Small Business Tax Software: Compare Forms, Platforms and Costs

Choosing tax software for a small business starts with a less glamorous question than which interface looks easiest: which return does the business actually need? A sole proprietor reporting income on a personal return may need a very different product from a partnership filing a separate return. State support, the computer you use, and the cost of every required return can change the comparison.

The options below are a starting point for US federal income tax preparation, based on vendor and IRS documentation reviewed October 29, 2026. Product examples are identified by the tax year where the documentation does so; they are not a promise that the same editions or features will be available for a later year. We have not tested the software or ranked it through hands-on use.

Start with the return, not the business label

A sole proprietor generally reports business income and expenses on Schedule C with Form 1040. A single-member domestic LLC owned by an individual is generally disregarded for federal income tax unless it elects corporate treatment; the relevant activity may be reported on Schedule C, E, or F. An LLC's legal name alone therefore does not tell you which software to buy.

A partnership generally files Form 1065 and provides partners with Schedules K-1. An S corporation generally files Form 1120-S; a C corporation generally files Form 1120. Owners may also need their own personal returns. The IRS guide to starting a business and keeping records outlines these return types and other potential filing obligations. Payroll, information returns, estimated payments and state filings may require separate tools or services.

Before comparing products, write down the federal return, tax year, each state, and the required schedules. If the entity's classification or a special filing situation is unclear, a qualified tax professional can help determine it. A product's ability to open a form does not establish that the return is right for your circumstances.

Comparison at a glance

These are examples to investigate, not interchangeable editions. Confirm the correct tax year and filing requirements before choosing.

TurboTax: distinguish personal and business products

A self-employed person filing Schedule C should look at the personal tax product's current form coverage and total cost. That is a different purchase from TurboTax Desktop Business. Intuit's 2025 Desktop Business listing describes a product for partnerships, S corporations, C corporations, multi-member LLCs, trusts and estates, with state software sold separately. Check the listing for the current tax year, supported forms, operating-system requirements and state availability before buying.

The distinction is useful when the business and owner both file: a separate entity return does not automatically include the owner's Form 1040. Desktop software also has installation and update requirements. Someone working primarily on a Mac or expecting to prepare everything in a browser should verify the specific edition's platform rather than assume that every TurboTax business product works the same way.

TaxAct: separate entity products or a bundle

TaxAct describes consumer business products for sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and S corporations, with separate online and desktop purchase options. Its Home and Business bundle explanation distinguishes the 1040 from a 1065, 1120 or 1120-S business return. A sole proprietorship is not offered as a separate bundle because it is reported on a 1040. Confirm the relevant year's product, supported states and e-file limits in the purchase terms.

A bundle can make comparison easier when both entity and personal returns are needed, but compare its included returns and states with the actual filing list. One federal business return plus a personal return is not necessarily the whole bill if there are multiple states, owners or additional filings. If you only need Schedule C, compare the appropriate individual product instead of purchasing an entity package by name alone.

H&R Block: check the edition and operating system

H&R Block's 2025 Premium self-employed desktop product is presented for individual self-employment and rental situations. Its business software is a separate product: H&R Block's requirements page lists Windows requirements for the Business product and separately describes Windows and Mac requirements for its personal software. Check the current product page for the precise federal entity form and state forms you need, as well as compatibility and availability for the filing year.

This matters for a household with a Mac and an entity return: do not infer that a Mac-compatible personal edition also prepares the separate business return. Likewise, online personal filing and a desktop business package can have different capabilities. Check whether the entity and owner returns can be prepared in the arrangement you intend to use.

Compare the full filing job

Forms and states: Confirm the specific federal form and schedules, the resident and nonresident state returns, and whether each can be e-filed. State business returns can differ from personal returns. Ask about any local returns and whether the program can handle your circumstances, such as more than one state or a fiscal year.

Cost: Vendors change prices, promotions and product terms. Check each vendor's current product and checkout pages for the correct tax year. Add federal and state preparation, state e-file, extra returns, optional support and renewal charges. Do not treat an advertised starting price as the total until your returns are included.

Records and imports: List income statements, receipts, mileage, asset purchases, prior returns and accounting records before starting. An import can reduce typing, but reconcile imported figures against the underlying records. Accounting subscriptions and payroll services are not automatically included in tax preparation.

Support and workflow: Decide whether you want to prepare the return yourself, ask occasional questions or engage someone to prepare it. Check what each support tier actually covers, when it is available and whether it applies to the entity return, personal return or both. Keep copies of the filed return, worksheets and e-file acceptance for your records.

When a professional may be a better fit

Software can organize questions and perform calculations, but it depends on accurate inputs and the right facts. Multiple owners, changing ownership, multistate activity, unusual transactions or uncertain elections can make the filing work more complicated. Compare the time and risk of researching those issues yourself with the cost of a qualified preparer. This overview is general information, not advice about a particular return.