Professional tax software for independent preparers.
Simple pricing. Serious software. Flat $649 per season.
Unlimited federal and state returns.
Bank products included day one.
- Unlimited returns
- Bank products included
- No percentage cuts
Applications reviewed within 2 business days.
License activates Nov–Dec 2026 for the 2027 tax season.
At 50 returns, you net $19,001 on TaxOwl Pro. On Drake, $16,305.
Your software pays for itself in 2 returns. Plug in your real volume and prep fee — see your projected 2027-season take-home in seconds. No email required.
Comparison assumes 50 returns at $400 avg prep fee, $1,500 opex. Drake math: software cost $2,195 (published rate). TaxOwl Pro adds $23/return in Platform Add-On revenue auto-deposited to your Pass-Through Account.
See What TaxOwl Pro Can Do for Your Business
Transform the way you prepare returns with a platform built for speed, accuracy, and real revenue growth. TaxOwl Pro combines professional-grade tools with an intuitive experience that helps you work smarter — not harder. A seamless cloud-based system you can access from anywhere.
A 2-minute walkthrough of the TaxOwl Pro preparer interface — dashboard, returns workflow, secure messaging, and reporting.
Want the demo as soon as it goes live?
Drop your email and we’ll send you the walkthrough link the day we post it. No spam, no sales call — just the video.
Request the demo →What’s Inside the TaxOwl Hub
The Hub is your year-round operator workspace — not a sales page.
Log in once, work from one screen.
5-Module Academy
Structured training that walks you from setup to filing your first returns. Built for preparers who are new to the platform.
All-50-States Refund Status
Direct links to every state’s “Where’s My Refund” lookup, organized so you’re never hunting Google for a client call.
IRS Tools Directory
One-click access to the IRS lookups preparers actually use — transcripts, EIN, refund status, payment plans, identity verification.
IRS Phone Directory
The right IRS number for the situation in front of you — practitioner line, refund hotline, identity verification, amended returns, more.
Resource Library
Common forms, reference sheets, and operator checklists — curated so you’re not rebuilding from scratch every season.
The Tax Wire
A running feed of industry news and IRS updates preparers actually need — so you stay current without working for it.
The Hub lives behind your login. Included with every TaxOwl Pro license — no Hub-specific fee, no Hub-tier upsell. Optional product add-ons (Business Tier, TextLink, Co-branding) are priced separately on the pricing page; the Hub itself is part of the flat $649 seasonal license.
Everything You Need to File.
Full access to professional tax-filing software for independent preparers under our flat seasonal license.
Tax Preparation
- ✓Unlimited federal and state returns
- ✓4,300+ forms and schedules
- ✓Part-year and non-resident state support
E-File & Submissions
- ✓Federal and state e-file
- ✓Filing status optimization
- ✓Multi-year comparison reports
Bank Products
- ✓Refund transfers from day one
- ✓Multiple bank product options
- ✓Remote invoicing
Client Experience
- ✓Remote signature capture
- ✓Client portal access
- ✓SMS messaging to clients
Workflow & Automation
- ✓OCR document scanning
- ✓Autofill from EIN database
- ✓Pre-season letters & organizers
Security & Support
- ✓Multi-factor authentication
- ✓Training & onboarding resources in the Hub
- ✓Live platform desk for real-time issues
- ✓Account support from us (details on our Trust page)
All features included. $649/season.
Platform capabilities for TaxOwl preparers
- •Real-time return status dashboard with IRS acknowledgements and reject tracking
- •Click-to-fix error correction that takes you directly to the field that needs attention
- •Multiple daily IRS transmissions for faster acknowledgements
- •Zapier automation for practice workflows (intake, reminders, CRM sync)
- •PayJunction integration for client payment processing
- •OCR document import for W-2s, 1099s, and source documents
- •Remote e-signature included — no per-signature licensing fee billed to you
- •Bank products (refund transfers) enabled day one — potential rebate revenue from bank partner on each transfer
- •All transmission & processing fees billed to the client, not to you — zero per-return cost on your side
- •Audit protection & identity-theft-monitoring add-ons you can sell for recurring commission revenue
Advanced Tools for Complex Business Tax Returns
TaxOwl Pro Business extends your seasonal license to the most intricate filings — corporations, partnerships, trusts, and nonprofit entities — with precision and speed. Cloud-native, collaborative, and included in the same flat-pricing model.
Individual 1040 returns, unlimited federal + state, bank products included from day one.
Corporations, partnerships, trusts, nonprofits — unlimited business returns on the same flat seasonal price.
Entity types & forms included
Forms 1120, 1120-S
C-corp and S-corp returns, multi-state support, M-1/M-2 reconciliation.
