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Best Tax Software for Small Business in 2026
Guided filing with expert help on call · Pricing starts at: See website
Key takeaways
- Entity type decides the shortlist first, because Schedule C filing and S corporation, partnership, or C corporation returns are different products.
- FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes keep federal filing free for many sole proprietors, while guided entity returns cost much more.
- TurboTax and H&R Block suit owners who want more guidance or in-person help, and they charge for that support.
- Keeper and Hurdlr help during the year, not only at filing time, by tracking expenses, mileage, and tax estimates.
- This is not tax advice. Tax rules and prices change, so check the vendor page and, for a complex return, talk with a tax professional.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Great for | Pricing starts at | Free tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax | Guided filing with expert help on call | See website | No | Visit |
 H&R Block | Online filing with office backup | See website | Yes | Visit |
 TaxAct | Lower priced entity returns online | $109.99 per return | Yes | Visit |
 FreeTaxUSA | Free federal filing for sole proprietors | Free | Yes | Visit |
 TaxSlayer | Budget filing with professional access | See website | Yes | Visit |
 Keeper | Freelancers who want deductions found all year | $20 per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
 Hurdlr | Drivers and gig workers tracking mileage | Free | Yes | Visit |
 Cash App Taxes | Simple free federal and state filing | Free | Yes | Visit |
The best tax software for small business
We looked for software that covers real small business returns, not only simple personal returns. The list mixes guided filing, low cost filing, and year-round tracking, so a sole proprietor and a small corporation owner can both find a starting point.
TurboTax is the pick for owners who want the software to ask the questions. The interview walks through income, expenses, and common deductions in plain language, which helps when Schedule C is new to you. It also imports data from many financial institutions, so less typing means fewer chances to mistype a number.
The trade-off is price. TurboTax sits at the higher end of this list, and state returns cost extra. Owners with a straightforward return may pay more here than they need to. For a multi-member LLC, a partnership, or a corporation, check the business product separately, because the personal editions do not cover those returns.
- Step by step interview
- Imports from many banks and employers
- Expert review options
- Higher prices than budget rivals
- State filing adds cost
- Upsell prompts can distract
H&R Block suits owners who like a safety net. You can file online, and if a question gets difficult, an office visit is an option in many towns. That mix matters when a return includes rental income, investments, and a side business at the same time.
The free online tier covers simple returns, but self-employed filers will move to a paid tier. State filing is also extra on paid plans. Before you start, price the federal return plus the state return together, because the combined total is the number that matters.
- Free online tier for simple returns
- Physical offices for in-person help
- Guided self-employed edition
- Prices vary by tier and state
- Interface can feel less polished than TurboTax
- Entity returns need the business edition
TaxAct is a strong value pick for owners who already know their forms. The business editions cover partnerships, S corporations, and C corporations online, with sole proprietor filing listed from $109.99 for the federal return in the sources we checked. That is often less than guided business products from larger rivals.
The catch is guidance. TaxAct asks fewer follow-up questions, so it fits owners who can tell a deductible expense from a personal one without coaching. If you are filing an entity return for the first time, budget time to read the forms, or pay for an expert assist tier.
- Online partnership, S corporation, and C corporation returns
- Clear per-return pricing
- Accuracy guarantee on paid tiers
- Less hand-holding than TurboTax
- State filing is additional
- Interface feels dated to some users
FreeTaxUSA is the simplest way to keep costs down as a sole proprietor. Federal filing is free, including Schedule C, and state filing is $15.99 per state in the pricing we checked. A paid Deluxe add-on adds priority support and unlimited amendments, but the core filing does not require it.
The product is more form focused than interview focused. That suits owners who know what they need to enter and want the software to calculate and file. Owners who want a coach at each step, or who need an S corporation or partnership return, should look at TaxAct or TurboTax Business instead.
- Federal filing free for all forms in the personal product
- State returns $15.99 each
- Schedule C included
- Less guided interview than TurboTax
- No free phone support on the free tier
- No entity returns in the personal product
TaxSlayer works well for freelancers who want a low price without giving up all human help. The self-employed edition covers Schedule C, and higher tiers add access to a tax professional and audit assistance. That combination is rare at this price level.
The design is utilitarian rather than polished, and navigation can feel basic after TurboTax. It also does not match TaxAct for online entity returns. For a sole proprietor or single-member LLC filing on Schedule C, though, it is a credible budget choice.
- Low priced self-employed tier
- Professional help options on higher tiers
- Military and gig filer friendly
- Interface is plain
- Entity coverage is limited compared with TaxAct
- State fees add up
Keeper is different from the filing-only tools above. It watches linked accounts through the year, flags possible deductions, and estimates tax as you go. At filing time, the Standard and Premium plans include filing with expert review, which closes the loop for many freelancers.
