How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Intuit owns three of the biggest names (Lacerte, ProSeries and ProConnect Tax), and all three now route through the same Intuit Accountants hub; pick by workflow, not brand.
- Lacerte and UltraTax CS are the power tools for complex returns, while Drake Tax wins on value and ProConnect Tax wins on cloud-native workflow.
- Pay-per-return versus unlimited pricing is the decision that matters most: small seasonal practices save with pay-per-return, high-volume firms need unlimited.
- Switching costs are real in tax software, so use the free returns and conversion services vendors offer before committing your whole client base.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Lacerte Tax | complex high-volume returns | See website | No |
 ProConnect Tax | cloud-native tax workflow | See website | Free trial |
 ProSeries | small firms and solo preparers | See website | No |
 Drake Tax | value for independent preparers | See website | Free trial |
 CCH Axcess Tax | cloud suite for mid-size firms | See website | No |
 UltraTax CS | Thomson Reuters ecosystem firms | See website | No |
 ATX | budget-friendly professional prep | See website | No |
 TaxSlayer Pro | straightforward 1040 practices | See website | No |
 TaxAct Professional | low-cost per-return pricing | See website | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best tax software for accountants
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Lacerte is the name senior preparers mention when returns get complicated: multi-state businesses, trusts, estates and high-net-worth individuals with layered entities. The diagnostics engine catches issues other programs miss, and the forms coverage is effectively complete. Intuit positions it as the desktop solution for complex returns, with hosting available for firms that want remote access.
The practical advantage is trust built over decades. Staff trained on Lacerte are easy to hire, reviewers know where everything lives, and the e-filing pipeline is battle-tested through millions of returns. Pay-per-return and unlimited pricing options let firms match the license to their volume.
The honest catch is cost and era. Lacerte is priced at the top of the market, and it remains fundamentally desktop software with cloud hosting layered on rather than cloud-native. Firms that want a browser-based workflow should look at ProConnect Tax instead. But when the return is genuinely difficult, most experienced preparers still want Lacerte.
What we like- The industry benchmark for difficult returns
- Deep diagnostics
- Strong e-file track record
Watch out for- Premium pricing
- Desktop roots with hosting as an add-on
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
ProConnect Tax is Intuit's cloud-native professional tax product, built for firms that want to work from anywhere without hosting a desktop application. Returns, client data and workflows live online, and it integrates directly with Intuit Accountant Suite and QuickBooks Online Accountant, so bookkeeping data flows into returns without re-entry. New customers can trial it with free returns before buying.
The workflow advantages are real. No servers to maintain, no hosting fees, automatic updates and built-in advisory insights generated from return data. The Easy Start onboarding team handles data conversion from competing products, which lowers the switching barrier that keeps firms on legacy software.
The trade-off is the cloud itself. A firm with unreliable internet or preparers who fly through returns with keyboard shortcuts may find the browser experience slower than desktop Lacerte or ProSeries. Complex-return depth is good but Lacerte remains the choice for the hardest cases. For growing firms that value mobility and integration, ProConnect is Intuit's recommended path.
What we like- Fully online with nothing to install
- Integrates with Intuit Accountant Suite
- New customers get free returns to trial
Watch out for- Needs reliable internet
- Some preparers miss desktop speed
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ProSeries is Intuit's professional tax software for small firms and solo practitioners. The forms-based preparation experience mirrors the actual tax forms, which makes it intuitive for preparers who think in forms rather than interview flows. It covers individual, business, trust and estate returns with e-filing, and hosting options add remote access.
The appeal is the balance of capability and cost. A solo preparer doing a few hundred returns gets professional-grade software with pay-per-return pricing that keeps the off-season cheap. The learning curve is gentler than Lacerte's, and Intuit's training resources and support are solid.
The honest limit is ceiling. Firms that grow into complex multi-entity work often graduate to Lacerte or UltraTax CS. It is desktop software at heart, so the cloud experience depends on the hosting add-on. For its target audience of small practices, though, it hits the sweet spot of price and power.
What we like- Forms-based interface preparers learn fast
- Affordable entry point
- Pay-per-return available
Watch out for- Less depth than Lacerte for complex work
- Desktop-based with hosting extra
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Drake Tax has one of the most loyal user bases in professional tax software, and the reason is value. One price covers unlimited federal and state returns with e-filing, which makes the math simple for independent preparers and small firms. The software is fast, stable and genuinely comprehensive across 1040, 1120, 1065, 1041 and other return types.
