# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (small businesses) on 2026-09-21

## In short

On 2026-09-21, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best tax preparation software for small businesses". It named 13 brands; the first six, in order, were S-corp, FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer Self-Employed, TurboTax, H&R Block and H&R Block Self-Employed.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best tax preparation software for small businesses |
| Asked on | 2026-09-21 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 13 |
| Sources cited | 8 |
| Audience | small businesses |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-21 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-small-businesses-2026-09-21
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-21 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> The right pick depends mostly on your entity type (Schedule C sole prop/single-member LLC vs. S-corp/partnership filing its own return), so here's how I'd rank them:
> 
> **If you're a sole proprietor / single-member LLC (Schedule C):**
> 
> 1. **FreeTaxUSA** - My default recommendation. Federal filing including Schedule C and Schedule SE is $0, state is ~$15. It's the only major site that doesn't charge a premium tier just for having 1099 income. The interface is plain but competent. Add the $7.99 Deluxe tier if you want live chat, or Pro Support (~$65) for a tax pro.
> 2. **TaxSlayer Self-Employed** - Next cheapest with real support included; good if you want a step up in hand-holding from FreeTaxUSA without TurboTax pricing.
> 3. **H&R Block Self-Employed** - Roughly $35-$85 online. Worth the premium over the above for one reason: you can walk into a physical office if something goes wrong mid-filing. Their desktop software is also the best value for Schedule C filers who prefer installed software.
> 4. **TurboTax Self-Employed** - ~$69-$129 plus state, the most expensive by a wide margin. I'd only pay it if you're already on QuickBooks (the import genuinely saves hours) or you want the smoot

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S-corp | mentioned |
| 2 | FreeTaxUSA | recommended |
| 3 | TaxSlayer Self-Employed | mentioned |
| 4 | TurboTax | mentioned |
| 5 | H&R Block | mentioned |
| 6 | H&R Block Self-Employed | mentioned |
| 7 | TurboTax Self-Employed | mentioned |
| 8 | QuickBooks | mentioned |
| 9 | TaxAct | recommended |
| 10 | TaxAct Business | recommended |
| 11 | TurboTax Business | mentioned |
| 12 | 1-800Accountant | mentioned |
| 13 | Xendoo | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-tax-software-for-small-businesses/ (other)
- https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-business-tax-software/ (other)
- https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing/ (vendor)
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/freetaxusa-review/ (other)
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/15201/comparing-prices-turbotax-hr-block-tax-act/ (other)
- https://nerdwallet.com/taxes/learn/best-tax-software (review)
- https://1800accountant.com/blog/top-tax-prep-services (other)
- https://xendoo.com/blog/1099-filing-requirements-for-the-2026-tax-season-what-small-businesses-contractors-need-to-know/ (vendor)

The question page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/small-businesses

Answer Watch records what one AI answer engine said on one date, nothing more. Each page names the engine and the model, carries the date the question was asked, and lists the brands that appeared in the answer in the order the engine gave them, with the sources it cited. It is a measurement, not a ranking, not a recommendation and not a claim about the world. Brands that did not appear in an answer are not named on any public page. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.