The Best Tax Preparation Software in 2026
We researched tax preparation software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core job, value for money and verified features, such as supported return types, schedules, state filing and electronic filing capabilities.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
TurboTax#1 of 369.3/10A broad tax filing suite for simple returns, complex income, and optional expert help.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
H&R Block Online#2 of 369.1/10Guided filing with document upload, AI assistance, and access to tax professionals.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Cash App Taxes#6 of 368.6/10A free filing option for personal returns with self-employment, investments, and bitcoin sales.
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 36 tools, best first
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Best forFeature-rich filing with optional expert preparation
A broad tax filing suite for simple returns, complex income, and optional expert help.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit TurboTax -
Best forGuided filing with human and AI help
Guided filing with document upload, AI assistance, and access to tax professionals.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit H&R Block -
Best forEstablished firms with complex multistate returns
A broad tax suite for firms handling complex federal, state, local, and multistate returns.
- State returns
- Self-employed support
- Amended returns
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit UltraTax CS -
Best forHigh-volume firms needing maximum form coverage
Broad form coverage and diagnostics for high-volume firms, with substantial annual and per-return costs.
- State returns
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Lacerte Tax -
Best forProfessional firms wanting forms-based workflows
A broad forms-based tax suite for firms handling individual and business returns.
- State returns
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit ProSeries -
Best forFree basic-to-moderate personal filing
A free filing option for personal returns with self-employment, investments, and bitcoin sales.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Cash App Taxes -
Best forFree Canadian filing with expert and audit options
A flexible Canadian filer for DIY returns, complex income and optional expert help.
8.5/10★★★★☆Try Wealthsimple Tax -
Best forGerman filers wanting broad device coverage
A broad German tax-filing option with guided workflows, ELSTER submission and AI advice.
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
- Electronic filing included
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit WISO Steuer -
Best forTax offices needing document and client workflows
A broad tax-office platform with strong workflow tools, but a high paid entry point.
- State returns
- Electronic filing included
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit CrossLink -
Best forGuided filing across web, desktop, and mobile
A broad tax filing lineup with free standard returns and paid support for complex income.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit TaxAct -
Best forLowest-cost filing for complex personal returns
A low-cost option for complex personal returns, with free federal filing and paid add-ons.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit FreeTaxUSA -
Best forBroad free filing with optional expert support
A broad filing platform with a free simple-return option and paid expert support.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit TaxSlayer -
Best forCanadian filers wanting broad mobile support
A broad Canadian tax filing option with free simple returns and paid support for complex situations.
7.9/10★★★★☆Try TurboTax Canada -
Best forUK filers wanting detailed form guidance
A focused UK Self Assessment desktop tool with detailed guidance and HMRC filing.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit TaxCalc -
Best forIndian filers with investments or assisted needs
A broad Indian tax-filing platform for investors, professionals, and complex returns.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit ClearTax -
Best forGerman Windows users filing income tax or EÜR
A low-cost Windows option for German returns, with EÜR and VAT forms in Professional.
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
- Electronic filing included
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit tax -
Best forProfessional preparers needing broad tax coverage
Broad return coverage and diagnostics for professional preparers, with annual paid licensing.
- State returns
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Drake Tax -
Best forAustralian firms managing varied return types
Broad Australian return coverage with plans for firms ranging from small to enterprise.
- Rental income support
- Amended returns
- Electronic filing included
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit LodgeiT -
Best forUS filers needing broad schedules at a fixed price
A fixed-price web filer for US returns with broad schedule support.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit 1040.com -
Best forBudget-conscious US filers with complex schedules
A low-cost web filer for complex returns, with paid state filing.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit OnLine Taxes -
Best forUS filers wanting inexpensive bundled state filing
A $25 web-based option for guided federal and state filing with broad form support.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Jackson Hewitt -
Best forCanadian families needing broad form support
Broad Canadian form support with free eligible returns, Auto-fill, and NETFILE filing.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit UFile -
Best forCanadian personal and corporate filing
A flexible Canadian tax tool for personal, corporate, and professional filing.
- State returns
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit TaxTron -
Best forAffordable Canadian desktop and iPad filing
A low-cost Canadian filing option with broad return support and cross-device access.
- State returns
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit TaxFreeway -
Best forCanadian individual filers on four platforms
A flexible Canadian tax tool for individuals who want desktop or mobile filing.
- State returns
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit StudioTax -
Best forUK self-assessment with accounting integrations
A capable HMRC filing tool for UK taxpayers needing guided calculations and accounting integrations.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit GoSimpleTax -
Best forGerman self-employed filers using ELSTER
A guided German tax-filing service with ELSTER, business returns and five annual submissions.
