HowardSoft Tax Preparer
What HowardSoft Tax Preparer is
HowardSoft Tax Preparer is paid Windows software for professional preparers and individuals with complex returns. For the 2026 filing season, plans prepare tax year 2025 returns: Economy Level costs $229 a year for up to 15 returns, Standard Level costs $329 a year for unlimited returns, and Premium Level costs $469 a year for unlimited returns. Economy includes 41 IRS forms, Standard more than 50, and Premium more than 75. The software creates required forms while allowing some automation to be bypassed. It supports self-employment, investment, and rental income. Standard and Premium provide e-file output, but transmission requires a separately purchased annual program and IRS EFIN. State filing is a paid add-on. The maker also offers federal partnership Form 1065 and California Form 540 editions. Support is available by telephone and email.
Who it suits
Economy is presented for individuals, while Standard and Premium target professional preparers. It may suit users handling complex returns or supported income types on Windows.
What it does well
- Supports self-employment, investment, and rental income
- Premium includes more than 75 IRS forms
- Standard and Premium allow unlimited returns
- Standard and Premium provide e-file output
- Includes tax references and client tools
What to know first
- Windows platform only
- No free plan
- State filing costs extra
- E-file transmission requires separate purchase and EFIN
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Level | For the 2026 filing season, preparing tax year 2025 returns. · 15 returns | $229 a year |
| Standard Level | For the 2026 filing season, preparing tax year 2025 returns. · Unlimited returns | $329 a year |
| Premium Level | For the 2026 filing season, preparing tax year 2025 returns. · Unlimited returns | $469 a year |
| Tax Preparer 1040 Economy Level | 2025 filing season; tax year 2024 returns · Up to 15 returns · no e-file · basic tax form set | $229 a year |
| Tax Preparer 1040 Standard Level | 2025 filing season; tax year 2024 returns · Unlimited returns · e-file transmission purchased separately · expanded tax form set | $329 a year |
| Tax Preparer 1040 Premium Level | 2025 filing season; tax year 2024 returns · Unlimited returns · e-file transmission purchased separately · extended tax form set | $469 a year |
As howardsoft.com lists them, read 22 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
HowardSoft Tax Preparer offers tiered Windows editions for individual and professional tax work, with increasing form coverage and return capacity. Buyers should account for separate state-filing and e-file transmission costs.
Facts from HowardSoft Tax Preparer's own pages
- Automated preparation
- The software creates and completes the forms a return requires and lets users bypass some automation. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Client management
- Standard and Premium include file management for unlimited clients and tools to print client letters, mailing labels, and contact lists. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- E-file
- Standard and Premium support e-file output, but transmitting returns requires a separately purchased annual transmission program and an IRS EFIN. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- E-file transmission prices
- For the 2025 filing season, 1040 transmission options were listed at $115, $299, $534, and $979, with per-transmission fees varying by tier. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Form coverage
- The 1040 software includes more than 75 IRS forms at Premium, more than 50 at Standard, and 41 at Economy. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · secure.howardsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Camas, Washington, United States · howardsoft.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- HowardSoft presents Economy as intended for individuals and Standard or Premium as professional preparer packages. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Investment income
- Yes · secure.howardsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Ordering security
- The maker says online orders are encrypted when sent over the internet and accepts major credit cards. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- HowardSoft describes Tax Preparer as Windows software and lists compatibility from Windows XP through Windows 10, including 32-bit and 64-bit versions. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Tax Preparer is tax preparation software for professional preparers and individuals with complex returns. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Rental income
- Yes · secure.howardsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Return limit
- Economy allows up to 15 returns, while Standard and Premium allow unlimited returns. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Self-employment support
- Yes · secure.howardsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Paid from
- 229 · secure.howardsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- State filing
- paid_add_on · secure.howardsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Support
- HowardSoft lists telephone support at 1-858-454-0121 and email [email protected]. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Tax references and help
- Standard and Premium include nearly 300 IRS documents, an 800-plus-page Tax Forms Guide, and a User's Guide of nearly 300 pages. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Tax return scope
- The 1040 product includes federal individual return forms, and separate editions cover federal partnership Form 1065 and California Form 540 returns. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Updates
- Updates and patches are accessed through the installed Check Web for Updates facility and are not downloadable from public web pages for security reasons. · howardsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where HowardSoft Tax Preparer stands on Freedom251
- Tax Software#138 of 149
- Personal Tax Software#123 of 123