What is the best tax preparation software to use/purchase?

I like both Drake and Tax Act Professional. If you are a new tax preparer I'd recommend Tax Act.  Additionally you could save a little money by using cloud based software...Don't - Don't use it...it will cost your in the long run.  You will lose data.

I have no answer for that since I don't analyze tax software

I have no experience with turbo tax. I used proseries professional and have done so for 20 years.

I use Drake

Charlene,

I have been using Pro Intuit program for the last 2 years, and I could not ask for a better product.  It includes affordable packages for federal and state income taxes and you can choose based on your current processing situation (small business or large).  You can modify throughout the tax season or increase or lower your filing needs.  It also has an encrypted link for your clients to send you their documents that are accessible from the tax software. It also has information links for you to verify/obtain information on the form you are working on, as well as community link that allows you to ask questions of the community.  What I  really like about it, is depending on what package you choose, once you have paid you do not have to pay per filing (unless you chose this option) so you can estimate what your income will be for the season and better prepare for on-going business expenses you may have.  But, whatever one you choose make sure you look over the small print, the first one that I used for my business, it was beneficial for them and the (tax preparer) was getting the short end of the stick. Lastly, it also includes free CE credits for assisting you to get the required amount to be an active participant in the  Annual Filing Season Program Participants (18 credits required).

I hope this helps, Much success with your future endeavor!

I prepare taxes because of my experience and knowledge. I don't suggest to anyone to purchase their own tax programs or use the free online programs either. Most people don't know what all they can deduct and these programs don't tell you either. Only a tax preparer can and should discuss these options with their clients. The tax programs you buy at a store or online will walk you through a lot but not tell you what all is deductable for you as a business owner.

If you are going to do taxes for a fee, then you need to use professional software i.e. TaxSlayer, Drake, ProConnect, etc. Have a PTIN through the IRS, E-Services and more. Turbo Tax is free filing (5) not to be used for persons who will be charging for preparing tax returns. It is a violation of IRS Circular 230 to charge a fee if the preparer's information is missing from the tax return, in the case of Turbo Tax. 

This is an open ended question which would depend on your company software needs. We've used several different software packages in our office in the last few years.  Drake is really pretty good and robust for a smaller firm if you don't have complex individual returns needing more foreign reporting forms and the one price includes e-file, organizers, states, etc. Prosystem FX is a robust software, however, they nickle and dime you for everything. If you want better tracking for fixed assets you have to purchase that program, if you want time entry you pay for that program, if you e-file you pay by the returns as well. They also bill you for organizers or tax notebooks. I personally used Ultra tax for a week and found it cumbersome to find data entry fields comparatively. I don't know much about it but I did find it harder to use than both Drake or Prosystem FX in the short time I used it. We also tried CCH Axcess for a year and it is nothing like the Prosystem FX platform and had many calculation errors (this may have been due to our computer infrastructure at the time). Our biggest complaint with Axcess was that numbers would change from one computer to the next and it seemed like the data input fields changed with every update which made it harder to use and we're not a fan of having all our data in the cloud, plus the partner missed a payment and all access to the program was completely turned off even for completed returns until they posted the payments which took 2 days after he made the payment with a credit card. The big thing to ask up front are the costs as some packages consider necessities like e-filing and tax organizers extras. Hope this helps you some in your choice.

My office uses Drake. We have used Proseries. I strongly recommend if you have a business do not use Turbo Tax. 

I would recommend Taxslayer Pro, I have used them for 12 straight years and we prepare more than 900 returns a year. If you ever used free tax software and then after you did get a ton of junk mail. That's right they will sell your information. Ray Ashton, EA