What tax software do tax preparers use? Best options for the 2027 season

October 12, 2026

Choosing software for your first season, or thinking about switching? Most tax preparers use professional tax software such as Drake Software, TaxSlayer Pro, or Intuit ProSeries, or cloud-based options like ProTaxPro and ProConnect. The best choice depends on three things: how you want to pay, which returns you prepare, and whether you serve Spanish-speaking clients.

This guide compares the most popular options side by side, explains how to choose, and covers what offices serving Latino clients should look for.

Disclosure

Latino Tax Pro partners with several companies in this guide, including Drake Software (our preferred provider), TaxSlayer Pro, ProTaxPro, and MyTAXPrepOffice (View marketplace).
We compared every product on the same criteria, using each company's own website, so you can choose what fits your office.

Quick picks

If you are...	Consider	Why
A new preparer in your first season	ProTaxPro	Small pay-per-return packages, cloud-based, and 50 free returns for Latino Tax Pro VIP members
Running a bilingual office	TaxSlayer Pro Web or CrossLink	TaxSlayer Pro Web can switch to Spanish. CrossLink has Spanish-speaking support staff and Spanish training.
Looking for cloud-based software	MyTAXPrepOffice	Unlimited returns and all states in every plan, with business returns in the higher plans
Preparing business returns	Drake Tax Pro Unlimited	Unlimited individual and business returns, with desktop and cloud options
Watching your budget	TaxAct Professional 1040 Bundle	Unlimited 1040s with all states, plus pay-per-return options

Our picks based on published features as of September 28, 2026.

What tax software do tax preparers use?

Professional tax preparers use professional tax software, which is different from the consumer products taxpayers use to file their own returns. Professional software is built for preparing many clients' returns. It lets you sign returns as the paid preparer with your PTIN, e-file under your firm's EFIN, manage client files, and handle far more forms and schedules. Consumer software isn't licensed for paid work. Intuit, for example, says its TurboTax desktop products are not for use by paid preparers (Intuit).

The most widely used professional programs include:

Drake Software
TaxSlayer Pro
Intuit ProSeries and ProConnect
TaxAct Professional
CrossLink
ProTaxPro
MyTAXPrepOffice

How to choose professional tax software

Cloud vs desktop

Cloud software runs in your web browser, so you can work from any computer and manage multiple offices easily. Desktop software is installed on your computers. Some preparers prefer it for speed and offline access. Several companies offer both.

Pricing model

This is the biggest decision for most preparers:

Pay-per-return: you pay a fee for each return you file. Good for new preparers with few clients.
Return bundles: you buy a set number of returns up front.
Unlimited: one price for as many returns as you prepare. Better value once you have enough clients.

Returns covered

Some packages cover individual returns (Form 1040) only. If you prepare business returns (1120, 1120-S, 1065), make sure they're included or check the cost to add them.

State returns

Check whether all states are included or cost extra, especially if your clients live or work in more than one state. Most unlimited packages include all states, but some pay-per-return plans charge per state return.

Bank products

Refund transfers and refund advances let clients pay your fee from their refund. In many offices serving Latino clients, these products make up a big part of revenue. Check which bank partners each software supports and whether the software company adds its own fee per bank product.

Spanish-language features

If you serve Spanish-speaking clients, look for Spanish forms and client letters, Spanish-speaking customer support, and bilingual client organizers. Few programs let you switch the preparer screens themselves to Spanish.

Support

Filing season is not the time to wait on hold. Check support hours, response times, and whether support is available in Spanish.

Security

Under the FTC Safeguards Rule, tax preparation firms must use multi-factor authentication to protect access to customer information, and the IRS urges preparers to turn on MFA in their tax software (IRS). Tax professionals are also required to have a written information security plan (IRS).

Best tax software for tax preparers: comparison

Features as listed on each company's website on September 28, 2026. Contact each company for current pricing and details.

