Catalyst Tax Insights

Overview

Start with a base projection, add scenarios, and compare the tax insights. A projection can usually be created in a few minutes, which is useful when a decision needs a tax comparison without rebuilding a broader plan. Saving insights for later review is reserved for Plus and the professional editions, so the free Personal plan is better for one-off exploration.

Key features

Catalyst supports scenario, capital gains, and retirement income modeling. Its calculators cover required minimum distributions (RMDs), real estate sales and purchases, self-employment, IRA phase-outs, time value, and education costs. That selection addresses a range of specific tax questions, but the focused scope makes Catalyst a poor fit for users who need a complete financial plan.

Pro and Enterprise are built for professional workflows: they let users manage insights across a client base and share data with colleagues in their organization. That makes them more relevant to advisor teams than the personal editions. Email support is included with the free and paid plans.

Pricing

Personal costs 0.00 USD per free and is free forever. It supports personal use, tax insights, and scenario comparisons. It is the sensible starting point for individuals and families who want to model decisions without a subscription, but it does not save insights over time.

Plus costs 49.00 USD per year. It adds saved insights and calculators for advanced tax evaluations, making it the better fit for individuals or families who want to return to comparisons or use those calculators. It does not include the client-base management and organizational sharing aimed at professional plans.

Pro costs 499.00 USD per year for 3 users, with additional users available for a fee and custom pricing for 6+ advisors. It includes a 30 day free trial with no credit card required. This is the clear choice for a small advisor group that needs shared client insights; groups of six or more should consider Enterprise pricing.

Enterprise costs 199.00 USD per year per user and is designed for groups of 6+ advisors. Custom pricing applies for 6+ advisors, with additional users available for a fee. Its audience is larger advisor groups, not personal users looking for a cheaper way to save projections.

Platforms

Catalyst is available on the web.

Who it's for

Personal and Plus suit individuals and families comparing the tax impact of decisions such as retirement, property, or education costs. Pro and Enterprise suit financial advisors, CPAs, and other financial professionals who need to communicate tax consequences and share insights within an organization. Anyone seeking comprehensive financial planning software should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pros: A base-projection-and-scenario workflow can produce a comparison in minutes, useful for focused decisions.
• Pros: A free Personal edition makes tax insights and scenario comparisons accessible without a subscription.
• Pros: Pro and Enterprise add client-base management and organizational sharing for professional workflows.
• Cons: Personal does not save insights over time, so users who want to revisit work need Plus or a professional plan.
• Cons: Catalyst is a tax-focused companion, not comprehensive financial planning software.

Alternatives

For a wider choice of products, browse Tax Planning Software.

• Taxottic is a freemium option across Android, iOS, and web, with a free one-company plan and paid plans including Filer at 4.99 USD per month; consider it if mobile access or its monthly plan structure suits you better.
• Dhanlytics is a free web-based tool with all features available and a free tier for its core planning tool; choose it if a free planning option is the priority.
• Instead offers a free web platform with unlimited users and entities, unlimited e-file and print file, multi-entity support, and collaborators and viewers; it may fit better when those capabilities are central.
• BNA Income Tax Planner is a paid web and Windows product with pricing available by request; consider it if you prefer to request a demo before choosing a planner.
• CFS TaxTools is a paid Windows product whose TaxTools (Pro) plan costs 19.92 USD per month, typically with 12 months paid upfront, and includes 300+ tax utility worksheets, forms, and a tax planner; it is a better fit for users who want that worksheet-heavy toolkit.
• Optiml offers web-based what-if scenarios, with its Essentials plan at 99.00 CAD per year for unlimited scenarios, one stored plan, and email support; consider it if scenario volume and a stored plan match your needs.
• Bloomberg Tax has web-based tax products including Tax Provision, Workpapers, Fixed Assets, Tax Research, Corporate Tax Analyzer, Income Tax Planner, and Payroll Research, with pricing by contacting sales; consider it when those product areas are a closer match.
• CCH ProSystem fx Tax is a paid Windows product.

Verdict

Choose Catalyst Tax Insights if you are an individual, family, or advisor who needs a fast, focused way to compare tax outcomes, especially where client collaboration matters. Its free Personal edition lowers the barrier to trying the workflow, while Plus and the professional plans add saved insights or team capabilities. Look elsewhere if your priority is comprehensive financial planning rather than tax projections.