UltraTax CS vs TurboTax

UltraTax CS9.4Visit TurboTax9.1Visit

Higher score UltraTax CS #1 in Income Tax software 9.4/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit UltraTax CS

vs

TurboTax #3 in Income Tax software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit TurboTax

• UltraTax CS fits best

  Professional firms with multi-entity tax work

• TurboTax fits best

  Consumers seeking guided, full-featured filing

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Side by side

Feature	UltraTax CS 9.4/10 Visit ↗	TurboTax 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.1
Ranking	#1 in Income Tax software	#3 in Income Tax software
Best for	Professional firms with multi-entity tax work	Consumers seeking guided, full-featured filing
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	$79 one-time
Free plan	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs	Phone, Live chat
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features UltraTax CS 0/2 · TurboTax 0/2
E-filing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Professional preparer use	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Return types	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Tax jurisdictions	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Returns included	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Prepares individual, corporate, partnership, estate and trust returns Diagnostics, validation and missing-data checklists flag issues before filing Shares data across related returns and supports multistate allocation	Free Edition includes federal and state filing for simple Form 1040 returns Premium supports self-employment, investments, crypto, and rental property Expert options offer advice, return review, or full-service preparation
Cons	Custom pricing depends on users, returns, states and jurisdictions Support is not available 24/7 Firm-focused workflows may exceed the needs of a single self-filer	Paid online plans start at $79 one-time, with state filing additional Free Edition is limited to simple Form 1040 returns Plan prices may vary by situation, filing date, product, and add-ons
Our verdict	UltraTax CS is professional tax preparation software from Thomson Reuters for accounting firms and tax preparers. It covers federal, state and local returns for individuals, corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts, alongside… Read the review →	TurboTax is Intuit’s personal tax preparation software for individuals filing U.S. federal and state returns. Guided questions, document import or upload, and AI-powered Intuit Assist support do-it-yourself filing, while expert-assisted… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• UltraTax CS — where it wins

  • Prepares individual, corporate, partnership, estate and trust returns
  • Diagnostics, validation and missing-data checklists flag issues before filing
  • Shares data across related returns and supports multistate allocation

  Where it doesn't

  • Custom pricing depends on users, returns, states and jurisdictions
  • Support is not available 24/7
  • Firm-focused workflows may exceed the needs of a single self-filer

• TurboTax — where it wins

  • Free Edition includes federal and state filing for simple Form 1040 returns
  • Premium supports self-employment, investments, crypto, and rental property
  • Expert options offer advice, return review, or full-service preparation

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid online plans start at $79 one-time, with state filing additional
  • Free Edition is limited to simple Form 1040 returns
  • Plan prices may vary by situation, filing date, product, and add-ons

• UltraTax CS9.4/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad tax-preparation suite for firms handling varied return types and jurisdictions.

  Visit UltraTax CSFull verdict →
• TurboTax9.1/10 · Free plan

  Guided filing spans simple returns through self-employment, investments, and rental income.

  Visit TurboTaxFull verdict →