# The 11 Best Tax Software for Small Businesses

> The best tax software for small businesses is Intuit TurboTax Business for its comprehensive form support, followed by H&R Block Small Business and TaxAct Business.

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- Last verified: 2026-06-16
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## Ranking

### #1 Intuit TurboTax Business · 9.3/9.4
- Best for: Businesses needing the most comprehensive form support (S-Corp, partnership, C-Corp, multi-member LLC) and seamless integration with QuickBooks.
- Mountain View, USA · founded 1983 · $$$ ($190 to $500+)
- TurboTax Business is the best overall choice for its unmatched support for all major business entity types and its guided, interview-style process that simplifies complex tax situations.
- Pro: Its direct, one-click data import from QuickBooks Online is a critical time-saver that can reduce data entry errors by pulling in categorized income and expenses.
- Con: The final cost is often significantly higher than the list price due to separate fees for each state filing and aggressive upselling for live CPA assistance.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #2 H&R Block Small Business · 9.1/9.4
- Best for: Small business owners who want a reliable DIY platform with the option for in-person or virtual expert assistance.
- Kansas City, USA · founded 1955 · $$ ($85 to $400+)
- H&R Block is the best option for filers who value strong expert support, offering unlimited live help from tax pros and the unique ability to drop off documents at a local office.
- Pro: The 'Online Assist' feature provides on-demand screen sharing with a tax expert, which is invaluable for resolving specific questions about depreciation or expense categorization.
- Con: Data import capabilities are less extensive than TurboTax's, requiring more manual entry if you don't use their specific partners like Stride for mileage tracking.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #3 TaxAct Business · 8.8/9.4
- Best for: Price-conscious business owners who need to file partnership or S-Corp returns and are comfortable with a more straightforward, less guided interface.
- Cedar Rapids, USA · founded 1998 · $$ ($125 to $250)
- TaxAct provides the best value for formal business entities like S-Corps and partnerships, offering all necessary forms for a significantly lower price than the top two competitors.
- Pro: Its pricing is transparent, with all versions including free federal e-filing and phone support from tax specialists without requiring a premium upgrade.
- Con: The user interface is less intuitive and provides fewer contextual explanations than TurboTax, making it better suited for those with some prior tax filing experience.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #4 FreeTaxUSA · 8.6/9.4
- Best for: Sole proprietors and freelancers with simple tax situations who want to file their federal return for the lowest possible cost.
- Provo, USA · founded 2001 · $ ($0 to $50)
- FreeTaxUSA is the best low-cost option for self-employed individuals, offering completely free federal filing for Schedule C and charging only a small, flat fee for state returns.
- Pro: The pricing model is exceptionally simple: federal filing is free, state filing is a flat $14.99, and the 'Pro Support' upgrade is only $44.99.
- Con: It does not support more complex business returns like S-Corps or partnerships (Form 1120-S, 1065), limiting its use to sole proprietors.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #5 TaxSlayer Self-Employed · 8.4/9.4
- Best for: Freelancers and gig workers who want affordable filing combined with access to tax professionals for questions.
- Augusta, USA · founded 1965 · $ ($68 to $110)
- TaxSlayer Self-Employed offers the best combination of affordability and expert guidance for freelancers, including access to a tax pro with specific self-employment expertise.
- Pro: The Self-Employed tier includes guidance for 1099-NEC income and a direct line to tax professionals, a feature that costs much more with competitors.
- Con: The platform lacks direct integrations with accounting software, requiring users to import totals via CSV or enter them manually.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #6 QuickBooks Online · 8.2/9.4
- Best for: Small businesses that want to organize their finances year-round to make tax time easier, rather than just using a standalone filing tool.
- Mountain View, USA · founded 1983 · $$ ($360 to $2400 per year)
- QuickBooks Online is the best foundational tool for tax preparation, enabling businesses to categorize transactions all year, which dramatically simplifies the final filing process in TurboTax.
- Pro: Its bank and credit card feed integrations automatically import and suggest categories for 90%+ of transactions, creating tax-ready reports.
- Con: While it prepares tax data perfectly, it is not a tax filing software itself and requires a separate purchase of TurboTax or another tool to actually submit returns.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #7 Xero · 8/9.4
- Best for: Businesses that work closely with an accountant and prefer a more modern, open accounting platform to prepare their tax data.
- Wellington, New Zealand · founded 2006 · $$ ($156 to $840 per year)
- Xero is the best accounting software for businesses that collaborate heavily with their accountants, offering unlimited users and strong reporting features that streamline tax data handoff.
- Pro: Unlike competitors that charge per user, all Xero plans include unlimited users, making it easy to give your accountant direct access to financial records.
- Con: Xero's US payroll and tax filing integrations are less developed than QuickBooks', often requiring third-party apps and more complex workflows for tax submission.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #8 Wave · 7.8/9.4
- Best for: Freelancers and new sole proprietors looking for free accounting software to organize their finances before exporting reports for tax filing.
- Toronto, Canada · founded 2010 · $ ($0 to $420 per year)
- Wave is the best free accounting tool for freelancers to prepare for tax season, offering unlimited invoicing and expense tracking at no cost to generate the reports needed for a Schedule C.
- Pro: Its core accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning software is genuinely free, which is an unbeatable value for new businesses tracking their first dollars.
- Con: Wave does not offer any tax filing capabilities, and its payroll service, a paid add-on, is only available in 14 states.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #9 Block Advisors · 7.6/9.4
- Best for: Small business owners who want a dedicated tax expert to handle their filing and provide year-round advice.
- Kansas City, USA · founded 2015 · $$$ ($300 to $1000+)
- Block Advisors is the best option for business owners who want to offload their tax filing to a professional, combining H&R Block's software with a dedicated, certified tax advisor.
- Pro: Clients are matched with a specific advisor, providing continuity and personalized advice on estimated taxes and bookkeeping throughout the year, not just at tax time.
- Con: The service is significantly more expensive than DIY software, with pricing starting around $300 for even simple business returns.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #10 1-800Accountant · 7.4/9.4
- Best for: New business owners who need a bundled service of bookkeeping, tax preparation, and advisory from a dedicated accountant.
- New York, USA · founded 1999 · $$$$ ($1,500 to $5,000+ per year)
- 1-800Accountant is the best all-inclusive service for new entrepreneurs, bundling its proprietary software with a dedicated accountant for bookkeeping, tax, and payroll support.
- Pro: The service provides a single point of contact for all financial needs, which is ideal for founders who want to completely outsource their finance function from day one.
- Con: This is one of the most expensive options, with annual plans often exceeding $1,500, making it unsuitable for businesses on a tight budget.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

