What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for tax preparation software (small businesses) on 2026-10-28

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-10-28

Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

The question asked, verbatim: best tax preparation software for small businesses

Brands named, in the order the engine gave

1. FreeTaxUSA recommended
   FreeTaxUSA - my default recommendation.
2. TurboTax mentioned
   For the same return TurboTax wants ~$159 for Premium.
3. TaxSlayer Self-Employed mentioned
   TaxSlayer Self-Employed - the other budget pick.
4. TurboTax Premium mentioned
   TurboTax Premium - worth the premium only if you're already on QuickBooks (the import genuinely saves hours) or you want Live CPA review attached to the return.
5. QuickBooks mentioned
   TurboTax Premium - worth the premium only if you're already on QuickBooks (the import genuinely saves hours) or you want Live CPA review attached to the return.
6. TurboTax Business mentioned
   TurboTax Business - the most complete of the DIY options.
7. TaxAct Business mentioned
   TaxAct Business - best value for an experienced filer.
8. H&R Block mentioned
   H&R Block Premium & Business - ~$115 federal, ~$37/state, and the differentiator is that you can hand the return to a human at a physical office if you get stuck mid-filing.
9. H&R Block Premium & Business mentioned
   H&R Block Premium & Business - ~$115 federal, ~$37/state, and the differentiator is that you can hand the return to a human at a physical office if you get stuck mid-filing.
10. Avalara mentioned
    For sales tax specifically, none of these handle it - that's Avalara or TaxJar, separate purchase.
11. TaxJar mentioned
    For sales tax specifically, none of these handle it - that's Avalara or TaxJar, separate purchase.
12. Xero mentioned
    If your books are already in QuickBooks or Xero, let that drive the choice - the import integration saves more time than any price difference here.

Sources the engine cited

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The answer, as recorded

The right answer depends mostly on your entity type, since that determines which forms you need. Here's who I'd actually point you to: **If you're a sole proprietor / single-member LLC (Schedule C on your 1040):** 1. **FreeTaxUSA** - my default recommendation. Schedule C is included in the **free federal tier**, with state around $15-16. Schedules D and E are also free, no tier upgrade. For the same return TurboTax wants ~$159 for Premium. The interface is plainer and there's no hand-holding, but the math and forms coverage are the same. Pro Support is a $64.99 add-on if you want someone to talk to. ([business.org](https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/freetaxusa-review/)) 2. **TaxSlayer Self-Employed** - the other budget pick. A bit more guidance than FreeTaxUSA for a modest price; good if you want quarterly-estimate help and deduction prompts without TurboTax pricing. 3. **TurboTax Premium** - worth the premium *only* if you're already on QuickBooks (the import genuinely saves hours) or you want Live CPA review attached to the return. Otherwise you're paying for polish. ([aspireapp.com](https://aspireapp.com/us/blog/best-tax-software-for-small-businesses-llcs)) **If you're an S-corp, partnership, multi-member LLC, or C-corp (1120-S, 1065, 1120):** 1. **TurboTax Business** - the most complete of the DIY options. Walks you through K-1 generation, shareholder basis tracking, Section 179 elections, and entity-level QBI. ~$190 federal (often $130-150 on sale), ~$55/state. Critical caveat: **Windows desktop only** - no Mac, no browser version. ([turbotax.intuit.com](https://turbotax.intuit.com/small-business-taxes/cd-download), [beancount.io](https://beancount.io/blog/2026/10/07/business-tax-software-compared-turbotax-hr-block-taxact-1065-1120-guide)) 2. **TaxAct Business** - best value for an experienced filer. ~$110-165 depending on entity, covers the same 1065/1120-S/1120 forms. Less guidance, noticeably cheaper. ([beancount.io](https://beancount.io/blog/2026/10/07/business-tax-software-compared-turbotax-hr-block-taxact-1065-1120-guide)) 3. **H&R Block Premium & Business** - ~$115 federal, ~$37/state, and the differentiator is that you can hand the return to a human at a physical office if you get stuck mid-filing. Good middle ground. ([techrepublic.com](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/turbotax-vs-hr-block/)) **Two things worth saying plainly:** - Those prices are from the tax-year-2025 season. The TY2026 editions ship around November-December 2026, and prices typically drift up a bit, so treat the figures as ballpark rather than quotes. - If you have an S-corp with payroll, inventory, multi-state nexus, or you took on partners this year, the ~$1,000-1,500 for a CPA is usually cheaper than the mistake. DIY business software is best suited to a stable entity with clean books. For sales tax specifically, none of these handle it - that's **Avalara** or **TaxJar**, separate purchase. If your books are already in QuickBooks or Xero, let that drive the choice - the import integration saves more time than any price difference here. Sources: - [business.org - FreeTaxUSA Review 2026 for Small Businesses](https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/freetaxusa-review/) - [beancount.io - Business tax software compared: TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct (1065/1120)](https://beancount.io/blog/2026/10/07/business-tax-software-compared-turbotax-hr-block-taxact-1065-1120-guide) - [turbotax.intuit.com - TurboTax Business CD/Download](https://turbotax.intuit.com/small-business-taxes/cd-download) - [aspireapp.com - Best tax software for small businesses and LLCs in 2026](https://aspireapp.com/us/blog/best-tax-software-for-small-businesses-llcs) - [techrepublic.com - TurboTax vs H&R Block](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/turbotax-vs-hr-block/) - [business.org - Best Tax Software for Small Businesses in 2026](https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/best-tax-filing-software-programs-small-businesses)

Near this answer

The same question, recorded on other dates: 2026-10-26, 2026-10-23, 2026-10-21, 2026-10-19, 2026-10-18, 2026-10-16, 2026-10-14, 2026-10-11, 2026-10-08, 2026-10-06, 2026-10-03.

tax preparation software, asked for other audiences: freelancers (asked 2026-10-28), nonprofits (asked 2026-10-28).

Other categories with a recorded answer: accounting software, accounts payable automation, audit management software, bookkeeping services.

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