Category
AI tax preparation software: what they are and who makes them
professional preparer suites, low-cost and free self-filing, canadian individual filing, planning and expert-handled filing: Drake Tax, OLT.com, TaxAct through TaxCycle.
Types of AI tax preparation software
Professional preparer suites
Drake Tax, UltraTax CS and TaxCycle are built for firms that file many returns across users. They price by user count or return volume, sit on a desktop or hosted base, and add portals, workflow and e-signature. Drake and UltraTax name AI features; TaxCycle covers Canadian returns.
Low-cost and free self-filing
OLT.com, TaxAct, Cash App Taxes, 1040.com and TurboTax Free Edition let one person file federal and often state returns for $0 to roughly $35. Prices rise with income type or add-ons. Of these, only OLT.com describes an AI feature on its pages.
Canadian individual filing
Wealthsimple Tax files through NETFILE and imports from CRA My Account, with a pay-what-you-want Basic tier. It targets individuals rather than practices, pairs DIY filing with a do-it-with-me option, and names no AI feature on the pages read. Plus and Pro add guidance and a tax expert.
Planning and expert-handled filing
Taxfyle pairs licensed CPAs and EAs who file for the client with Plan by Taxfyle, an AI tool that turns an uploaded 1040 into a client report. It suits firms that sell advice, not people who want to type their own return.
Facts at a glance
| Tool | Publisher | Based in | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Tax | Drake Software | United States | Paid |
| OLT.com | On-Line Taxes, Inc. | United States | Free tier |
| TaxAct | TaxAct, LLC, a Taxwell company | Not stated on the vendor pages | Free tier |
| Wealthsimple Tax | SimpleTax Software Inc. | Canada | Free tier |
| Cash App Taxes | Cash App Taxes, Inc. | United States | Free tier |
| UltraTax CS | Thomson Reuters Corporation | Not stated on the vendor pages | Paid |
| Taxfyle | Tickmark, Inc. (d/b/a Taxfyle) | United States | Paid |
| TurboTax | Intuit, Inc. | Not stated on the vendor pages | Free tier |
| 1040.com | Drake Software (privacy notice); site footer reads 1040.com, a Taxwell Company | United States | Paid |
| TaxCycle | Xero Software (Canada) Ltd. | Canada | Paid |
