Tax Software
TaxAct Business
TaxAct Business is the budget counterweight to TurboTax: separate per-entity editions for partnerships (1065), S corps (1120-S), and C corps (1120), each at consumer-grade prices. It's also the rare consumer-priced option that files C-corp returns online — TurboTax's online lineup doesn't touch Form 1120.
The product is owned by the same private-equity group (Cinven) that owns professional-grade Drake Software, and the pitch is similar: less hand-holding, more value.
- Website
- taxact.com
- Category
- Tax Software
- Pricing
- Paid
- Starts at
- From $109.99 federal (sole proprietor)
- Best for
- Confident DIY filers who want entity returns — including C corps online — at the lowest credible price.
- Profile updated
- July 16, 2026
Independent profile — no affiliate links or sponsored placement.
Key features
- Guided per-entity prep with automatic Schedule K-1 creation and allocation
- C-corp Form 1120 filing online at consumer pricing — a genuine differentiator
- Trial-balance import via CSV and prior-year return import
- Guided business-deduction walkthroughs
- Xpert Assist: unlimited live tax-expert help as an add-on
- Full-service option where TaxAct's experts prepare and file for you
- Bundles that pair the business return with your personal 1040
Pricing
Read from TaxAct's product pages in July 2026 (verify current):
- Sole Proprietor (1040 + Schedule C) — $109.99 federal + state
- Partnership (1065) — $159.99 federal + state
- S Corp (1120-S) — $169.99 federal + $69.99 per state
- C Corp (1120) — $169.99 federal + state
- Xpert Assist add-on — brings sole prop to $154.99, partnership to $248.99, S corp to $258.99
- Full-service expert filing — $219 (sole prop) to $249–$299 (entities) + $69 per state
- S corp + personal 1040 bundle — $284.99
Note the state fee: at $69.99 per business state return, a multi-state entity's total climbs quickly.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Half the price of the equivalent TurboTax path for most entities
- Online C-corp filing that the bigger brand simply doesn't offer
- Expert help and full-service options exist when DIY stalls
Cons
- The interview flow is more form-literal — it assumes you know your terms
- $69.99 per state return stings for multi-state businesses
- Smaller support ecosystem than Intuit's
Who should use TaxAct Business?
TaxAct fits the owner who has filed before, keeps decent books, and mostly needs accurate software rather than coaching — the S corp with one state and clean K-1s saves $400+ versus expert-assisted TurboTax. First-time entity filers who want to be walked through every judgment call may find TurboTax's guidance (or a real CPA) worth the premium.
Ratings, for context: 4.6/5 on Capterra (42 reviews) and 3.7/5 on G2 — as of July 2026.
FAQs
Can TaxAct file C-corp returns online?+
Yes — Form 1120 online at $169.99 federal (July 2026), which TurboTax's online products don't support at any price.
Does TaxAct Business include state returns?+
No — business state returns are $69.99 each on the S-corp edition. Price the states before comparing totals with rivals.
Is there expert help if I get stuck?+
Xpert Assist adds unlimited live expert Q&A (roughly $89 on business products), and a full-service tier ($249–$299 + state) hands the whole return to TaxAct's preparers.
Similar tools in the directory
Tax Software
TurboTax Business
S corps, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs that want the most guided DIY filing experience — or a full expert hand-off.
Tax Software
H&R Block Business
Owners who want a human-help safety net — DIY software backed by 8,000+ offices and the Block Advisors small-business arm.
Tax Software
FreeTaxUSA
Self-employed filers and sole proprietors who know their way around a return and refuse to pay $100+ for software.
Free tools to try
Keep reading
Guide
How to Calculate Sales Tax (With Examples)
How to calculate sales tax: add it to a price, pull it back out of a total, and combine state and local rates — with the formulas and worked examples.
Guide
Best Free Accounting Software for Small Business (2026)
12 accounting tools ranked for small businesses — real free-tier caps, current pricing, pros and cons for Wave, Zoho Books, GnuCash, QuickBooks, Xero and more.