Software	Type	Pricing models	Business returns	Spanish features	Best for
Drake Software	Desktop and cloud (Drake Tax Online)	Pay-per-return, return bundles, and unlimited	Included in Pro packages; per return in others	Key forms print in Spanish; bilingual support; Spanish client portal and e-sign	Full-featured offices
TaxSlayer Pro	Desktop (Classic, Premium) and cloud (Web)	Unlimited	Premium only	Spanish support; Pro Web switches to Spanish	High-volume 1040 and bilingual offices
ProTaxPro	Cloud	Pay-per-return packages and unlimited	Developer's Edition, or per return	Not documented on its site	New preparers and tight budgets
Intuit ProSeries	Desktop	Pay-per-return, return bundles, and unlimited	Most plans except Basic	Spanish client letter	Established offices already using Intuit
Intuit ProConnect	Cloud	Per return, plus a per-user license; bundles available	Per return	Not documented on its site	Cloud-first firms with business clients
TaxAct Professional	Desktop	Pay-per-return, return bundles, and unlimited	Complete bundle	Spanish engagement letters and questionnaires to download	Budget-conscious offices
CrossLink	Desktop and online	Unlimited 1040; pay-per-return available	CrossLink Business add-on	Spanish-speaking support staff; Spanish guides and training	Bilingual, multi-preparer offices
MyTAXPrepOffice	Cloud	Unlimited (three plans)	Essential plan and up	Bilingual support; IRS forms print in Spanish; Spanish demos	Cloud offices that want simple plans

Software reviews

Drake Software

Drake Software was founded in 1977 and says it serves more than 70,000 tax professionals, filing more than 36 million returns a year (Drake). It's Latino Tax Pro's preferred software provider (Latino Tax Pro).

Type: Drake Tax (desktop) or Drake Tax Online (cloud).
Packages: Pay-Per-Return, return bundles, Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited, and Drake Tax Pro Unlimited, which covers unlimited individual and business returns. Drake Tax Online is priced per user plus per return (Drake).
Includes: federal and state e-file for all states, and free, unlimited U.S.-based support by phone, email, or chat (Drake).
Bank products: EPS Financial, Refund Advantage, Refundo, Republic Bank & Trust, and TPG (Drake).
Spanish: Key forms, including Form 1040, 8879, 9465, and W-7, print in Spanish. Drake also offers bilingual support staff and Spanish options in its client portal and e-signature tools (Drake; Drake). It prepares Form W-7 for paper filing (Drake).
Integrated practice tools: Drake has expanded beyond return preparation with connected tools designed to support the whole practice, including Drake Tax and Drake Tax Online, Drake SmartExtract, Drake Workflow, Drake Accounting, Drake Portals, Drake E-Sign, Drake Pay, and Drake Audit Defense. Together, these tools help firms streamline document intake, workflow and return tracking, client collaboration, signatures, payments, and post-filing support.
Spanish-language experience: Drake is expanding Spanish-language experiences across the client and preparer journey, with more of our existing products and tools available in Spanish soon. Drake also offers Spanish-language virtual seminars and selected training resources for tax professionals.
Customer service: Drake is known for its award-winning customer service team and is consistently recognized for quality, value, and reliability.
Preferred partner: Drake Software is Latino Tax Pro's preferred tax software provider.

TaxSlayer Pro

TaxSlayer Pro offers three packages. Each includes unlimited 1040 returns, free unlimited federal and state e-filing including local taxes, all states, bank products, and unlimited support (TaxSlayer Pro). TaxSlayer Pro and Latino Tax Pro have partnered on education for preparers serving the Latino community (TaxSlayer Pro).

Packages: Classic (desktop), Web (cloud), and Premium (desktop), each with unlimited returns (TaxSlayer Pro).
Business returns: Premium only. It includes 706, 709, 990, 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120-S, and 5500 (TaxSlayer Pro).
Bank products: Partners include EPS Financial, Refundo, Santa Barbara TPG, and Refund Advantage (TaxSlayer Pro).
Spanish: Pro Web lets you switch the program to Spanish, and forms print in Spanish where a Spanish version exists (TaxSlayer Pro).

