The Best Tax Software in 2026
We researched 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. Compare options for preparing returns and managing tax compliance across individual, professional, and business needs.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
UltraTax CS#1 of 269.3/10Broad professional return coverage with multistate tools and custom pricing.
Pricing on request
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Runner-up
Lacerte Tax#2 of 269.2/10Broad return coverage and pay-per-return pricing, built for Windows-based tax practices.
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Top-ranked free plan
TurboTax#7 of 268.6/10Guided federal and state filing with optional expert help across web, desktop, and mobile.
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 26 tools, best first
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Best forFirms preparing broad multistate tax returns
Broad professional return coverage with multistate tools and custom pricing.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit UltraTax CS -
Best forFirms handling complex individual and business returns
Broad return coverage and pay-per-return pricing, built for Windows-based tax practices.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Lacerte Tax -
Best forSmall firms preparing individual and business returns
A desktop tax suite with individual and business returns, priced from $539 per year.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit ProSeries -
Best forSmall firms preparing individual and business returns
A Windows desktop tax suite with broad return support and pay-per-return pricing.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Drake Tax -
Best forSmall firms preparing business returns
TaxWise combines federal and state e-filing with online and desktop return preparation.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit TaxWise -
Best forMid-market and enterprise corporate tax teams
Corporate return preparation with broad jurisdiction coverage and tax-provision connections.
- Electronic filing
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forIndividuals wanting guided filing with expert options
Guided federal and state filing with optional expert help across web, desktop, and mobile.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit TurboTax -
Best forSmall firms preparing diverse U.S. business returns
A broad, forms-based desktop suite for small firms handling varied U.S. returns.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Wolters Kluwer -
Best forBusinesses managing sales tax across jurisdictions
Automates sales-tax determination and compliance for organizations with complex operations.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Vertex -
Best forIndividuals seeking free federal filing with broad income
A free federal return option with paid state filing and optional expert support.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit FreeTaxUSA -
Best forIndividuals filing across devices
A flexible filing choice, from eligible free returns to investment and self-employment support.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit TaxAct -
Best forIndividuals filing simple or varied U.S. tax returns
A web and mobile filing option with a free tier and support for varied income types.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit TaxSlayer -
Best forMid-market and enterprise sales-tax automation
Cloud tax compliance for businesses automating calculation, certificates, and filing.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Sovos -
Best forSmall businesses automating U.S. sales-tax compliance
A U.S. sales-tax compliance tool with reporting, nexus monitoring and optional automated filing.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit TaxJar -
Best forMultinational corporations managing compliance and provision
A broad compliance and provision platform for multinational corporate tax teams.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Tax Series -
Best forPreparers who value flexible deployment and client tools
Flexible deployment and client tools for preparers handling individual and business returns.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit CrossLink -
Best forMid-market and enterprise property tax teams
A cloud platform for centralizing property tax workflows, filings, payments, and reporting.
- Electronic filing
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Avalara -
Best forBusinesses managing VAT and sales-tax filings
CrossTax handles indirect-tax workflows from sales-data checks through return submission.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Taxually -
Best forCloud-based firms with QuickBooks workflows
A cloud tax workflow for firms handling individual, business, and fiduciary returns.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit ProConnect -
Best forCCH Axcess firms managing billing and time entry
Practice management for CCH Axcess firms; it handles billing workflows, not tax-return preparation.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit CCH Axcess -
Best forTax professionals modeling multiyear planning scenarios
A multiyear tax-planning tool for firms comparing federal and state scenarios.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Wolters Kluwer -
Best forIndividuals with straightforward or varied income
A low-cost web tax service with broad federal forms and paid state filing.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit OnLine Taxes -
Best forUK individuals filing Self Assessment returns
Step-by-step UK Self Assessment preparation with online HMRC filing for a one-time fee.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit TaxCalc -
Best forSmall preparers needing broad returns and client tools
Broad return coverage with web, desktop, and mobile tools for professional preparers.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit TaxSlayer Pro -
Best forMid-market and enterprise teams managing global indirect tax
Automates indirect tax returns, reconciliation, validation, and filing workflows across jurisdictions.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forSmall firms needing broad device and platform coverage
Broad device coverage and e-filing, with business returns starting at $1,195 per year.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Try MyTAXPrepOffice
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UltraTax CS | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | Lacerte Tax | No | 9.2 | |
| 3 | ProSeries | No | $729/yr | 9.1 |
| 4 | Drake Tax | No | $1,895/yr | 8.9 |
| 5 | TaxWise | No | 8.8 | |
| 6 | ONESOURCE Income Tax | 8.7 | ||
| 7 | TurboTax | Yes | $79 one-time | 8.6 |
| 8 | ATX | No | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Vertex Sales & Use Tax | 8.3 | ||
| 10 | FreeTaxUSA | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | TaxAct | Yes | $44.99 one-time | 8.1 |
| 12 | TaxSlayer | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 13 | Sovos Sales & Use Tax | 7.9 | ||
| 14 | TaxJar | No | $419/yr | 7.8 |
| 15 | Tax Series | 7.7 | ||
| 16 | CrossLink | No | 7.6 | |
| 17 | Avalara Property Tax | 7.5 | ||
| 18 | Taxually | 7.4 | ||
| 19 | ProConnect Tax | No | 7.3 | |
| 20 | CCH Axcess Practice | 7.3 | ||
| 21 | CCH ProSystem fx Planning | 7.2 | ||
| 22 | OnLine Taxes | Yes | $7.95 one-time | 7.1 |
| 23 | TaxCalc | No | £42/yr | 7.0 |
| 24 | TaxSlayer Pro | No | 6.9 | |
| 25 | ONESOURCE Indirect Compliance | 6.8 | ||
| 26 | MyTAXPrepOffice | No | $895/yr | 6.7 |
Head-to-head All 18 comparisons →
- UltraTax CS vs TaxWise
- UltraTax CS vs ONESOURCE Income Tax
- UltraTax CS vs ATX
- Lacerte Tax vs Drake Tax
- Lacerte Tax vs TaxWise
- Lacerte Tax vs ONESOURCE Income Tax
- Lacerte Tax vs ATX
- ProSeries vs TaxWise
- ProSeries vs ONESOURCE Income Tax
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How we rank 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