Preparers praise the no-nonsense workflow and the support, which is US-based and well regarded. Drake also offers practice management tools, portals and document management as add-ons, so a firm can build a fuller stack without leaving the ecosystem. Free trials let you run real returns before committing.
The drawback is polish and ecosystem. The interface is functional rather than modern, and the third-party integration list is shorter than Intuit's or Thomson Reuters'. Firms deeply embedded in the CS Professional Suite or Intuit Accountant Suite will feel the difference. But on pure price-to-capability for return preparation, Drake is hard to beat.
What we like- Unlimited returns at a competitive price
- Fast and stable
- Loyal user community
Watch out for- Interface is utilitarian
- Fewer integrations than Intuit or Thomson Reuters
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
CCH Axcess Tax is Wolters Kluwer's cloud-native tax preparation platform, built as part of the modular CCH Axcess suite. It covers individual, corporate, partnership, fiduciary and exempt organization returns with the CCH tax research content embedded line by line, which is a genuine differentiator for preparers who research as they work.
The suite argument is the selling point. Tax plugs into CCH Axcess Document, Practice, Workstream and Client Collaboration, giving mid-size firms a unified cloud workflow from engagement to delivery. The interface resembles modern office software rather than legacy tax applications, and mobile apps extend access.
The honest catch is that the value compounds with the suite, and so does the cost. A firm buying only the tax module pays enterprise prices without the full benefit. Smaller firms should look at CCH Axcess Tax Essentials or competitors like Drake and ProSeries. For mid-size firms standardizing on Wolters Kluwer, it is the natural choice.
What we like- Fully cloud-based modular suite
- Strong tax research integration
- Modern workflow tools
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Best value only as part of the wider Axcess suite
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
UltraTax CS is Thomson Reuters' flagship professional tax software and the centerpiece of the CS Professional Suite. It handles complex individual and business returns with deep diagnostics, and its integration with Practice CS, FileCabinet CS and the research tools is the reason firms buy into the ecosystem. Data flows between tax, practice management and document storage without re-entry.
Firms committed to the Thomson Reuters stack get real efficiency: shared client databases, unified billing and one vendor relationship. The tax engine itself is top-tier for difficult returns, and the company invests heavily in keeping forms and e-file current.
The drawback is the ecosystem trap. UltraTax CS shines brightest inside the suite, and the total cost of the suite is enterprise-grade. A firm that only wants tax preparation pays a premium for integration it may not use. Evaluate the whole suite cost against best-of-breed alternatives before committing.
What we like- Deep integration with CS Professional Suite
- Powerful for complex returns
- Strong diagnostics
Watch out for- Premium pricing
- The suite lock-in is real
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ATX is Wolters Kluwer's value-priced professional tax software, aimed at small firms and preparers who need legitimate professional features without enterprise pricing. It covers 1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065 and 1041 returns with e-filing, organizers and standard practice tools.
The positioning is clear: professional capability at a fraction of Lacerte or UltraTax pricing. Solo preparers and small firms doing straightforward to moderately complex returns get everything they need. Being part of Wolters Kluwer means the tax content and form updates are reliable.
The honest limits are depth and modernity. Complex multi-state and multi-entity work strains it, and the interface feels dated next to cloud-native competitors. Firms that outgrow it usually move up to CCH Axcess Tax within the same vendor family. For budget-conscious preparers, it remains a legitimate professional option.
What we like- Affordable professional tax software
- Covers major return types
- From Wolters Kluwer
Watch out for- Less depth than CCH Axcess or Lacerte
- Interface shows its age
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
TaxSlayer Pro serves the high-volume 1040 practice: storefront preparers, seasonal offices and firms that do hundreds of individual returns. Pricing is straightforward with state returns included, and there are no per-return e-file fees, which makes the economics clean for volume work. A web-based version exists alongside the desktop product.
The workflow is optimized for speed on individual returns. Interview-style input, organizers, client portals and bank product integrations cover the seasonal practice's needs. Support hours extend during tax season, which matters when the office is full.
The limitation is complexity. Firms with significant business, trust or multi-state work will find deeper tools in Lacerte, UltraTax or Drake. The professional ecosystem of integrations and training is smaller than the big vendors'. But for the 1040-focused practice, simplicity and price are the right priorities.