### #11 [WILDCARD] Bench · 7.1/9.4
- Best for: Business owners who want to completely outsource their bookkeeping and have their taxes filed by a professional without touching any software themselves.
- Vancouver, Canada · founded 2012 · $$$$ ($3,500 to $10,000+ per year)
- Bench is a powerful wildcard because it's not software you use, but a service that uses its own software to do your bookkeeping and tax filing for you, representing a true 'done-for-you' alternative.
- Pro: The service delivers a tax-ready financial package at year-end and coordinates directly with a tax professional, requiring almost zero effort from the business owner.
- Con: The integrated tax filing service, BenchTax, is only available on the highest-tier plan, and the overall service cost is prohibitive for many early-stage businesses.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-16): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-16.

## FAQ

**What is the best tax software for a single-member LLC?**

The best tax software for a single-member LLC is typically one with strong Schedule C support, as the IRS treats you as a sole proprietor by default. Intuit TurboTax Self-Employed or H&R Block Self-Employed are excellent choices because they provide specific guidance on deducting business expenses and calculating self-employment tax.

**Can I file my personal and business taxes together with this software?**

Yes, most small business tax software allows you to file both together, especially for pass-through entities like sole proprietorships, LLCs, and S-Corps. The software first calculates your business profit or loss, and that figure then 'passes through' to your personal 1040 tax return. This integration is a key benefit of using these programs.

**Do I still need an accountant if I use tax software?**

You may not need an accountant for routine annual filing if your business is simple, but it's wise to retain one for strategic advice. An accountant is invaluable for complex situations like multi-state operations, tax planning, or responding to an IRS inquiry. Many business owners use software for filing and an accountant for quarterly check-ins.

**How much does small business tax software typically cost?**

Small business tax software typically costs between $90 and $500 for a federal and one state return. Basic versions for freelancers are at the lower end of that range, while software for S-Corps and partnerships costs more, often between $170 and $250. Prices increase if you add live support from a tax expert.