Which tax software should a small business use to file its taxes?
In India you need no paid tax software: you file income tax free on the Income Tax Department's own portal, incometax.gov.in, and GST returns free on gst.gov.in, with your accounting software or CA preparing the figures. A proprietor or a firm (other than an LLP) declaring presumptive income under sections 44AD or 44ADA files the short ITR-4 (Sugam) if total income is up to ₹50 lakh; a proprietor keeping full books files ITR-3. If you want a CA to do it, Clear's CA-assisted plans for the self-employed and professionals start from ₹3,999. The US names on most lists file US returns only: TurboTax with expert help costs $229 for a sole proprietor's Schedule C and $639 for an S-corp's Form 1120-S, and IRS Free File's guided software is free at $95,000 adjusted gross income or less, reopening in January 2027. Rule: file a simple return yourself on the portal, and pay a CA once you have staff, GST credits to reconcile or a company to file for.
The department's own guide to which return form fits whom, including ITR-3 for individuals with business income and ITR-4 (Sugam) for individuals, HUFs and firms other than LLPs declaring presumptive income.
The official manual for filing ITR-4 on the e-filing portal with pre-filled data, including prerequisites like a PAN linked to Aadhaar and a pre-validated bank account.
The portal where returns, audit reports and option forms are filed and verified; its notices carry the year's due-date extensions and the notifications issued under the Income-tax Act 2025.
The government's own portal where GST returns are filed and paid, free. Most businesses prepare the data in their billing or accounting software and upload it here, or let their software file through a GST Suvidha Provider.
Clear's page for CA-assisted income tax filing. For a freelancer, proprietor or professional who wants a CA to prepare and file the return; plans for self-employed and professional income start from ₹3,999 and salary-only plans from ₹1,299.
Intuit's page for US business returns, for a US sole proprietor, S-corp or partnership only; it does not file Indian returns. With expert help it states $229 for a sole proprietor's Schedule C and $639 for an S-corp's Form 1120-S or a partnership's Form 1065, plus state fees, for tax year 2025.
The IRS's own free filing program for US individuals, which covers a sole proprietor's Schedule C. Guided software is free with adjusted gross income of $95,000 or less; the page says the program reopens in January 2027.
