Small Business Tax Management Software

Looking for small business tax management software? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got everything you need to manage your small business taxes.

If you’re a business owner, chances are you need to know about the new tax law. But first, let’s back up a little and talk about what small business tax management software is. The term small business tax management software encompasses more than just accounting software. Business owners can also look into obtaining management software to help them organize, analyze and understand information related to tax. Here’s a quick example of how taxes might tie into small business tax software:

As a small business owner, you’ve got enough on your plate with taxes. Don’t waste time trying to figure out your tax situation when all of the information you need can be found online. Here at TaxMan, we want to help simplify the process for you. ​

For most small business owners, tax season means they’re not sleeping during the day and are working well into the evening. In fact, taxes kill a lot of small businesses because owners either don’t know how to handle their taxes or don’t have time to deal with them. This is where small business tax management software such as Taxify® Small Business can come in handy and save the day.

Finding a small business tax management software that is simple and user friendly, yet includes all the powerful features, can be a daunting task. Many small business owners are disappointed when they try to use “off the shelf” ratios, tax accounting methods and other tax calculations for their business that are intended for regular businesses, corporations or partnerships. There’s also a lot of different tax management software on the market—ranging from free to $1000’s of dollars per year.

Small businesses don’t often have an automated system to manage their taxes. Beyond knowing that they need to file a return and make payments, most small businesses may not know much about tax law or how to best be compliant.

Best Tax Software Programs for Small Business

Save money while preparing an accurate tax return

If you run a small business, preparing accurate annual tax returns is required by law. According to the National Society of Accountants, the average cost to prepare taxes for a small business ranges from around $184 per year for a Schedule C to around $826 per year for a corporation.1 While an accountant may offer peace of mind, you can often save quite a bit by doing your taxes yourself with small business accounting software.

Most tax software packages come with similar guarantees for accuracy and a maximum refund, but the user experience and features can vary widely. To select the best tax software for small business, we reviewed 10 different software options based on product features, ease of use, accuracy, and more. So, if you’re looking to do taxes for a small business this year, here are the best tax software offerings for you.

The 5 Best Tax Software for Small Business of 2022

BEST OVERALLH&R Block

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We chose H&R Block as best overall because it is a trusted name in tax preparation, and its tax software for small businesses and business owners offers an excellent user experience and covers a wide range of tax situations. It offers a straightforward user interface that makes it easy to do your taxes accurately the first time.

Pros

• Online version includes self-employment and small business income on your personal tax returns
• Option to upgrade for on-demand assistance from a tax expert
• Mobile app allows you to upload tax documents and track filing status

Cons

• Business editions are priced higher than competitors
• Some functionality may not be available on mobile

H&R Block is a well-known brand in personal and business tax preparation. It was founded in 1955 and has prepared more than 800 million tax returns. If you want to do your own taxes, you can choose between online and downloadable versions of H&R Block’s tax software. For the 2019 tax year, H&R Block prepared almost 22 million tax returns and nearly 9 million people used H&R Block Online to do their taxes.

Windows desktop users get the most robust options, including corporation or partnership tax forms and employee-specific tax forms. This comes through H&R Block’s downloadable Premium & Business software, which costs $89.95 plus $39.95 per state return. If you can get by with a Schedule C, you can file with the Premium Online edition for $69.99 or Self-Employed Online for $114.99. Both require an extra $44.99 per state. If you have significant business expenses, you’ll need the Self-Employed edition, their top-tier online option.

The software program does a good job of walking you through complex tax situations. If you think you’ll need extra help, you can upgrade to Online Assist, which allows you to do your taxes on any device with unlimited, on-demand help from a tax pro. It costs $159.99 for Premium or $194.99 for Self-Employed, plus $49.99 per state.

Whether you file online or with the download version, the tax software comes with a maximum refund guarantee and 100% accuracy guarantee. All versions have an audit support guarantee. Whichever you choose, H&R Block covers most tax situations and is a top choice for many business owners, which is why it gets our best overall ranking.

BEST FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND CORPORATIONSTaxAct

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TaxAct includes an option to complete tax filings for partnership and corporations completely online and is the only place you can prepare taxes for a partnership or S corporation with either a PC or Mac online, which is why it’s our choice as best for partnerships and corporations.