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
- Amended returns
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit smartsteuer -
Best forGerman users wanting guided filing plus advisers
A guided German tax platform with self-service filing and an Expert option.
- Self-employed support
- Rental income support
- Amended returns
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Taxfix -
Best forGerman filers with straightforward income sources
A conversational German tax-return app with free refund calculations and paid ELSTER submission.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Steuerbot -
Best forIndian tax firms needing bulk and accounting workflows
A broad Windows suite for Indian tax firms handling returns, audits, accounts, and clients.
- Rental income support
- Electronic filing included
6.2/10★★★☆☆Try Saral TaxOffice -
Best forIndian professionals needing deep e-filing workflows
A focused tax workflow for Indian CA offices handling computation, audits and e-filing.
- Amended returns
- Electronic filing included
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Winman -
Best forProfessional preparers needing cloud and desktop options
A broad professional suite spanning cloud, desktop, business, and individual returns.
- State returns
- Amended returns
- Electronic filing included
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit TaxSlayer Pro -
Best forGerman individuals needing basic ELSTER filing
A Windows tax app for German individuals who need ELSTER filing and corrections.
- Amended returns
- Electronic filing included
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Steuer-Sparer -
Best forGerman property owners filing property tax declarations
A focused browser-based tool for German property tax declarations, not income tax returns.
- Electronic filing included
5.8/10★★★☆☆Try WISO Grundsteuer -
Best forGerman sole traders preparing invoices and EÜR data
Useful for invoices and EÜR preparation, but not a standalone tax-return filing tool.
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit WISO Business -
Best forTax practices needing billing and practice management
A practice-management tool for billing and reporting, not tax-return preparation.
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit CCH Axcess
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TurboTax | Yes | $79 one-time | 9.3 |
| 2 | H&R Block Online | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | UltraTax CS | 9.0 | ||
| 4 | Lacerte Tax | No | 8.9 | |
| 5 | ProSeries | No | $729/yr | 8.8 |
| 6 | Cash App Taxes | Yes | Free | 8.6 |
| 7 | Wealthsimple Tax | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 8 | WISO Steuer | No | €35.99/yr | 8.4 |
| 9 | CrossLink | No | 8.3 | |
| 10 | TaxAct | Yes | $44.99 one-time | 8.2 |
| 11 | FreeTaxUSA | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 12 | TaxSlayer | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 13 | TurboTax Canada | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | TaxCalc | No | £42/yr | 7.8 |
| 15 | ClearTax | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 16 | tax | No | €15.99/yr | 7.6 |
| 17 | Drake Tax | No | $1,895/yr | 7.5 |
| 18 | LodgeiT | No | A$120/yr | 7.4 |
| 19 | 1040.com | Yes | $34.99 one-time | 7.3 |
| 20 | OnLine Taxes | Yes | $7.95 one-time | 7.2 |
| 21 | Jackson Hewitt Online | No | $25 one-time | 7.1 |
| 22 | UFile | Yes | 7.0 | |
| 23 | TaxTron | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 24 | TaxFreeway | Yes | $9.95/unit/yr | 6.8 |
| 25 | StudioTax | Yes | 6.7 | |
| 26 | GoSimpleTax | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 27 | smartsteuer | No | €39.99/yr | 6.5 |
| 28 | Taxfix | No | €39.99/unit/yr | 6.4 |
| 29 | Steuerbot | Yes | 6.3 | |
| 30 | Saral TaxOffice | No | 6.2 | |
| 31 | Winman | No | 6.1 | |
| 32 | TaxSlayer Pro | No | 6.0 | |
| 33 | Steuer-Sparer | 5.9 | ||
| 34 | WISO Grundsteuer | No | €29.95 one-time | 5.8 |
| 35 | WISO Business | Yes | €99/yr | 5.7 |
| 36 | CCH Axcess Practice | 5.6 |
Head-to-head All 13 comparisons →
- TurboTax vs Wealthsimple Tax
- H&R Block Online vs UltraTax CS
- H&R Block Online vs Cash App Taxes
- H&R Block Online vs Wealthsimple Tax
- H&R Block Online vs WISO Steuer
- UltraTax CS vs Wealthsimple Tax
- UltraTax CS vs WISO Steuer
- Lacerte Tax vs Cash App Taxes
- Lacerte Tax vs Wealthsimple Tax
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How we rank tax preparation 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