax#3 of 309.1/10Guided filing spans simple returns through self-employment, investments, and rental income.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 30 tools, best first
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Best forProfessional firms with multi-entity tax work
A broad tax-preparation suite for firms handling varied return types and jurisdictions.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit UltraTax CS -
Best forEstablished firms needing broad professional tax coverage
Broad individual and business tax coverage, with paid plans from $539 per year.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit ProSeries -
Best forConsumers seeking guided, full-featured filing
Guided filing spans simple returns through self-employment, investments, and rental income.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit TurboTax -
Best forGerman filers wanting guided ELSTER submission
A broad German tax tool for guided filing, self-employed work and rental income.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit WISO Steuer -
Best forProfessional preparers needing hosted and desktop filing
A broad tax-preparation suite for offices that need desktop and hosted filing.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit CrossLink -
Best forTax practices needing broad desktop return coverage
Broad federal and state return coverage for tax practices that work on Windows.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Drake Tax -
Best forU.S. filers prioritizing free returns
Free web and mobile filing for federal and state returns, including investment income.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Cash App Taxes -
Best forCanadian filers seeking free filing with support options
A web-based Canadian filing option with broad income support and paid expert help.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Wealthsimple -
Best forBrazilian individuals filing IRPF for free
A free desktop option for preparing Brazil’s DIRPF, with support for several income types.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PGD IRPF -
Best forUS consumers with simple federal returns
A free federal filing option for simple returns, with paid tiers for broader tax situations.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit TaxSlayer -
Best forUS filers with complex federal income
A low-cost fit for complex federal returns, with state filing and expert help as add-ons.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit FreeTaxUSA -
Best forUS filers wanting guided help at moderate cost
Guided federal and state tax filing with plans for investments, rentals and self-employment.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit TaxAct -
Best forCanadian households filing with CRA or Québec
A free-to-start Canadian tax filing service with paid options for more complex returns.
7.9/10★★★★☆Try TurboTax Canada -
Best forIndian filers with assisted or complex returns
A broad filing option for Indian returns, from salary income to business and foreign income.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit ClearTax -
Best forIndian taxpayers who want expert-assisted filing
A broad Indian tax-filing service with expert-assisted plans for complex income types.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit TaxBuddy -
Best forUK individuals filing detailed Self Assessment
Detailed UK Self Assessment preparation with HMRC filing for up to six returns.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit TaxCalc -
Best forAustralians wanting accountant-reviewed online filing
Online filing combines ATO prefills, deduction guidance and accountant review before lodgement.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Etax -
Best forUK self-employed and property-income filers
A guided HMRC filing tool for UK self-employed, landlords and investors.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit GoSimpleTax -
Best forUS filers seeking very low-cost comprehensive returns
A low-cost web tax filer covering complex returns, with paid state filing.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit OnLine Taxes -
Best forCanadian individuals seeking inexpensive desktop filing
Low-cost Canadian filing with broad return support across desktop and web.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit TaxTron -
Best forCanadian filers with varied income and tax forms
Broad Canadian tax-form coverage, with online and Windows filing options.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit UFile -
Best forFirms filing individual and diverse entity returns
A cloud tax suite for firms handling individual and varied business returns.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit ProConnect Tax -
Best forGerman individuals preferring mobile guided filing
Guided German tax filing with ELSTER submission, refund estimates and optional expert preparation.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Taxfix -
Best forUS filers wanting simple bundled federal and state filing
Guided federal and state filing with support for common and more involved tax situations.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Jackson Hewitt -
Best forAustralian firms handling many return types
Broad Australian return coverage, with annual plans priced around lodgment volume.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit LodgeiT -
Best forSmall firms needing multi-entity professional filing
A multi-entity professional tax suite with desktop, cloud and mobile workflows.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit TaxSlayer Pro -
Best forSolo US filers wanting low-cost per-return pricing
Free eligible federal filing, with paid tiers for more involved individual returns.
- E-filing
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit E-file.com -
Best forGerman filers wanting ELSTER across platforms
Guided German tax filing with ELSTER submission, but no free submission plan.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit SteuerGo -
Best forAdvisers modeling long-term individual tax scenarios
A planning-focused tool for modeling federal and state tax scenarios across multiple years.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit CCH ProSystem -
Best forFirms needing integrated practice billing workflows
Practice billing and reporting software, not income-tax return preparation.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit CCH Axcess
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UltraTax CS | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | ProSeries | No | $729/yr | 9.2 |
| 3 | TurboTax | Yes | $79 one-time | 9.1 |
| 4 | WISO Steuer | No | €35.99/yr | 8.8 |
| 5 | CrossLink | No | 8.7 | |
| 6 | Drake Tax | No | $1,895/yr | 8.6 |
| 7 | Cash App Taxes | Yes | Free | 8.5 |
| 8 | Wealthsimple Tax | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 9 | PGD IRPF | Yes | Free | 8.3 |
| 10 | TaxSlayer | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | FreeTaxUSA | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 12 | TaxAct | Yes | $44.99 one-time | 8.0 |
| 13 | TurboTax Canada | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | ClearTax | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 15 | TaxBuddy | No | ₹699/yr | 7.7 |
| 16 | TaxCalc | No | £42/yr | 7.6 |
| 17 | Etax | No | 7.5 | |
| 18 | GoSimpleTax | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 19 | OnLine Taxes | Yes | $7.95 one-time | 7.3 |
| 20 | TaxTron | Yes | $19.99 one-time | 7.2 |
| 21 | UFile | Yes | 7.1 | |
| 22 | ProConnect Tax | No | 7.0 | |
| 23 | Taxfix | No | €39.99/unit/yr | 7.0 |
| 24 | Jackson Hewitt Online | No | $25 one-time | 6.9 |
| 25 | LodgeiT | No | A$120/yr | 6.8 |
| 26 | TaxSlayer Pro | No | 6.7 | |
| 27 | E-file.com | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 28 | SteuerGo | No | €89.95 one-time | 6.5 |
| 29 | CCH ProSystem fx Planning | 6.3 | ||
| 30 | CCH Axcess Practice | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 20 comparisons →
- UltraTax CS vs TurboTax
- UltraTax CS vs CrossLink
- UltraTax CS vs Drake Tax
- UltraTax CS vs Cash App Taxes
- ProSeries vs WISO Steuer
- ProSeries vs CrossLink
- ProSeries vs Drake Tax
- ProSeries vs Cash App Taxes
- TurboTax vs WISO Steuer
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How we rank income tax software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update