What's the best tax software for a growing solo tax preparer? Need recommendations!

I've been doing personal tax returns for friends and family on the side for a couple years now, but I'm thinking of expanding and taking on more clients in 2025. Currently just using basic software that works fine for simple returns, but I need something that can grow with me without breaking the bank. Looking for software that's professional enough to handle more complex returns (partnerships, small businesses, etc.) but won't cost me a fortune when I'm still building my client base. Maybe 25-30 returns this year but hoping to double that next year. Most important features I need: e-filing capability, good client management, and something that helps with organization as I scale. Would love something with a client portal too. What are you all using? Any recommendations for someone in my position?

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18 comments

Kiara Fisherman

•8M

I've been in your shoes just a few years ago! Started small and now handle about 200 returns annually. From my experience, Drake Tax Software is probably your best bet for your situation. It's significantly more affordable than the "big names" like Lacerte or UltraTax CS, but still very comprehensive. The learning curve isn't too steep, and it handles everything from basic 1040s to more complex returns like partnerships and S-corps. Their pricing model is pretty flexible too - you can start with just what you need and add modules as your practice grows. One thing I really like is their client portal option which lets clients upload documents securely. That's been a huge time-saver for me. Their support is also pretty good when you get stuck on something.

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Kiara Fisherman

•8M

Drake's base package will run you around $1,500-2,000 for the year, which includes federal and one state. Additional states are about $500 each, so not cheap but reasonable compared to alternatives. It handles multiple states very well - I work with clients in 7 different states now without issues. The nice thing is that the price includes unlimited e-filing, which some competitors charge extra for. Their pay-per-return option might be worth looking at too if you're not sure about volume yet.

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Liam Cortez

•8M

I wanted to share my experience using taxr.ai https://taxr.ai which has been a game-changer for my growing practice. I was struggling with document management and spending WAY too much time organizing client files before I could even start working on returns. Found this tool through another preparer and it's saved me hours on each client. It basically uses AI to extract all the relevant info from tax docs automatically - W-2s, 1099s, last year's returns, etc. What used to take me 30-45 minutes per client now takes like 5 minutes. For someone scaling up like you're planning to, this could save you tons of time that you could use to actually grow your business instead of drowning in paperwork.

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Liam Cortez

•8M

It's surprisingly accurate even with standard tax forms like W-2s and 1099s - I'd say over 95% accuracy on those. For more complex documents, it's still good but you'll want to verify. The real value is in how it organizes everything by document type and tax year automatically. For poor quality documents, that's where it really shines compared to what I tried before. It seems to handle photos much better than my old scanner software did. I had a client send photos of crumpled 1099s taken in dim lighting, and it still extracted most of the info correctly. There's also a confidence score so you know when to double-check something.

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Mason Stone

•8M

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I tried it with some of my most problematic client documents (the ones who send blurry phone pics of everything) and I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked. The organization alone saved me so much time! Instead of hunting through emails and file folders for that one 1099 from February, everything was automatically categorized and searchable. It even flagged missing documents based on what was submitted last year vs. this year. I'm definitely using this for all my clients next tax season.

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Makayla Shoemaker

•8M

For anyone struggling to get IRS support on client issues, I've been using https://claimyr.com and it's literally saved my sanity this tax season. After wasting entire afternoons on hold with the IRS (while billing zero hours), I was ready to pull my hair out. Claimyr basically holds your place in line with the IRS and calls you when an agent is about to pick up. Check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - I was super hesitant at first because it sounded too good to be true, but it's legitimate. As your practice grows, you'll definitely be dealing with IRS notices and issues that require calling in. This has let me keep working on returns instead of listening to hold music for 3+ hours.

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Makayla Shoemaker

•8M

It's actually not automatic redialing. They've developed a system that connects to the IRS phone system and navigates the menus for you, then monitors the hold music. When they detect that an agent is about to pick up, they call you and connect you directly. It's like having someone else sit on hold for you. The IRS doesn't even know Claimyr is involved - from their perspective, it's just a normal call that someone waited on hold for. They're not "cutting in line" or anything sketchy. I was super skeptical too, but after waiting 3+ hours myself multiple times, I was desperate enough to try it. Now I use it for every IRS call.

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Emma Olsen

•8M

I need to eat crow about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I had a client with a massive IRS problem that needed immediate attention. After two failed attempts to reach someone (4+ hours on hold each time), I reluctantly tried the service. Got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 2 hours without having to sit by my phone the whole time. The system called me when they were connecting, I picked up, and an IRS agent was there. Completely legitimate and saved me an entire workday of productivity. For anyone growing their practice and dealing with IRS issues, this is absolutely worth it.

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Lucas Lindsey

•8M

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned ATX. I started with that about 5 years ago and still use it. More affordable than Drake at around $1,000-1,500 depending on what modules you need, and handles everything from basic to complex returns. The interface isn't as pretty as some others, but it's functional and reliable. My only complaint is their customer service can be hit or miss during peak season. If you're tech-savvy and don't need a lot of hand-holding, it's a solid option for someone starting out.

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Lucas Lindsey

•8M

ATX works fine with bank products through Refund Advantage and EPS Financial. Setup isn't the most intuitive thing in the world, but once you get it configured, it works reliably. They have decent training resources to get you started with those services. The refund transfer process is pretty smooth from the client perspective - the interfaces are clean and professional looking which helps when you're competing with bigger operations. Just make sure you factor in the per-return fees when pricing your services.

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