{"question": "best tax preparation software for nonprofits", "category": "tax-preparation-software", "category_name": "tax preparation software", "audience": "nonprofits", "audience_name": "nonprofits", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-26T01:24:15Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-nonprofits-2026-10-26", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/nonprofits", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "TurboTax", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "EIN", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Tax990", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "990-PF", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "990-T", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Excel", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "ExpressTaxExempt", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "File990", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "File990.org", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Aplos", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Lacerte", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Drake", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/annual-electronic-deadline", "domain": "irs.gov", "source_type": "reference"}, {"url": "https://efile.form990.org/", "domain": "efile.form990.org", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.tax990.com/pricing/", "domain": "tax990.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://support.tax990.com/art/17691/what-is-the-cost-to-file-990-series-forms-through-tax990", "domain": "support.tax990.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://file990.org/pricing", "domain": "file990.org", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-year-2022-exempt-organizations-modernized-e-file-mef-providers-form-990-pf", "domain": "irs.gov", "source_type": "reference"}, {"url": "https://drakesoftware.com/Site/Print10425.aspx", "domain": "drakesoftware.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://accountants.intuit.com/community/practice-advice-17/form-990-software-recommendation-5906", "domain": "accountants.intuit.com", "source_type": "vendor"}], "answer_text": "Nonprofits mostly aren't filing income tax returns - they're filing the **Form 990 series**, which is a different software market from TurboTax-style products. Here's what I'd actually use, roughly in order of who should use what:\n\n**1. The IRS's own Form 990-N e-Postcard - free.** If your gross receipts are normally ≤$50,000, you don't need software at all. It's eight fields (EIN, tax year, name/address, principal officer, a receipts attestation) filed directly at IRS.gov/990n with an ID.me login. Anyone paying for this is paying for nothing.\n\n**2. Form 990 Online (efile.form990.org) - my top pick for small-to-midsize orgs.** Free for full 990 or 990-EZ if gross receipts are under $100,000, sliding scale starting around $41 above that, and free Form 8868 extensions. It's run by the Civic Leadership Project, a nonprofit itself, and has been an authorized IRS e-file provider since 2004. Interface is dated, but it's the best value in the category by a wide margin.\n\n**3. Tax990 - best paid option if you want a modern product.** Covers the whole series (990-N, 990-EZ, 990, 990-PF, 990-T), plus Form 8868 extensions, 1120-POL, and state filings like California Form 199/109. Has prior-yea", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}