A tax planning software provider can help your business save some time and money when tax season comes around. Several options exist for tax planning software that is easy to use and can synthesize complicated tax solutions for your small business or corporate tax file.

You can find tax planning software for your business from a number of providers offering programs for both personal and home business use. You can also make filing your taxes even quicker by using online e-file systems. Some tax planning programs are incorporated into integrated financial planning solutions for your business, while others are very specialized.

When shopping for a tax planning software program, consider some of the following options:

1. Get a program designed for your specific business needs;

2. Try a corporate tax software program with integrated financial solutions;

3. File your taxes online for faster returns for e-filing;

4. Use tax planning software designed to help you with your clients' financial plans.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use business-specific tax planning software for standard returns in any industry

If your needs are simple, you can get a free or low-cost program from a tax planning software provider to expedite your tax preparation process. Standard tax preparation needs include basic small business filing and clearly defined exemptions. Other programs are specifically designed to make filing simple in a particular industry, such as retail.

I recommend: Avalara is a good tax planning software program for small businesses and uses existing accounting data to check tax compliance. Vertex also offers information online about a range of software options, with a tax planning software list specifically for retail solutions.

Get a tax planning software program designed for integrated financial solutions

Whether you are filing taxes for a corporation or a small, family-owned business, corporate tax planning software can help you organize your financial data and greatly simplify the process. Make sure you investigate different programs for different size business and that may perform a variety of basic or more detailed tax preparation functions.

I recommend: Execplan Express offers one program for all of your financial planning for $299 with an optional extended support plan. CorpSystem by CCH also integrates solutions for taxes and accounting for a broader financial solution for your business. Browse the tax planning software list to select the program that best suits your needs for income or sales tax planning.

Use e-file tax planning software to file your taxes quickly and easily online

Online solutions provide an avenue to filing without extensive paperwork or documentation on your computer. If you are unsure if online filing is right for you, you can get more tax planning software information from providers that offer both software and online options. Many software providers also offer one free e-file with the software program.

I recommend: CORPTAX is one web-based program with several different options for modeling, analysis and reporting of taxes for your business. TurboTax also offers online options for businesses with the Home & Business software program designed for small businesses or single-owner LLCs.

Use tax planning software to manage your clients' finances

If you're in the financial planning business, tax planning software can also help you better serve your clients. Use a program that can manage financial data for your clients and synthesize tax filing with other financial planning resources.

I recommend: MasterPlan allows you to manage clients' entire financial plan, and incorporate proposed financial options and solutions in addition to managing tax information. Saxon Tax Software is a tax planning software program designed to be used by professionals preparing taxes for clients, and focuses on tax data only.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you need extended or in-depth support from your tax planning software, consider using a software program that is linked to a specific tax preparation service or offers additional support by phone or online chat. These programs or extended service options offer more personal contact and quicker troubleshooting solutions if necessary.