Choosing professional tax software: 7 questions before you buy
Price per year isn’t the real cost. Per-return fees, missing forms and slow support are.
Switching software in the middle of a season is painful. The time to choose is now, while you can still test it. Ask these seven questions before you commit.
- Does it cover every return you prepare? Check 1040 plus Schedules C, E and F, all the states you file, and business returns (1065, 1120-S, 1120) if you take them.
- Is e-file included or charged per return? A $5 per-return fee on 400 returns is $2,000 a year you didn’t budget.
- Are bank products available? Refund transfers let clients pay from the refund, which matters a lot for a volume practice.
- Cloud or desktop? Cloud supports remote preparers. Desktop can be faster and works offline.
- How many users and offices? Know the cost of adding a preparer in February.
- Can you bring last year’s data over? Conversion saves hours on every returning client.
- What does support look like on April 14? Ask about hours, wait times and whether you’ll reach a person.
Compare the real annual cost
| Cost item | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Annual license | $1,200 | $499 |
| Per-return e-file fee | $0 | $4 × 400 = $1,600 |
| Extra user | Included | $150 |
| True annual cost | $1,200 | $2,249 |
The cheaper license is the more expensive option in this example.
Tax Pros 360 software packages
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Run three real returns from last season (simple, Schedule C and rental) through any software you’re considering.
This article is general information for tax professionals, current as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Confirm figures against current IRS guidance before you rely on them.
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