Ranking · 6 tools
Tax software for a small tax practice of two to five people
Short answer
For a small practice of two to five people, Brevitax Pro ranks first because per-seat pricing with unlimited cases lets each credentialed staffer take resolution work. IRS Solutions ranks second and Canopy third for practices that want resolution and admin in one login. TaxDome ranks fourth but leads on client intake and portal.
By the BestTaxSoftware.com editorial team. Updated . Prices checked on vendor sites that day.
How do the tools rank for this need?
- 1
Brevitax Pro
Best for adding IRS resolution to a solo practice
91.5score of 100An AI-driven resolution workflow that takes one practitioner from the IRS transcript to a documented result.
Where the 91.5 comes from of 100Price
$79/mo per seat
Strongest point
Per-seat price with unlimited cases, so a single seat does not get more expensive as caseload grows
Main drawback
Does not prepare or e-file returns; unfiled years still need a prep package
- 2
IRS Solutions
Best for solo resolution work driven by transcript alerts
79.0score of 100Established resolution software with automatic transcript downloads and change alerts.
Where the 79.0 comes from of 100Price
$189/mo solo
Strongest point
Published solo price, month-to-month or annual
Main drawback
About $1,890 a year at one user, roughly double Brevitax Pro
- 3
Canopy
Best for one login for admin work and occasional resolution
74.5score of 100Practice management with a paid Tax Resolution module for transcripts, notices, and forms.
Where the 74.5 comes from of 100Price
$124/mo with resolution
Strongest point
Polished client portal and mobile app
Main drawback
Resolution requires paying for a base plan plus the add-on
- 4
TaxDome
Best for client intake and portal for a solo shop
68.5score of 100Client intake, portal, e-sign, payments, and workflow, priced by active client.
Where the 68.5 comes from of 100Price
$1,500/yr minimum
Strongest point
Best-in-class client app and portal
Main drawback
$1,500 minimum regardless of client count
- 5
TaxAct Professional
Best for low-volume and first-season preparers
59.0score of 100Professional prep with pay-per-return, low-volume bundles, and a free evaluation edition.
Where the 59.0 comes from of 100Price
Pay-per-return
Strongest point
Free evaluation edition
Main drawback
No transcript or resolution tools
- 6
Drake Tax
Best for full return coverage on one annual license
58.5score of 100Broad federal and state return coverage on an annual license with support included.
Where the 58.5 comes from of 100Price
From $2,375/yr
Strongest point
Broad individual and business return coverage
Main drawback
No monthly option
How are the weights adjusted on this page?
Client experience and automation are 20% each because a small team handles more clients per person than a solo practitioner.
| Criterion | This page | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first case | 10% | 15% |
| Learning curve | 10% | 15% |
| Cost at one user | 15% | 20% |
| Revenue per case enabled | 15% | 20% |
| Automation depth | 20% | 10% |
| IRS record handling | 10% | 10% |
| Client experience | 20% | 10% |
Which features does each tool have?
| Prepares and e-files returns | Pulls IRS transcripts under your authorization | Client-facing portal or app | Signatures inside the product | Month-to-month option | Price shown on vendor site | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevitax ProAdding IRS resolution to a solo practice | 91.5 | $948 | No | Yes | Partly | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IRS SolutionsSolo resolution work driven by transcript alerts | 79.0 | $1,890 | No | Yes | Yes | Partly | Yes | Yes |
| CanopyOne login for admin work and occasional resolution | 74.5 | $1,488 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partly | Yes |
| TaxDomeClient intake and portal for a solo shop | 68.5 | $1,500 | No | Partly | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| TaxAct ProfessionalLow-volume and first-season preparers | 59.0 | Pay-per-return | Yes | No | Partly | Yes | Not confirmed | No |
| Drake TaxFull return coverage on one annual license | 58.5 | $2,375 | Yes | No | Partly | Partly | No | Yes |
What does each cost one practitioner per year?
Yearly cost at one user: small practices
Lowest published yearly price for a single practitioner. Log scale. Table below lists the same figures.
Show chart data as a table
| Product | Yearly, one user | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Brevitax Pro | $948 | Unlimited cases. E-sign billed only when used. |
| Canopy | $1,488 | Standard $74 plus Tax Resolution $50 per user per month, billed annually. |
| TaxDome | $1,500 | Priced per active client; 150-client minimum; 20 seats included. |
| IRS Solutions | $1,890 | Or $1,890 a year. No free trial; 60-day refund on a first annual plan. |
| Drake Tax | $2,375 | Drake Tax Pro list prices shown for tax year 2026 ran from $2,375 to $3,295 depending on returns and users. |
| TaxAct Professional | Not published | Pay-per-return, 20- or 40-return bundles, and unlimited bundles; prices not shown on the page we reviewed. |
Not plotted because no yearly price was on the vendor page we reviewed: TaxAct Professional.
How does per-seat pricing scale from one to five?
| Tool | 3 users / month | 5 users / month |
|---|---|---|
| Brevitax Pro | $237 | $395 |
| IRS Solutions | $378 (third user free) | Contact vendor |
| Canopy Standard + Tax Resolution | $372 billed annually | $620 billed annually |
| TaxDome | 20 seats included in $1,500/yr minimum | Same |
Questions practitioners ask
- Should every staff member get a resolution seat?
- Only those who work cases. Non-credentialed staff can prepare financial statements and gather documents, but a CPA, EA, or attorney must represent.
- When does a small practice outgrow these tools?
- When you need firm-wide practice management across many staff and offices. That is a different buying decision from the one this site covers.