Tax season doesn’t have to be painful. The right software turns hours of shoebox-receipt sorting into a streamlined process — and catches deductions you’d miss otherwise.

We compared the top small business tax software on price, features, and ease of use.

Quick Comparison

1. TurboTax Self-Employed — Best Overall

TurboTax Self-Employed is the most complete tax filing solution for small business owners, freelancers, and side-hustlers. It walks you through every deduction, handles multiple income sources, and integrates with QuickBooks for seamless data import.

Pros:

• Step-by-step guidance covers every business scenario
• Finds every deduction (home office, mileage, supplies, equipment)
• QuickBooks integration imports income and expenses automatically
• Live tax advice available (TurboTax Live)
• Handles Schedule C, Schedule SE, and estimated tax payments
• Maximum refund guarantee
• Audit support included

Cons:

• Most expensive self-employed option
• Upsells throughout the process (state filing is extra)
• Interface can feel slow with complex returns
• QuickBooks integration only works with QuickBooks Online (not Desktop)
• Not ideal for multiple years of unfiled taxes

Pricing: Self-Employed $119 (federal) + $59 per state; Self-Employed Live $199 (federal) + $59 per state

Best for: Small business owners and freelancers who want the most thorough, guided tax experience.

2. H&R Block Self-Employed — Best In-Person Support

H&R Block’s self-employed tier matches TurboTax on features but adds something TurboTax can’t: 11,000+ physical offices where you can sit down with a tax professional if you get stuck.

Pros:

• Online filing with option to switch to in-office mid-process
• 11,000+ physical locations for in-person help
• Year-round tax pro support (not just during tax season)
• Handles Schedule C, self-employment tax, and home office deductions
• Free audit support and representation
• Price lock guarantee (pay what you see upfront)
• Slightly cheaper than TurboTax

Cons:

• Interface isn’t as polished as TurboTax
• Deduction finder is less thorough than TurboTax’s
• Upsells for add-on services
• State filing is extra
• Mobile app is less feature-rich

Pricing: Self-Employed Online $115 (federal) + $55 per state; Self-Employed with Tax Pro $219+ (varies)

Best for: Business owners who want the safety net of in-person help without paying a full CPA.

3. QuickBooks Self-Employed — Best for Freelancers

QuickBooks Self-Employed is accounting software first and tax software second. If you’re a freelancer or solo consultant who needs to track income and expenses year-round, this is the most practical option — it organizes your books so tax season is a non-event.

Pros:

• Tracks income and expenses automatically (bank/credit card import)
• Built-in mileage tracker (GPS-based, automatic)
• Quarterly estimated tax calculations (saves penalties)
• Generates Schedule C directly from your tracked expenses
• Separates business and personal expenses automatically
• Invoice creation built in
• TurboTax integration for seamless filing

Cons:

• Only for Schedule C filers (freelancers, sole proprietors, independent contractors)
• Not suitable for LLCs taxed as S-Corps or partnerships
• No inventory tracking
• Limited reporting compared to full QuickBooks Online
• Tax filing costs extra (TurboTax integration)
• No W-2 or 1099 creation

Pricing: Self-Employed $15/mo; Self-Employed with TurboTax $25/mo (includes federal + 1 state filing)

Best for: Freelancers and sole proprietors who need year-round expense tracking, not just tax filing.

Compare QuickBooks plans →

4. FreshBooks — Best Accounting + Tax Combo

FreshBooks is primarily accounting software, but its expense tracking and reporting make tax preparation much easier. If you want one tool for both running your business and preparing for taxes, FreshBooks is worth considering.

Pros:

• Excellent expense tracking with receipt scanning
• Time tracking built in (for service-based businesses)
• Generates profit & loss statements for tax prep
• Integrates with TurboTax and H&R Block
• Handles invoicing, payments, and project management
• Clean, intuitive interface
• Good mobile app

Cons:

• Not a tax filing tool — you’ll still need TurboTax or H&R Block
• No built-in quarterly estimated tax calculations
• More expensive than QuickBooks Self-Employed at higher tiers
• Limited inventory features
• Tax-specific guidance requires integration with tax software

Pricing: Lite $17/mo (5 clients); Plus $30/mo (50 clients); Premium $55/mo (unlimited clients)

Best for: Service-based businesses that want strong accounting software that makes tax season easier.

See our FreshBooks comparison →

5. TaxAct Self-Employed — Best Budget Option

TaxAct delivers nearly everything TurboTax and H&R Block offer at about half the price. The trade-off is a less polished interface and fewer hand-holding features.

Pros:

• Significantly cheaper than TurboTax and H&R Block
• Covers all self-employment schedules (Schedule C, SE, 1099-K, etc.)
• Deduction maximizer walks you through write-offs
• Accuracy and maximum refund guarantees
• Free audit support
• Xpert Assist available for on-demand tax help ($35 per question)
• Clean, straightforward interface

Cons:

• Fewer guidance prompts (assumes more tax knowledge)
• No QuickBooks integration (manual entry or W-2/1099 import only)
• Interface feels dated compared to TurboTax
• Upsells for Xpert Assist
• State filing is extra ($54.99 per state)
• No year-round tax pro access

Pricing: Self-Employed $64.99 (federal) + $54.99 per state

Best for: Budget-conscious business owners who are comfortable with taxes and want a no-frills filing experience.

Quarterly Estimated Taxes: The Hidden Cost

If you’re self-employed or run a small business, you probably need to pay quarterly estimated taxes. Here’s what each software covers:

Important: Underpaying quarterly estimates results in penalties, even if you pay the full amount by April 15. QuickBooks Self-Employed is the best tool for ongoing quarterly estimates because it tracks your actual income and expenses in real-time.

How to Choose

1. What’s your business structure?

• Freelancer/Sole proprietor → QuickBooks Self-Employed (if you need year-round tracking) or TaxAct (if you just need to file)
• Single-member LLC → TurboTax Self-Employed or H&R Block
• S-Corp or partnership → TurboTax (Business edition) or H&R Block (with tax pro)

2. Do you need year-round tracking or just tax filing?

• Year-round → QuickBooks Self-Employed or FreshBooks
• Filing only → TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct

3. What’s your budget?

• Under $70 → TaxAct
• $100-120 → H&R Block or TurboTax (Self-Employed)
• Monthly subscription → QuickBooks Self-Employed ($15-25/mo) or FreshBooks ($17-55/mo)

4. Do you want in-person help?

• Yes → H&R Block (11,000+ offices)
• No → TurboTax Live (video chat with CPA) or any online option

Our Top Pick

TurboTax Self-Employed is the best overall choice for small business tax filing. It’s the most thorough, catches the most deductions, and integrates with QuickBooks for year-round tracking. If you’re a freelancer who just needs to track expenses and file, QuickBooks Self-Employed (with TurboTax integration) gives you both for $25/month. And if budget is your primary concern, TaxAct delivers 90% of the functionality at 55% of the price.

SoftDecide helps small organizations find the right software. Our comparisons are independently researched. We may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page — at no extra cost to you.