Ensuring you pay your business’s taxes accurately and on time is crucial to maintaining its good standing and staying compliant. Business tax software can help ensure a seamless tax season and secure your business the highest return possible. These are the best tax software solutions for startups to help you prepare and file your business’s taxes with ease.
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Start NowBest Startup Tax Software
| Pilot  4.8/5 Visit Site | Best for Venture Capital (VC)-Backed Startups
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| TurboTax 4.8/5 Visit Site | Best for Small Businesses
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| H&R Block  4.6/5 Visit Site |
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| TaxSlayer  4.5/5 Visit Site |
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TaxAct
4.5/5 Visit Site |
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Business tax software allows business owners to quickly and easily prepare and file tax returns. These software solutions typically suit business owners who don’t require direct, hands-on support to file their business taxes. However, many platforms do offer some level of support from tax professionals virtually.
Whether you’re running a limited liability company (LLC), an S corporation (S corp), a C corporation (C corp), or a sole proprietorship, there are many business tax software solutions available to help you accurately file your business taxes and stay compliant.
5 Best Tax Software Solutions for Startups of 2024
1. Pilot
Pilot is a startup-focused accounting firm that assists with bookkeeping, chief financial officer (CFO), and tax services for high-growth companies backed by venture capital. Used by startups like OpenAI and Airtable, Pilot offers full tax preparation services for federal and state income tax filing, Forms 1099, and Delaware Franchise Tax filing.
Pilot’s software auto-categorizes data from financial accounts, identifies errors, and passes information along to financial experts who ensure tax filings get prepared accurately and efficiently. Plus, the platform offers several other financial services like stock administration.
Pros
- Built for startups and growing businesses
- Provides access to a personal finance expert
- Automated features reduce human error
- Additional services available (e.g., bookkeeping and CFO services)
Cons
- More expensive than some competitors
- Profitable C corps, LLCs, and S corps must upgrade their package to use Pilot’s services
Notable Features
- Delaware Franchise Tax filing
- State and federal corporate income tax filing
- Form 1099-NEC filing (up to 25 included)
- Add-on features like city income tax filing available
Pricing
- Essentials: $2,450 per year (available only to unprofitable C corps)
- Standard: Custom pricing, starting at $5,400 per year (for standard C corps, S corps, LLCs, and businesses with foreign subsidiaries)
2. TurboTax
TurboTax by Intuit is a trusted platform for personal and business tax preparation and filing. S corps, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietors are able to utilize the TurboTax platform to quickly and easily file taxes with the help of seasoned tax professionals to ensure accuracy.
The platform offers two plans for startups: Assisted Business and Full Service Business. Users of the Assisted Business plan must complete their tax return themselves while those choosing the Full Service Business plan get matched with a small business tax expert. Additionally, the Assisted Business plan is not available in all 50 US states.
Pros
- 100% accurate, expert-approved guarantee
- Trusted name in tax preparation and filing
- Access to small business tax experts
- Pay when you file, not upfront
Cons
- Lower-cost plan isn’t available in all states
- Not ideal for C corps
Notable Features
- Audit Defense features included at no extra cost
- S corp, partnership, and sole proprietorship filing services
- Unlimited, year-round advice and answers from tax professionals
- Discounts for personal tax filing
Pricing
- Assisted Business: $739 plus $64 per state filing
- Full Service Business: $1,749 plus $64 per state filing
3. H&R Block
H&R Block is a popular tax software provider for personal filings as well as small businesses. The company’s tax software includes the key features required to file federal, state, and business taxes accurately and easily.
The company offers one plan for businesses looking to prepare and file their taxes as well as a less expensive option for self-employed and freelance users. Plus, former TurboTax users looking to switch to H&R Block can seamlessly import tax data from the previous year’s return.
Pros
- Easy-to-use software
- Quick access to refund information
- 100% satisfaction, accuracy, maximum refund, and no-surprise guarantees
- Top-tier security features
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than some competitors
- Not ideal for rapid-growth businesses
Notable Features
- Five federal e-files included
- Real-time refund results
- Audit support included
- Federal, state, and business tax services included
Pricing
H&R Block’s business tax software is available for $99 plus $39.95 per state filing. For more hands-on tax support, users can choose to work with an H&R Block Advisor.
4. TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer primarily offers personal income tax filing services. However, the company’s Self-Employed plan caters to Form 1099 filers as well as those who have both Forms 1099 and Forms W-2 to file. The platform makes filing tax returns simple with autofill features and access to tax professionals to answer any questions as they arise. Plus, users receive assistance from an Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-enrolled agent in case of an audit for three years.
Pros
- Support for Form 1099, Schedule C, and Form W-2 filings
- Lower cost than some competitors
- Audit defense features protect your business
- Automated features for quick filing
Cons
- Not suitable for businesses with employees
- Limited features compared to other services
Notable Features
- Access to tax professionals
- IRS-enrolled agent assistance
- Unlimited phone, email, and live chat support
- Tax payment reminders
Pricing
TaxSlayer’s Self-Employed plan costs $67.95 plus state fees.
5. TaxAct
TaxAct offers robust, DIY tax software to help individuals and businesses easily prepare and file tax returns. Whether your business is an LLC, C corp, or nonprofit, TaxAct offers tax filing packages for all major business structures. One of the most notable benefits of TaxAct, however, is the company’s bundle packages that allow business owners to file their personal and business tax returns at a discounted rate.
Pros
- Several plans from which to choose, depending on business structure
- Bundle discounts available for personal and business filings
- 100% accuracy guarantee
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Plans with additional state fees can be costly
- Expert assistance requires an additional fee
Notable Features
- Tax calculator
- Unlimited free support
- Filing services for all business structures
- Add-on live expert tax assistance
Pricing
- C Corporations: $159.99 plus $54.99 per state filed
- S Corporations: $159.99 plus $54.99 per state filed
- Partnerships: $139.99 plus $54.99 per state filed
- Self-Employed or LLC: $99.99 plus $54.99 per state filed
How to Choose the Right Business Tax Software
Ensuring your business stays compliant and maintains good standing is crucial to its success. Choosing business tax software that’ll help you accurately and efficiently prepare and file your startup’s tax returns requires you to make a few considerations, such as price, features, customer service, and guarantees.
Price
While the cheapest software may not always be the best suited to your business needs, you should consider the cost of tax software before deciding to commit. Compare the price of the software as well as the per state fees to competitors to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Features
Each business tax software application includes different features, such as audit protection and tax calculators. Before you choose one, determine the features your business needs to make tax season seamless and be sure your software includes the non-negotiable features.
Customer Service
Accessible, helpful customer support is an important feature in a tax software provider as well as access to knowledgeable tax professionals to help you accurately file your tax returns.
Guarantees
If your tax returns are inaccurate, delayed, or unsatisfactory in some way, your business should have a line of recourse. Satisfaction, accuracy, and return guarantees ensure your business is protected.
FAQs
What is the best tax software for small business owners?
TurboTax is an excellent tax software solution for small business owners — especially those with LLCs, S corps, or partnerships. This easy-to-use platform includes all of the key features needed to prepare and file accurate tax returns for your business.
Is TurboTax good for small business owners?
Yes, TurboTax offers great business tax software for small business owners. However, the platform doesn’t support C corps so business owners with this business structure will need to use a different software solution (e.g., Pilot).
Do I have to buy H&R Block software every year?
Yes, to use H&R Block’s tax software, you’ll have to pay the appropriate annual fee.
What is the best tax software for startups?
Pilot is the best tax software for startups overall. The platform is built for rapid growth, providing VC-backed startups with support from expert tax professionals in each package. That makes Pilot an ideal solution for these unique businesses.
What is the easiest business tax software to use?
TurboTax is the easiest business tax software to use for LLCs, sole proprietorships, and partnerships. For C corps or S corps, we recommend Pilot because it gives owners access to a trained tax professional who will help ensure business taxes get filed quickly and accurately.