Your choice of software affects your workflow, your accuracy, your client experience, and your costs. Here’s how to think about it.
The Main Options
Drake Tax is one of the most popular choices for independent preparers. Annual license pricing starts around $2,345 for unlimited returns, with a pay-per-return option starting at roughly $350. Drake consistently wins industry satisfaction awards for customer support.
TaxSlayer Pro offers cloud and desktop options starting at $1,395 to $1,595 for unlimited individual returns. It’s well-suited for high-volume individual return practices and has a clean, modern interface.
TaxAct Professional is the budget option. A pay-per-return plan starts at about $160 plus per-return fees. Good for a very small first-year practice that wants to minimize upfront costs.
Intuit ProConnect Tax Online is cloud-based with pay-per-return pricing that scales with volume. It integrates with QuickBooks, which can be an advantage if your clients use that platform.
Lacerte and UltraTax CS are enterprise-grade platforms used by larger firms. They’re powerful but expensive and more than a new preparer needs.
How to Choose
If you expect fewer than 50 returns in your first year, start with a pay-per-return plan. TaxAct, Drake’s pay-per-return option, or ProConnect keep your upfront cost low.
If you expect 50 or more returns, a flat-rate unlimited plan from Drake or TaxSlayer Pro becomes more economical per return.
Prioritize customer support. You will have questions in your first season, and the ability to call someone and get an answer quickly is worth a lot. Drake is consistently rated highest in this category.
Consider cloud vs. desktop based on how you work. Cloud platforms let you work from any device with an internet connection. Desktop software may run faster for large files and works without internet.
What to Avoid
Don’t use consumer software (TurboTax, H&R Block Online) for professional work. These products aren’t built for multiple clients, don’t generate preparer-signed returns, and lack the diagnostics that professional software provides.
Don’t switch software every year. Each migration involves data conversion and relearning. Choose something you can grow with for three to five years.
For help selecting and setting up your software, the MuseSpring program includes software guidance as part of the training. Visit musespring.com.