ProTaxPro

ProTaxPro has made tax software since 1998 (ProTaxPro). It's cloud-based and runs in a web browser on any device, which makes it a good fit for remote and in-person offices alike. It also offers audit protection and refund settlement products (ProTaxPro).

Packages: pay-as-you-go return packages, Unlimited 1040, and the Unlimited Developer's Edition, which adds business returns (ProTaxPro; ProTaxPro).
Includes: all states, free e-filing, printing, and e-signatures (ProTaxPro).
Business returns: 1120, 1120-S, and 1065 are included in the Developer's Edition. Other packages pay per return (ProTaxPro).
Bank products: SBTPG, EPS Financial, Refund Advantage, and Refundo (ProTaxPro).
Latino Tax Pro VIP members: get 50 free federal or state returns, with no e-filing or printing fees, plus special member pricing on unlimited packages. Register with ProTaxPro by March 10 to use the offer for the current filing year (ProTaxPro).

Intuit ProSeries and ProConnect

Intuit offers two professional products: ProSeries, a desktop program, and ProConnect Tax, a cloud-based program. Both support Intuit's Pay-by-Refund refund transfers through SBTPG or Refund Advantage (Intuit).

ProSeries packages: Pay-per-Return, ProSeries Basic 1040 in 20-return, 50-return, or unlimited versions, and larger Essentials and Advanced bundles. Business returns are in every plan except Basic (Intuit).
ProConnect packages: priced per return, with volume discounts and bundles, plus a license for each user. All states are included for individual returns (Intuit).
Spanish: ProSeries includes a Spanish client letter. We didn't find other Spanish features documented for either product.

TaxAct Professional

TaxAct was founded in 1998 and offers software for individuals, business owners, and tax professionals (TaxAct).

Packages: 1040 and business pay-per-return plans (state returns cost extra), the 1040 Bundle with unlimited 1040s and all states, and the Complete bundle with unlimited business returns (TaxAct).
Bank products: an add-on sold separately, with Republic Bank & Trust and SBTPG (TaxAct).
Spanish: free downloadable engagement letters and client questionnaires in Spanish (TaxAct).

CrossLink

CrossLink Professional Tax Solutions has served tax professionals since 1989 (CrossLink).

Type: CrossLink Desktop and CrossLink Online (CrossLink).
Packages: CrossLink 1040 includes unlimited preparers, unlimited 1040 and state returns, and free data conversion. CrossLink Business is an add-on covering 1120, 1120-S, 1065, 1041, 990, and more. CrossLink notes that additional fees apply when using the software (CrossLink).
Bank products: Republic Bank, Santa Barbara TPG, Refund Advantage, and Refundo (CrossLink).
Spanish: tech experts and account executives fluent in Spanish (CrossLink), plus a Spanish user guide, client questionnaire, tutorials, and webinars (CrossLink). Support runs seven days a week in peak season.

MyTAXPrepOffice

MyTAXPrepOffice is cloud-based software with bilingual support staff who can answer questions in English or Spanish, IRS forms that print in Spanish, and Spanish-language product demos (MyTAXPrepOffice).

Plans: Individual PRO (1 user, individual returns only), Essential (2 users), and Unlimited (up to 999 users). Every plan includes unlimited returns and e-filing and all states (MyTAXPrepOffice).
Business returns: Essential and Unlimited, including 1065, 1120, 1120-S, 1041, and 990 (MyTAXPrepOffice).
Bank products: Refund Advantage, SBTPG, Refundo, and EPS, with a transmission fee per funded bank product (MyTAXPrepOffice).
Support: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern, in English and Spanish (MyTAXPrepOffice).

