{"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": "2026-10-18T22:12:56Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/tax-preparation-software-small-businesses-2026-10-18", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/tax-preparation-software/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "FreeTaxUSA", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "TaxSlayer Self-Employed", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "TurboTax Premium", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "TaxAct", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "TaxAct Business", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "TurboTax Business", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "H&R Block", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Avalara", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/best-tax-filing-software-programs-small-businesses", "domain": "business.org", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/15201/best-tax-software/", "domain": "thecollegeinvestor.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/6119", "domain": "community.freetaxusa.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://taxsharkinc.com/can-freetaxusa-do-business-taxes-w-examples-faqs/", "domain": "taxsharkinc.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"}], "answer_text": "The right answer depends mostly on your entity type, so here's how I'd rank them:\n\n**If you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC (Schedule C on your 1040):**\n\n1. **FreeTaxUSA** - My default recommendation. Federal filing is free including Schedule C, state is around $15. There's no meaningful functional gap versus the expensive options for a straightforward Schedule C with a home office, mileage, and depreciation. Caveat: it cannot prepare entity returns (1120-S, 1065), only K-1s you receive.\n2. **TaxSlayer Self-Employed** - Cheap, competent, and a bit more hand-holding than FreeTaxUSA if you want prompts walking you through deductions.\n3. **TurboTax Premium** - Worth the premium price only if you want the QuickBooks/bank import to pull your expense data automatically, or you want the guided interview. You're paying mostly for polish and upsell-heavy UX.\n\n**If you're an S-corp, partnership, or multi-member LLC (1120-S or 1065):**\n\n1. **TaxAct Business** - Best value in this tier. Handles 1120-S, 1065, 1120, and multi-member LLCs, roughly $110-$170, and state returns are often bundled rather than billed separately. This is the one I'd point most S-corp owners to.\n2. **TurboTax ", "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"}}