ATX

At a glance

• Editor score
  8.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Paid
• Best for
  Firms needing extensive forms and research
• Free plan
  No
• Business entity support
  C corporations, S corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • More than 6,000 federal, state, and local compliance forms
  • Diagnostics flag e-filing errors, omissions, and overridden entries
  • Includes tax research, electronic signatures, and payroll reporting

• Where it doesn't

  • ATX 1040 excludes state business returns
  • Desktop software may not fit cloud-first workflows
  • No free plan is available

Our verdict on ATX

ATX is desktop, forms-based tax preparation software from Wolters Kluwer for CPAs, individual tax preparers, and small firms. It supports federal, state, and local returns across individual, C corporation, S corporation, partnership, estate and trust, specialty, payroll, and sales-and-use work. The software combines a library of more than 6,000 tax compliance forms with IRS instructions, schedules, in-line help, electronic signatures, and payroll compliance reporting. Firms that need broad entity and form coverage are the clearest fit.

Its plan structure covers several operating models. ATX 1040 includes federal individual returns, unlimited state individual returns, federal business returns, and 75 free e-files, with pay-per-return business filing; it excludes state business returns. ATX MAX and ATX Total Tax Office add state business returns while retaining the individual and federal business coverage and 75 free e-files. ATX Advantage adds advanced calculations and compliance. The ATX Pay-Per-Return System covers federal or state returns, business and specialty returns, sales-and-use forms, and six individual returns. These options give firms a choice between package-based coverage and return-level purchasing.

The strongest differentiator is depth for forms-heavy preparation rather than a narrow individual-return workflow. E-filing diagnostics address errors, omissions, and overridden entries, while CCH AnswerConnect and the U.S. Master Tax Guide provide integrated research resources. That combination suits preparers who need reference material alongside return production. ATX is less compelling for teams seeking a cloud-first product or clearly documented platform and integration coverage. Firms should choose it when extensive forms, research, diagnostics, and entity support matter most; smaller practices focused only on straightforward individual returns may prefer a narrower option.

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ATX pricing

All 5 ATX plans and prices →

ATX fact sheet

Alternatives to ATX

• TurboTaxA broad guided filing option with strong income support, but paid tiers and state add-ons raise cost.9.3
• H&R Block OnlineA guided tax service with free simple returns, broader paid tiers, and web and mobile access.9.1
• TaxActA broad tax filing option for self-employed filers, with state filing charged separately.8.8

See all ATX alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

ATX is listed in our Small Business Tax Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update