Tax software for offices serving Spanish-speaking clients

If many of your clients prefer Spanish, your software choice matters more than most comparison guides admit. Look for:

Spanish client documents. Organizers, engagement letters, and forms your clients can actually read. Drake and MyTAXPrepOffice print IRS forms in Spanish, and TaxAct and CrossLink offer Spanish questionnaires.
Spanish-speaking support. When you have a question in the middle of filing season, you want answers in the language you're most comfortable with. Drake, CrossLink, and MyTAXPrepOffice all advertise bilingual support.
Bank products. Many Latino clients prefer to pay their preparer fee from their refund, so strong refund transfer options matter. Compare bank partners and any per-product fees.
ITIN and W-7 support. If you prepare returns for ITIN holders, check how the software handles Form W-7 and ITIN returns. Drake, for example, prepares Form W-7 for paper filing (Drake). Ask other vendors for a demo.

Serving Spanish-speaking clients well is one of the biggest growth opportunities in tax preparation, and the right software makes it easier.

Pay-per-return vs unlimited: which is right for you?

Here's a simple way to decide:

Estimate how many returns you'll prepare this season.
Add up what those returns would cost on a pay-per-return plan, including any base fee and state return fees.
Compare the total with the unlimited package price from the same company.

The return count where the two totals meet is your break-even point. Below it, pay-per-return costs less. Above it, unlimited wins.

If you're in your first season with a handful of clients, pay-per-return usually costs less. As your client list grows, an unlimited package usually becomes the better value. Get current quotes from the software you're considering and run the numbers.

Before you buy: what you'll need

An EFIN. Your software company will verify your EFIN before you can e-file. Approval can take up to 45 days, so apply now (IRS).
An active PTIN. You'll enter it on every return (IRS).
E-file readiness. If you expect to file 11 or more individual returns in a year, you generally must e-file them (IRS).
A data security plan.

Switching tax software? What to know

Switch before the season, not during it. Learn the new software in November and December, not in February.
Ask about data conversion. Most professional programs can import prior-year client data from competitors. CrossLink, for example, includes free data conversion (CrossLink). Ask which programs they convert from.
Plan for prior-year returns and amendments. You may need access to your old software for amendments. Check how long your old vendor keeps it available.

Tax software FAQ

What software do most tax preparers use?

Most professional preparers use programs like Drake Software, TaxSlayer Pro, Intuit ProSeries and ProConnect, TaxAct Professional, and CrossLink, along with cloud options like ProTaxPro and MyTAXPrepOffice. The best choice depends on your pricing needs, the returns you prepare, and whether you serve Spanish-speaking clients.

What is the best tax software for tax professionals?

There's no single best option. New preparers often do best with pay-per-return pricing, busy offices with unlimited packages, and bilingual offices with software that offers Spanish forms and Spanish-speaking support. See the quick picks above.

How much does professional tax software cost?

It varies widely by company, pricing model, and package. Pay-per-return plans cost less up front, while unlimited packages cost more up front but less per return once you have enough clients. Prices change every season, so check each company's website or ask for a quote.

Can I use TurboTax to prepare returns for clients?

No. Intuit says TurboTax desktop products are not for use by paid preparers (Intuit). Intuit's professional products are ProSeries and ProConnect.

Is cloud or desktop tax software better?

Cloud software lets you work from anywhere and manage multiple offices. Desktop software runs on your own computers and works offline. Both work well, so it comes down to how you run your office.

Do I need an EFIN to use professional tax software?

To e-file client returns, yes. Your firm must be an authorized IRS e-file provider (IRS), and your software company will verify your EFIN before you can transmit.

Which tax software has the best Spanish-language features?

Among the products we checked, Drake prints key forms in Spanish with bilingual support, TaxSlayer Pro Web lets you switch the program to Spanish, CrossLink has Spanish-speaking support staff and Spanish training, and MyTAXPrepOffice has bilingual support and Spanish IRS forms. See our section on software for offices serving Spanish-speaking clients.

Can I switch tax software mid-season?

You can, but it's risky. Switching before the season gives you time to learn the new software and convert client data.

Sources

Features change every season. Everything in this guide was checked on September 28, 2026. Confirm current details and pricing with each company before you buy.