Form 1065 + K-1s
Partnership returns with automated K-1 generation for each partner.
Form 1041 + K-1s
Estate and trust returns with beneficiary K-1s and fiduciary accounting.
Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-N
Nonprofit and exempt organization filings, including 990-N postcard.
Requires an active TaxOwl Pro license. The $299 Business add-on layers on top of your $649 seasonal base license. Not sold as a standalone product. Cloud-native — no desktop install required.
Professional tax software built for your business
TaxOwl Pro is built for tax professionals who want real bureau-level economics without the usual software headaches. You get the platform, the filing capacity, and the support structure you need to operate with confidence during tax season.
Flat Seasonal Price
No surprise charges mid-season. One price, all season long.
Unlimited Returns
Scale without watching the clock. File as many as your clients need.
Bank Products Enabled
Built for real revenue, not just filing. Bank products ready from day one.
Real Support, Routed Right
Platform issues go to our platform partner’s live desk. Bank issues go to our bank partner. Account questions come to us — one business-day SLA.
Built for Your Practice
Designed around your business model, not a national chain’s needs.
PTIN-Verified Network
Every preparer in TaxOwl Pro is verified. You’re operating in a clean, compliant network.
Year-Round Access
Your account stays active all year. File extensions, amendments, and planning whenever you need.
Flat seasonal price — unlimited returns, bank products enabled day one.
Seasonal Rate
No commitment until your application is approved
Your Real Earnings Potential
Tax season isn’t just 90 days.
This is a year-round income system when you understand the flow.
Start early. Capture simple returns and build your base.
10–15 clients × $600/return
Gross: $6,000–$9,000
After e-file fees: $5,500–$8,250
This is where serious money is made.
20–30 clients × $800–$1,000/return
Gross: $16,000–$30,000
After e-file fees: $15,000–$28,500
Most preparers disappear here — you don’t.
5–10 extension returns × $400–$600
Gross: $2,000–$6,000
After e-file fees: $1,750–$5,500
Final deadline = last big push.
10–15 clients × $500–$700
Gross: $5,000–$10,500
After e-file fees: $4,500–$9,750
Quiet season = smart money.
3–5 amended returns × $300–$500
Gross: $900–$2,500
After e-file fees: $750–$2,250
Amounts shown are estimated take-home: (returns × avg fee) + (returns × $23 platform Add-On revenue) − $649 flat seasonal license. You pay $0 per return; you EARN $23/return in Add-Ons (eFile $19 + Tech $4 auto-deposited to your Pass-Through Account).
What You’ll Realistically Make
For every 10 returns you’d file on Drake or ProSeries, you keep an extra $150–$250 in software-fee savings on TaxOwl Pro.
See the full pricing comparison against Drake, ProSeries, and TaxSlayer Pro →
Earnings in tax prep depend on two numbers: how many returns you file, and what you charge. TaxOwl Pro’s flat $649 license doesn’t change the market — but it does change how much of your revenue you keep.
If you’re new to independent practice, expect 10–20 clients in your first season — enough to pay for your license several times over and build the base. If you’re an established preparer switching off a $1,500–$2,500/year software stack, the delta lands in your pocket from day one.
Your earnings: (returns × avg fee) + (returns × $23 platform Add-On) − $649 seasonal license. You pay $0 per return; you EARN $23/return in Add-Ons (eFile $19 + Tech $4 auto-deposited to your PTA). Full per-return economics in the calculator below.
Most preparers only think about tax season.
The ones who understand the full cycle build real income.
| Fee component | Description | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your earnings | |||
| Tax preparation fee | Set by you — you keep 100% | $ | |
| Platform Add-On revenue | eFile $19 + Tech $4 — auto-deposited to your PTA | +$23.00 | |
| What the client pays (deducted from refund or invoiced) | |||
| Platform processing fees | eFile $23 + Tech $9 + Trans $48.95 — industry-standard, every return | $80.95 | |
| Refund transfer service | $25 Service Bureau Fee + $35.95 Bank fee (if bank product) | $60.95 | |
| Remote signature | Per SSN — $5 CPTS + $3 TaxOwl markup | $8.00 | |
| Prior year return | If filing a prior-year return | $17.00 | |
| Client-side fees subtotal | $149.90 | ||
| Total client cost | $749.90 | ||
Toggle options to build your scenario. You pay $0 per return on your side — you keep your prep fee + earn $23 per return in platform Add-Ons auto-deposited to your PTA.
When bank product is enabled, all client-side fees are deducted directly from the client’s refund — your clients pay nothing out of pocket at the time of filing.