That year-round help costs $20 per month for bookkeeping only, or $199 per year for Standard filing in the pricing we checked. If you already keep clean books in another app, Keeper may duplicate work. If deductions slip past you each year, the tracking may pay for itself, but check the current plan terms first.
- Tracks income and expenses from linked accounts
- Filing plans include expert review
- Quarterly tax estimates
- Monthly cost adds up over a year
- Bookkeeping-only plan does not include filing
- Best for sole proprietors, not complex entities
Hurdlr is built for people whose car is a workplace. Automatic mileage tracking is the headline feature, and it pairs that with income, expense, and self-employment tax estimates. Drivers, couriers, realtors, and other gig workers get a tax picture without waiting until April.
The limit is scope. Hurdlr does not file your return, and it does not replace a full ledger. Think of it as a companion to a filing product such as FreeTaxUSA or TaxSlayer. The free tier covers manual tracking, while Premium was listed at $9.99 per month in the sources we checked.
- Automatic mileage tracking
- Real-time tax estimates
- Free tier for manual tracking
- Not a full accounting system
- Filing is not included
- Invoicing is basic
Cash App Taxes is the no-cost option for straightforward returns. Both federal and state filing are free, and the product covers common situations including self-employment income on Schedule C. For a sole proprietor with clean records, that is hard to beat on price.
Support is the trade-off. You will not get the same guided review or expert access that paid products sell. It also does not file partnership or corporation returns. Use it when the return is simple and you are confident in your numbers, and use a paid product or a professional when it is not.
- Free federal and state filing
- Covers Schedule C
- Simple mobile friendly flow
- No expert review included as standard
- Fewer guidance features than TurboTax
- Not for entity returns
How we picked these
We compared official product pages, pricing pages, and app store listings, plus current comparison guides, for products that exist and work in October 2026. We kept only products that truly fit small business filing or year-round small business tax tracking, and we left out professional-only preparer software that a small owner cannot buy and use directly. Prices shown are starting points from the sources listed, and they change during tax season, so we used See website where a current vendor price could not be confirmed cleanly. We did not claim hands-on testing.
What to check before you file
Match the product to your entity
A sole proprietor files Schedule C with a personal return. A multi-member LLC, partnership, S corporation, or C corporation needs an entity return, and only some products on this list offer one online. Picking the wrong product wastes the fee and the time spent entering data.
Add up the full cost
Compare federal price, state price, expert help, and audit help together. A free federal return with a paid state return can still beat a paid federal return, but only if you count both. Watch for add-ons that appear near the end of the flow, and confirm the total before you pay.
Keep records through the year
Filing software cannot find deductions from records that do not exist. Save receipts, log mileage when it happens, and separate business and personal spending. Keeper and Hurdlr help here, but a simple folder and a regular monthly review also work.
Know when to hire a professional
Hire help when the business adds partners, employees in several states, inventory, or a major asset sale. A professional review costs money, but a missed form or a wrong entity election can cost more. Software is a tool for the return, not a substitute for advice on a complex situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tax software for a small business LLC?
It depends on how the LLC is taxed. A single-member LLC usually files Schedule C, so FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes, TaxSlayer, or TurboTax Self-Employed can work. A multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership needs a partnership return, so look at TaxAct Business or TurboTax Business.
What is the best tax software for small business with Schedule C?
FreeTaxUSA is the lowest cost route, because federal filing is free and Schedule C is included. TaxSlayer and H&R Block Self-Employed add more guidance at a higher price, while Keeper adds year-round deduction tracking before filing.
Is there free tax software for a small business?
Yes, for sole proprietors. FreeTaxUSA offers free federal filing, Cash App Taxes offers free federal and state filing, and Hurdlr offers a free tier for manual tracking. Free filing does not usually include entity returns, expert review, or audit help.
How much does small business tax software cost?
It ranges from free for simple sole proprietor federal filing to several hundred dollars for guided entity returns with expert help. TaxAct sole proprietor filing was listed from $109.99 for the federal return, while Keeper Standard was $199 per year. Always add state fees.
Can tax software handle an S corporation return?
Some products can. TaxAct Business covers S corporation returns online, and TurboTax Business covers them in its business product. Personal editions of FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes do not file S corporation returns.
Should I use tax software or hire an accountant?
Use software when the return is routine and your records are clean. Hire an accountant or tax professional when the entity structure changes, when you have multi-state payroll, or when a large transaction needs planning before the return is filed.
Sources
- https://turbotax.intuit.com
- https://www.hrblock.com
- https://www.taxact.com
- https://www.freetaxusa.com
- https://www.taxslayer.com
- https://www.keepertax.com
- https://www.hurdlr.com
- https://cash.app/taxes
- https://www.business.org/finance/taxes/turbotax-business-review/
- https://kurums.com/best-small-business-tax-software-2026-comparison/?v=653f5ac96a69
- https://ramp.com/blog/small-business-tax-software
- https://www.freetaxusa.com/self-employed/
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