What we like- Simple pricing with states included
- Fast for high-volume 1040 work
- Web-based option available
Watch out for- Less suited to complex business returns
- Smaller professional ecosystem
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
TaxAct Professional offers the major return types as separate affordable editions: 1040, 1065, 1120, 1120S, 1041 and 990, each with state versions. Preparers buy only what they need, which keeps costs down for practices with narrow specialties. The brand is familiar from the consumer side, and the professional products share that straightforward approach.
The value case is a small practice doing one or two return types. Instead of a suite license, you pay per edition and keep overhead low. E-filing, organizers and basic practice tools are included.
The honest assessment is that it is basic. Complex diagnostics, advanced workflow and deep integrations are thinner than the professional leaders. It suits cost-sensitive preparers with straightforward work; anyone handling complex returns should look at Drake, ProSeries or Lacerte instead.
What we like- Affordable professional editions
- Pay for only the return types you need
- Familiar brand
Watch out for- Basic compared with Lacerte or UltraTax
- Limited advanced features
What to check before you buy tax software
Start with your return mix. Count last season's returns by type: 1040, 1120S, 1065, 1041 and multi-state. That mix determines whether you need Lacerte-grade depth or whether Drake or ProSeries covers you. Then model pay-per-return against unlimited pricing at your actual volume; the crossover point is usually lower than vendors suggest.
Second, trial with real returns. Every vendor offers demos, trials or free returns; run a dozen of last year's trickiest returns through the trial and compare the diagnostics. Third, check the conversion story. Moving client data between vendors is the hidden cost of switching, so get the conversion scope in writing. Finally, verify e-file and state coverage for every state you file in, because gaps always appear in the states you assumed were covered.
Pay-per-return vs. unlimited: the math that matters
Pay-per-return pricing looks cheap until volume grows. A seasonal preparer doing 150 returns may pay far less per return than an unlimited license costs, while a firm doing 800 returns will almost always save with unlimited. Run both numbers with your actual count, not your optimistic projection.
Watch what "unlimited" includes. Some unlimited licenses cover federal only, with states or e-filing as add-ons. Some pay-per-return plans include bank products and portals that unlimited plans charge extra for. And remember the second-year price: introductory discounts expire, so ask for the renewal rate in writing before you sign.
How we chose
We compared vendor product pages, professional reviews including the Journal of Accountancy tax software surveys and CPA Practice Advisor, then confirmed every homepage was live in October 2026. Intuit consolidated its professional product pages under the Intuit Accountants hub, which is the final URL our checks returned for all three Intuit products. Where we could not verify a vendor-published price we say so. Nothing here reflects hands-on testing; assessments come from documentation, feature lists and public professional feedback.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax software is best for a new CPA firm?
Drake Tax and ProSeries offer the best value for new firms, with affordable entry pricing and pay-per-return options. ProConnect Tax is the pick if you want cloud-native from day one. Start small and upgrade when your return mix demands it.
Lacerte vs. ProSeries: what is the difference?
Both are Intuit professional products. Lacerte is the premium desktop solution for complex, high-volume returns. ProSeries is the forms-based solution for small firms and solo preparers at a lower price point. ProConnect Tax is the cloud-native alternative to both.
Should we switch tax software?
Only with a clear reason: usually cost, cloud workflow or outgrowing your current tool's depth. Use the vendor's conversion services and trial returns to test before committing, and never switch mid-season. Plan the migration for the summer or fall.
Do we need a PTIN and EFIN to use professional tax software?
Yes. The IRS requires a Preparer Tax Identification Number to prepare returns for compensation and an Electronic Filing Identification Number to e-file. Professional software vendors require both before you can file.
Can professional tax software handle multi-state returns?
The major products all support multi-state filing, but coverage depth varies by state and return type. Verify every state you file in during the trial, especially for less common states and local taxes.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://accountants.intuit.com/tax-software/
- https://www.drakesoftware.com
- https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/cch-axcess
- https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/en/products/ultratax-cs
- https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/atx
- https://www.taxslayerpro.com
- https://www.taxact.com
- https://accountants.intuit.com/tax-software/tax-online/data-conversion/
- https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2010/aug/2010_taxslayer/
- https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2019/06/12/2019-review-of-cch-axcess-tax-from-wolters-kluwer/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.