Your per-return earnings
Prep fee + $23 Add-On revenue (auto to your PTA)
Client pays
Includes prep + platform fees; deducted from refund if bank product
Who TaxOwl Pro fits
New preparers
First-year preparers who want to start without the $1,395–$2,199 in flat-license costs that Drake, ProSeries, and TaxSlayer Pro run.
Side practices
Accountants, bookkeepers, and financial advisors adding tax prep to an existing book without committing to a full-price commercial license.
Growing practices
Independent preparers currently paying $1,395–$2,199/year in software licenses plus per-state and bank-product surcharges. At $649 flat, the savings cover your E&O premium and then some.
Not sure if you’re a fit? The “How TaxOwl Pro is different” page walks through the preparer profiles where the economics don’t work, too. We’d rather tell you upfront than sell you a license you don’t need.
The math, without the marketing
Real published prices from Drake, ProSeries, and TaxSlayer Pro, next to TaxOwl Pro.
Same software category.
Meaningfully different price.
| What you pay | TaxOwl Pro | Drake Tax Pro | ProSeries 1040 Complete | TaxSlayer Pro Classic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual license | $649 | $2,195 | $2,199 | $1,395 |
| Unlimited federal + state returns | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Per-state business return | Included (with Business add-on) | Included | +$55 per state | Included |
| Bank products & refund transfers | Day one — included | Setup + per-product fees | Setup + per-product fees | Setup + per-product fees |
| Multi-user seats | Included | ~$300 per seat | Quote required | Varies by plan |
| Remote e-signature | Included | Per-signature fees | Per-signature fees | Per-signature fees |
| Multi-year filing (TY2023–2026) | Included | Separate license per year | Separate license per year | Separate license per year |
| Percentage cut of your prep fees | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Competitor pricing retrieved April 2026 from public sources. Verify directly with each vendor before purchase.
Built on Real Tax Workflows
We ran real returns through TaxOwl Pro before opening it up. Every step is tested, automated, and client-ready.
Client intake
Clients submit documents and info through the portal.
Return preparation
You prepare the return in the platform’s preparer interface.
E-file submission
One-click submission to the IRS and state revenue agencies.
Remote signature
Clients sign electronically — no office visit required.
Automated delivery
Completed returns and refund updates flow to clients automatically.
Everything automated. Zero manual steps.
Tested end-to-end through real tax workflows before preparers ever saw it.
Why the TaxOwl model is different.
Professional tax software is priced for large firms. Drake Tax Pro charges $2,195/year. ProSeries 1040 Complete charges $2,199 plus $55 per state business return. TaxSlayer Pro Classic charges $1,395. On top of the license, bank-product enrollment is usually a separate setup with per-product fees, and some Service Bureau resellers layer a revenue-share on your bank-product margin. For an independent preparer running 20–100 returns, that structure buries the unit economics.
TaxOwl Pro licenses the underlying filing engine under a flat $649 seasonal rate and passes the economics through to you: one price, unlimited returns, bank products enabled day one, no revenue share on your prep fees. You own the client relationship. You set the price. The platform stays out of the way.
One flat seasonal price ($649). No percentage cuts on your prep fees.
That’s how independent preparers own their business.
Read more in The Tax Wire — our weekly newsletter on tax practice economics, software trends, and preparer strategies.
From application to filing in 2 business days
Apply
Fill out a short application. Tell us about your practice, your PTIN, and where you file. Takes about 3 minutes.
Get Approved
We review your application and confirm your PTIN and EFIN status. We review every application individually and confirm eligibility before activating your account.
Activate
Your account is provisioned with bank products enabled. You get access to the TaxOwl Hub — your preparer portal for training, resources, and support.
File & Get Paid
Start filing returns. Offer refund transfers. Earn more per return.
Your PTIN matters. We take compliance seriously.
The IRS requires all paid tax preparers to hold a valid, active PTIN. TaxOwl Pro verifies PTIN status for every preparer in our network — because it protects you, your clients, and the integrity of the returns you file.
TaxOwl Pro is operated by CKT Ventures, LLC. Our team prepares and files returns ourselves.
TaxOwl Pro is an IRS Authorized e-file Provider.
How to Find Your First Clients
You don’t start from zero. We give you the playbook.
✓ Scripts & templates for Facebook groups — Join 20+ tax prep groups actively recruiting. We give you the messaging.
✓ How to reach CPAs and referral networks — Most profitable clients come from referral sources.
✓ Pricing strategy ($400–$800 per return) — Charge enough to survive, not so much you price yourself out.
✓ Follow-up sequences — Email templates to convert prospects into clients.
Most preparers get 10–20 clients in year 1 through:
Tax prep Facebook groups
CPA referrals
Local networking
Check The Tax Wire for templates, scripts, and detailed guidance on client acquisition strategies.
