The pricing models
Almost every professional package fits one of these models:
| Model | How you pay | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-per-return | A modest license fee plus a fee on every return you file | New preparers and uncertain first-season volume |
| Limited bundle | A set price for a fixed number of returns, then per-return fees | Offices that can predict volume fairly well |
| Unlimited (individual returns) | One price for unlimited 1040s; business returns sometimes extra | Established offices past break-even |
| Unlimited suite | Individual and business returns, often multi-user | Multi-preparer offices with business clients |
| Package with setup and support | One price per office that includes software plus onboarding, training and season support | Offices that want help setting up and staying up in February |
What published 2026 prices look like
We reviewed published 2026 list prices from several professional tax software vendors in October 2026. Ranges, not quotes:
- Pay-per-return licenses: about $300–$400 up front, plus roughly $20–$50 per individual return and more for business returns
- Unlimited individual-return packages: roughly $900–$2,500 per season, depending on vendor and number of users
- Unlimited suites with business returns, multi-user: up to about $3,300 per season
- Bank-product discounts: some vendors cut or waive the software fee if your office funds enough bank products, so the first-year price can differ from the list price
Pay-per-return or unlimited? Find your break-even
Divide the price gap by the per-return fee: (unlimited price − pay-per-return license) ÷ per-return fee = break-even returns. File more than that and unlimited is cheaper.
Illustrative example: a pay-per-return plan at $380 plus $50 a return, against an unlimited package at $2,200. ($2,200 − $380) ÷ $50 ≈ 37 returns. If you expect 37 or more returns, unlimited wins. Plug in the real numbers from the quotes you get. Our startup cost calculator runs the full first-year budget, including software.
Costs that don't show on the sticker
- Business returns (1065, 1120, 1120-S) priced separately from 1040s
- State returns and additional users on lower tiers
- Bank-product transmission or add-on fees, usually disclosed to the taxpayer and taken from a funded refund rather than paid by you
- E-signature, client portal and document storage sold as add-ons
- Training and setup, which some vendors charge for separately and some include
- Support hours: limited February support costs you returns when you're stuck
- State rules on bank-product fees: several states restrict charging bank-product clients more or require extra disclosures
What to compare besides price
- Forms and states included, and which business returns cost extra
- Whether setup and training are included, or extra
- Support hours and channels in peak season
- Bank-product options and what the bank requires to approve your office
- Desktop vs. online, number of users, and remote/e-signature workflow
How our pricing works
We work differently: partner offices pay $0 upfront for professional tax software, setup, training and support. We also do your marketing launch for you: website, local listings, ads setup, referral program and training. Bank-product fees are set by each bank. Book a call and we'll walk you through the details for your office.
Tax preparer software cost FAQ
How much does professional tax software cost?
Published 2026 prices run from about $300–$400 plus per-return fees on pay-per-return plans, to roughly $900–$2,500 for unlimited individual returns, and past $3,000 for multi-user suites with business returns. Our partner offices pay $0 upfront.
Is pay-per-return or unlimited cheaper?
Pay-per-return is cheaper at low volume. Divide the price gap by the per-return fee to find your break-even number of returns; above it, unlimited is cheaper.
Do I pay bank-product fees myself?
Usually not. Refund-transfer and related fees are disclosed to the taxpayer and deducted from the funded refund. Some states restrict how these fees are charged, so check your state's rules.
What else do I need besides software?
A PTIN for every preparer, an EFIN to e-file (no IRS fee), a written information security plan, and any state registration your state requires. See our launch guide and state requirements.
Can software be free if I offer bank products?
Some vendors discount or waive the software fee if you fund enough bank products. Read the volume requirements and what happens if you miss them.
Sources
Program rules change; confirm current requirements with the IRS and your providers.