As a small business owner, you have a lot on your plate and filing your taxes might seem like an overwhelming task. But the right online tax-filing software can save you time, money and stress.
CNBC Select has chosen the best tax-prep programs for small business owners, self-employed workers, freelancers, sole proprietors and anyone with a side gig. (You can read more about how we made our selections in our methodology.)
Expert Assist plan includes unlimited assistance and final review. Expert Full Service includes a dedicated expert to complete and file your return.
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
Terms Apply. Free version: TurboTax Free Edition. Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A). TurboTax reports that 37% of filers qualify for the free edition.
Best for affordability: TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer Self Employed
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20% off Self-Employed: Was: $67.95 Now: $54.36.
Includes all forms + access to a tax pro with self-employed expertise. Use Code: CNBC20
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Cost
Costs may vary depending on the plan selected.
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Mobile app
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Tax expert support
Pros
- Cheaper plan, making this a more affordable choice if you don’t have a simple return and need to upgrade
- Low state filing fees
- One-on-one support from real tax experts with Ask a Tax Pro
- 100% accuracy, or TaxSlayer will reimburse you for any penalties or interest charges
- Maximum refund guarantee, or TaxSlayer will refund the plan fees you paid
- IRS inquiry and audit support
Cons
- Must enter a discount code to benefit from lower prices
Who’s this for? If you’re a sole proprietor or LLC, TaxSlayer’s Self-Employed plan is an affordable option that doesn’t skimp on options.
Standout benefits: The difference among TaxSlayer’s Classic, Premium and Self-Employed plans is in how much assistance you get, not the same tax situations they cover. So if you’re a confident filer, you can file DIY with Classic and save.
Best for user experience: TurboTax
TurboTax for Businesses
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Price
Costs vary depending on plan
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Businesses supported
S Corp, C Corp, partnerships, sole proprietors
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Live support
Available for an additional charge
Pros
- Fully integrates with QuickBooks
- TurboTax Expert Assist provides on-demand advice from a tax expert
- Accuracy and maximum refund guarantees
Cons
- More costly than other software programs
- Expert assistance costs extra
*Click here for TurboTax offer details and disclosures
Who’s this for? TurboTax and QuickBooks are both owned by Intuit and integrate seamlessly, making it much easier for business owners to compile the necessary information to file.
Standout benefits: The Premium plan allows you to report income from businesses, investments and rental properties and freelancers can claim home office expenses, mileage and other costs.
Best for free federal filing: FreeTaxUSA
FreeTaxUSA
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Free version
Free federal filing for nearly all tax situations. Filers can itemize deductions; claim the earned income tax credit, child tax credit and student loan interest; and report income from stocks, crypto and other investments, rental properties, gambling and more.
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Guarantee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
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Live support
The Deluxe plan comes with priority support and live chat, while the Pro Support tier adds access to a tax pro, phone support, live screen share and help on federal and state returns
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Tax refund advance loan
Pros
- Federal filing is free for most tax situations
- Maximum refund and accuracy guarantees
- State filing is only $14.99
Cons
- Access to tax pro, phone support and screen-share only available with top-tier Pro Support plan
- Can’t import 1099s, so you have to manually enter the information
Who’s this for? Unlike most DIY tax-prep programs, FreeTaxUSA allows you to file federal returns for free regardless of your tax situation — including self-employment income, rental properties and retirement distributions. State filings do cost, however.
Standout benefits: Filers can buy identity theft protection and audit support from tax experts. If you’ve fallen behind in your filings, it also offers debt relief consultation.
Best for customer support: H&R Block
H&R Block
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Price
Price varies depending on plan
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Businesses supported
S Corp, C Corp, sole proprietorships, partnerships, self-employed
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Live support
Available with some plans
Pros
- Unlimited on-demand chat or video support with Online Assist plans
- Over 11,000 branches nationwide
- 100% accuracy and maximum refund guarantees
Cons
- One of the more expensive options
- Speaking with a tax expert costs more for federal returns
Who’s this for? H&R Block offers AI Tax Assist and unlimited live chat with all paid plans, making it a great option if you need added help.
Standout benefits: Plans include five federal filings and one state filing
Best for accuracy guarantee: TaxAct
TaxAct
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Price
Costs vary depending on the plan selected
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Businesses supported
S Corp, C Corp, partnerships, sole proprietors, self-employed
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Tax expert support
Available for an extra charge
Pros
- More affordable than other paid software
- One-on-one support from tax experts
- Accuracy guarantee of up to $100,000
Cons
- No mobile app
- Limited customer support hours
- Xpert Help Self-employed plan costs extra
Who’s this for? In addition to a maximum refund guarantee for 1040s, TaxAct offers a $100,000 accuracy guarantee for filers using Forms 1040, 1065, 1120 and 1120-S.
Standout benefits: You can save with an online bundle for your personal and business taxes. Desktop downloads are available for Mac and PC for the same price as the online editions.
Start preparing your taxes with these options
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
The Deluxe plan comes with priority support and live chat, while the Pro Support tier adds access to a tax pro, phone support, live screen share and help on federal and state returns
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
How does tax software for small businesses work?
S-Corporations, C-Corporations, LLCs, partnerships and other businesses have specific tax forms they use to report their income and deductions for the year.
S-Corps file Form 1120-S, for example, while C-Corps use Form 1120 and partnerships use Form 1065.
The best tax software works with accounting software to track your expenses, income, profits and losses throughout the year, so there’s less to do by Tax Day. It should also point you toward industry-specific deductions that will enable you to cut down your tax liability.
That’s significant savings — and many online programs provide access to tax pros for a moderate fee, so you can have the best of both options.
Small business tax software FAQs
Can I use tax software to track my estimated quarterly taxes?
All of our choices for small business tax software include tools for year-round planning, including quarterly tax estimates, expense tracking and reminders of quarterly due dates.
How do you make estimated tax payments?
You can make estimated tax payments through some online tax software, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) or by mailing in a completed 1040-ES form with your payment. If you mail in your payment, it must be postmarked by the due date to avoid penalties.
How much should I set aside for taxes for my business?
Your tax bill for the year will depend on many unique factors, but experts suggest small business owners set aside at least 25% of their net profits for taxes. Some will advise saving as much as 30% or 40%.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every tax software review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of tax software products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Our methodology
To determine which tax software offers the best way for small business owners to file their taxes, CNBC Select compared each program on a range of features, including:
- Cost: We evaluated the price per plan and weighed the features you receive, like the ability to maximize deductions and credits.
- User experience: We favored options that had an intuitive interface and didn’t try to upsell.
- Expert tax assistance:
- Guarantees: Companies that offer generous accuracy and maximum refund guarantees were ranked higher.
- Customer service: When possible, we considered Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on Trustpilot.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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