Pros

• Completely online federal and state taxes for partnerships, C corporations, and S corporations
• Unlimited free support from tax specialists and technical support by phone and email
• Choose between online and downloadable versions
• Discounts available for bundling personal and business taxes

Cons

• Limited options for audit support
• State forms may not be available to file electronically
• Downloadable version for Windows only

TaxAct is a large provider of online and downloadable tax software that has completed over 80 million tax returns since 2000.

Business owners who file online will pay $124.95 plus $49.95 per state. That includes sole proprietors who file with a Schedule C, partnerships that require Form 1065, corporations that file with Form 1120 or Form 1120s. However, tax-exempt organizations that file Form 990 must by the downloadable version though..

The download version (Windows only), which includes 5 federal e-files is $109.95. States cost $50 each. You can bundle personal and business for a total of $200.

The online experience isn’t quite as polished as some of the larger competitors, but it is generally intuitive and easy to follow. If you need assistance along the way, tax help and technical support are both available by phone. Customer service (without tax help) is also available by email.

TaxAct guarantees accuracy and the maximum possible refund but doesn’t include audit support. You can pay extra during your tax preparation process to add audit support with their third-party partner Protection Plus. Overall, TaxAct is an excellent choice for those who can handle things primarily on their own, and perhaps the only choice for PC or Mac users who want to do partnership or corporation taxes on their own, which is why it’s our top tax software choice for partnerships and corporations.

BEST FOR SELF-EMPLOYEDTaxSlayer

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We rank TaxSlayer as best for self-employed because of its low pricing and a highly rated online experience that works well for self-employed tax filers who earn via a 1099 and need to complete a Schedule C.

Pros

• Low pricing for federal tax return compared to larger competitors
• Self-employed edition includes access to a tax professional
• Chat, email, and phone support available
• All federal filings are free for active-duty military families

Cons

• No download version available
• No support for forms 1065, 1120, or 1120S for partnerships and corporations

TaxSlayer traces its roots in tax preparation to 1965. It started offering tax software to professional tax preparers in 1991 and launched its consumer-facing do-it-yourself tax software business in 1998. With TaxSlayer, you can do your taxes online or with the TaxSlayer mobile app.

The Self-Employed edition costs $59.95 plus $39.95 per state. This version includes tax preparation for a 1040 Schedule C for those who operate as sole proprietors as well as LLCs. If you have a side hustle and get a 1099 tax form, for example, TaxSlayer Self-Employed would handle your needs. Active-duty military can file all federal tax forms for free and just pay $39.95 per state.

The Self-Employed edition includes access to a tax professional for help with all of your individual tax questions while completing your taxes. It also includes phone, live chat, and email support as well as technical support. Both the Premium and Self-Employed editions include Audit Assistance for up to 3 years after your return is accepted.

TaxSlayer includes a 100% accuracy guarantee and a guaranteed maximum refund. While it doesn’t work for certain businesses that are required to complete more complex tax returns, it does a great job of handling the needs of many self-employed individuals, making it our top choice for those needing a Schedule C.

BEST FOR VIRTUAL ASSISTANCETurboTax

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A market leader, TurboTax includes an option to get on-demand support from a tax professional at home as well as robust technical support for its online and downloadable products, which is why it is our pick for best for virtual assistance.

Pros

• Downloadable version covers all small business types including self-employed
• Online version has an upgrade for live support from a CPA or EA
• Online interface that’s easy to use and navigate

Cons

• More expensive than some competing tax software
• 1065 and 1120S forms only available in Windows-only desktop version
• Little additional tax support without paying for TurboTax Live

TurboTax is one of the largest providers of DIY tax software and a good choice for many businesses. TurboTax is owned by Intuit, a California-based software company founded in 1983, and it offers online, desktop, and mobile versions to prepare and file your taxes.

Most business owners using the online version of TurboTax would benefit from TurboTax Self-Employed, which includes personal and business income and expense tax forms. This version costs $120 plus $50 per state. Windows users can install TurboTax Home & Business, which includes 5 federal e-files and 1 state for $200. Additional states cost $45. This version is needed if you want to prepare taxes for a partnership or corporation.

