{"question": "best tax preparation software for small businesses", "category": "tax-preparation-software", "category_name": "tax preparation software", "audience": "small-businesses", "audience_name": "small businesses", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-01T22:13:58Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-small-businesses-2026-10-01", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "FreeTaxUSA", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "TurboTax", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "TurboTax Premium", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "H&R Block", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "H&R Block Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "TaxSlayer Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "TaxAct Business", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "TurboTax Business", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "1-800Accountant", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Bench", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Xero", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 13, "brand": "Cash App Taxes", "label": "compared"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-business-tax-software/", "domain": "fitsmallbusiness.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-tax-software-for-small-businesses/", "domain": "cnbc.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.moneycrashers.com/taxact-vs-turbotax-vs-hr-block-best-tax-prep-software/", "domain": "moneycrashers.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes", "domain": "primewayfcu.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/best-tax-software/", "domain": "business.org", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "## If you're a sole proprietor / single-member LLC (Schedule C on your 1040)\n\n**1. FreeTaxUSA** - My default recommendation. Schedule C, home office, vehicle, depreciation, and QBI are all in the free federal tier; state is ~$15. It handles essentially everything TurboTax Premium does for a fraction of the cost. The interface is plainer and there's no hand-holding, but if you know roughly what your deductions are, you're overpaying anywhere else.\n\n**2. TurboTax Premium** - Worth it if you want to be walked through it. Best-in-class deduction interview, 1099-NEC/1099-K photo import, and if you already run QuickBooks it pulls your books in directly. The real reason people pick it is TurboTax Live - a CPA or EA reviews or fully prepares the return. Expensive (roughly $130+ federal, ~$65/state, much more with Live).\n\n**3. H&R Block Self-Employed** - The pick if you want a human you can physically sit across from. ~$115 federal plus ~$49/state, with Tax Pro Review as an add-on and 12,000-ish retail offices as a fallback. Slightly cheaper than TurboTax with the broadest year-round support.\n\n**4. TaxSlayer Self-Employed** - Cheapest paid option with actual self-employed support and a tax-", "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"}}