Who We’re Built For
TaxOwl Pro is designed for tax professionals who meet these qualifications:
✓ Active PTIN (IRS-issued)
Required by IRS for all paid tax preparers
✓ Active EFIN (E-file Authorization)
Needed to submit returns electronically
✓ Filing Experience
At least one tax season of return prep experience
Not sure if you meet all requirements? Review the qualifications above, then apply when you’re ready. We’re here to answer questions — but all preparers must hold a valid PTIN before activation.
Built by a founder who’s been doing this since 2007.
TaxOwl Pro was built by someone who’s spent nearly two decades running tax returns and watching independent preparers hand $1,500–$2,500/year to their own software stack plus revenue-share on bank products. That math is backward.
So we built a different business model on top of a filing engine preparers already trust — the IRS-authorized tax platform and 4,300+ form library tax pros have used for years — combined with a flat $649 seasonal license, bank products enabled from day one, and account support with a live platform desk for real-time issues. No monthly fees. No percentage cuts on your prep fees. The economics work for independent preparers, because they were designed by one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own clients and keep those relationships?
Yes. 100%. You own the client relationship completely. They pay you directly. We never contact them, never upsell them, never take a cut. This is your business. TaxOwl Pro is just the software and infrastructure.
Is there a long-term contract?
No. One seasonal payment of $649 per tax season. That’s it. You’re done if you want to be. No multi-year commitments, no hidden fees, no lock-in. You control your business.
What if I only have 20 returns?
Still $649. That’s the point — you’re not paying per return or per month. Whether you file 20 returns or 200, same price. Low volume, high volume — doesn’t matter. You’re covered.
What is a Refund Transfer and how does it work?
A Refund Transfer lets your clients pay your preparation fee from their refund. Your fee is deducted, and the remainder goes to your client. It removes the “I don’t have the money upfront” objection and helps you collect on every return without chasing payment.
What if I need help during tax season?
Each layer goes to the team that can actually fix it. Platform issues (return prep, e-file, software errors) route directly to CrossLink’s live support desk — the engineers who built the engine and can resolve issues in real time during tax season. Bank-product issues (refund transfers, funding delays) go to your bank-product processor’s dedicated team. Account, billing, and TaxOwl Pro-specific questions come to us at 1040@taxowl.co with a one business-day response SLA. Three specialized layers, each routed to the team that can actually solve your problem — not one generalist queue. Full detail on our Trust page.
What tax engine powers TaxOwl Pro?
TaxOwl Pro is built on CrossLink — an IRS-authorized professional tax preparation engine trusted by thousands of independent preparers nationwide for federal and state e-filing, multi-state allocation, bank products, and the full 4,300+ form library. CrossLink handles the engine; TaxOwl handles the curation, training, support, and community around it — the TaxOwl Hub training library, The Tax Wire newsletter, the Premier launch kit, and operator-led season support.
Is there a refund policy?
Our refund policy is activation-based:
• Full refund if denied: If your PTIN/EFIN verification is denied, you receive a full refund. You never got the product, so you don’t pay.
• No refund after activation: Once your account is activated and you’re granted software access, no refunds are available. You have access to all platform features for the full tax season.
• No mid-season cancellations: There is no pro-rating or refunds for mid-season changes of mind.
This policy is fair and protects both parties. For full details, see our Terms of Service.
Do you handle multistate returns?
Yes. TaxOwl Pro supports multistate e-filing through our IRS Authorized e-file provider relationship. You can file federal returns and state returns (all 50 states) for your clients. Your EFIN is your authorization to file in all states where you’re qualified.
Can I file prior-year returns?
Yes. Your TaxOwl Pro account works year-round, so you can file prior-year returns (amendments, extensions from prior seasons, etc.) whenever you need to. The flat seasonal price covers all returns you file during the calendar year—no limits on how far back you go.
What’s your response time for support during tax season?
We aim for next-business-day response during tax season (January–April). Our support team prepares and files returns themselves, so they understand real-world issues and can help you troubleshoot quickly. For urgent issues, email 1040@taxowl.co with “URGENT” in the subject line.
Ready to Build Your Tax Business?
TaxOwl Pro is $649/season — flat. Unlimited returns. Apply, get approved, start filing.
No commitment until your application is approved
Run the vendor-due-diligence checklist on everyone — including us.
Subscribe and you’ll get “7 Questions to Ask Any Tax Software Vendor Before You Sign” (10-page PDF field guide) plus the full Tax Wire resource library — Startup Checklist, IRS Reject Code Reference Guide, and more added regularly. One well-written email a week on tax practice mechanics. Unsubscribe anytime, no paid tier.
One-click unsubscribe. No paid tier. No sales calls.