If you want extra help and have questions about your taxes along the way, TurboTax Live is an add-on that includes access to a CPA or other tax expert on-demand, including evening and weekend hours. The TurboTax Live Self-Employed edition costs $199 plus $54 per state. This includes tax support along the way and a final review of your taxes before filing. All TurboTax options include regular access to product and technical support.

No matter which option you choose, TurboTax includes a 100% accuracy guarantee and a maximum refund guarantee. Customers are also protected by audit support for 3 years for most returns. TurboTax is popular for a reason: It has an excellent user interfaces and great built-in guidance while completing your taxes. For those who may want extra help along the way, adding on TurboTax Live could be a smart decision. This tool makes TurboTax the best tax software for at-home assistance.

BEST VALUEFreeTaxUSA

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FreeTaxUSA’s extremely low pricing starts at $0 for federal returns and $14.99 for state returns including self-employment income, making it our review’s best for low cost.

Pros

• Free federal filing and low-cost state filing for business taxes reported on Schedule C
• Low-cost upgrade to Deluxe Edition includes priority support and live chat
• Unlimited amended returns and audit assistance are included in Deluxe Edition

Cons

• No download version available
• Less-robust support with the basic free edition

FreeTaxUSA is a low-cost solution for doing your own taxes online. FreeTaxUSA was launched in 2001 and is owned by CPA firm TaxHawk, Inc. FreeTaxUSA is an online tax preparation service that works in your web browser; there is no downloadable version available.

The federal return is free in most cases, though many users will pay up to nearly $22 for the full tax preparation experience—$14.99 per state and $6.99 to upgrade to the Deluxe edition, which includes priority support, live chat, unlimited amended returns, and audit assistance. However, if you live in a state where no state return is required, you can file completely for free.

Support is limited for users of the free edition, which makes sense, as you are not paying for individual service. The live chat with priority support included in the Deluxe Edition is available from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday.

FreeTaxUSA includes a maximum refund guarantee and 100% accuracy guarantee. If you choose the free edition, you have access to every federal tax form and won’t have to pay anything in most cases. If you are looking for a budget-friendly solution for your self-employed tax return, FreeTaxUSA may be your best choice.

What Is Tax Software for Small Business?

Tax software for small business is an online, desktop, or mobile option to complete your taxes on your own without paying a professional preparer. Depending on the software you choose, you may be able to file self-employed taxes with a Schedule C or more complex taxes for a partnership or corporation. While personal tax preparation software focuses only on Form 1040 in most cases, small business tax software has the ability to complete taxes for businesses of all sorts.

Tax Preparer vs. Tax Software for Small Business

If you are overwhelmed by the idea of doing your own taxes or don’t feel confident using computers, you definitely don’t have to do your taxes yourself. In those cases, you can hire a professional tax preparer, often a CPA, to do your taxes for you.

Tax professionals often have a detailed understanding of tax laws and can offer money-saving advice. However, behind the scenes, accountants use similar tax software to what you use when doing it yourself, so you certainly don’t have to pay extra for a professional preparer.

What Can a Small Business Write Off?

Small businesses can write off most expenses directly related to running the business. That can include equipment, labor, office supplies, and any services your business needs to operate. In some cases, it may even include a deduction for use of a home office or vehicle for business purposes.

If you have serious doubts or questions about what your small business can write off, it may be worthwhile to pay for an upgrade to a version of a tax program where you can access expert advice.

Why Do Small Businesses Get Audited?

Small businesses and business owners may be audited for several reasons. Those can include a mismatch of your tax return and tax forms reported by other businesses, excessive expenses, business losses, missing income, and high deductions. If you underpay your taxes, you could also wind up getting extra attention from Uncle Sam.

According to the IRS, there were 509,917 tax returns audited for the 2020 tax year, a very low fraction of all returns.2

What Does Small Business Tax Software Cost?

Small business tax software ranges in price from free for federal returns up to around $200 for more complex returns, plus an additional $15 to $50 per state for state filings. Some tax software includes upgrades for additional support or features that can increase costs compared to basic returns.

How We Chose the Best Tax Software for Small Business

This review was based on information gathered on 10 different tax software options for small businesses. The winning software programs offered a good user experience including important features to prepare an accurate tax return in a timely fashion. Additional factors reviewed include cost, customer reviews, software popularity, and available options for both technical and tax support.