Lacerte Tax
Professional tax preparation software from Intuit for complex returns.
About Lacerte Tax
Lacerte is Intuit's top-tier professional tax software, built for CPA firms that routinely handle multi-entity structures, complex S-corp and partnership returns, estate and trust filings, and intricate multistate apportionment. Day-to-day, preparers work through a form-driven interface with over 1,000 federal and state forms, automated diagnostic checks that flag errors before e-filing, and built-in apportionment schedules for clients operating across multiple states. The integration with QuickBooks pulls trial balance data directly into the return, cutting re-keying on business returns. Lacerte fits established firms billing year-round tax work, not seasonal shops. If your client list includes high-net-worth individuals with K-1 stacks, closely held businesses with multiple entities, or trusts requiring separate state filings, Lacerte handles that workload without forcing workarounds. It sits above ProSeries in Intuit's lineup specifically because ProSeries hits its ceiling on complex returns. The drawbacks are real. Pricing starts at $489 per month and climbs sharply with return volume and add-on modules — a mid-sized firm's annual spend routinely exceeds $10,000. The interface is dated and dense; new staff take weeks to get productive. And once your client data lives in Lacerte for several seasons, switching to Drake or UltraTax CS carries significant migration pain.
Best for
Established CPA firms handling complex individual and business tax returns
Key Features
- Complex tax return preparation with 1000+ forms library
- Multi-state tax filing and apportionment
- Automated tax calculations and diagnostics
- Electronic filing with status tracking
- Tax planning and projection tools
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Handles multi-entity structures and extensive Schedule K-1 stacks without performance degradation or workarounds
- Over 1,000 federal and state forms cover 1040, 1120, 1120-S, 1065, 1041, and 990 series with full multistate apportionment schedules
- Diagnostic engine catches calculation errors and missing elections before submission, reducing reject rates on complex returns
- Direct QuickBooks trial balance import eliminates manual re-keying on business returns
- Built-in tax planning and projection tools let preparers model Roth conversions, estimated payments, and entity restructuring within the same file
- E-filing status tracking through Intuit's system gives real-time confirmation on federal and state acceptances
- DocuSign and ShareFile integrations support fully paperless engagement and signature workflows
Cons
- Entry price of $489 per month covers limited returns; volume-based pricing means mid-sized firms regularly spend $10,000 to $20,000 annually once add-ons are included
- No free trial or evaluation tier — you are committing financially before you know whether it fits your workflow
- Interface is dense and visually dated; staff unfamiliar with Lacerte typically need three to four weeks of hands-on work before they are productive on complex returns
- Deep integration with Intuit's ecosystem creates meaningful switching costs after two or three seasons of client data accumulation
- Cloud access requires Intuit Hosting at additional cost — the base license is desktop-installed, which complicates remote work setups without extra spend
- Customer support response times during peak filing season are slow, and the community forum skews toward ProSeries users, leaving Lacerte-specific edge cases underserved
Ledger Brief Take
This is Intuit's flagship professional tax software, positioned above ProSeries for firms handling the most complex returns — think multi-entity structures, extensive schedules, and intricate state apportionment. The multistate capabilities and comprehensive form library make it the go-to for established practices that can't afford limitations during tax season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about Lacerte Tax.
How does Lacerte pricing actually work, and what does $489 per month include?
The $489 per month entry point covers a limited return bundle, typically individual 1040 returns. Business returns, state packages, and add-on modules like fixed asset depreciation or tax planning are priced separately. Most firms handling a mix of individual and business returns budget $800 to $1,500 per month depending on volume. There is no free trial.
How does Lacerte compare to Drake Tax and UltraTax CS for complex returns?
Drake Tax costs far less but requires more manual setup on complex multistate and multi-entity returns. UltraTax CS matches Lacerte on complexity and has a stronger server-based network deployment, making it the more common choice at larger firms. Lacerte's edge is tighter QuickBooks integration and a slightly lower learning curve for staff already in the Intuit ecosystem.
Does Lacerte integrate with QuickBooks, and how deep is that connection?
Yes. Lacerte pulls trial balance data directly from QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online into business returns, which eliminates manual re-keying on 1120, 1120-S, and 1065 filings. The import maps chart of accounts to tax lines, but preparers still need to review and adjust mappings for clients with non-standard account structures.
Is Lacerte cloud-based, or does it require local installation?
Lacerte is desktop software by default. Cloud access requires purchasing Intuit's Hosting service through a third-party provider, which adds to the annual cost. Firms that need full remote access for distributed staff should factor that hosting fee into their budget before comparing Lacerte to natively cloud-based platforms.
What firm size and return profile is Lacerte actually built for?
Lacerte fits CPA firms billing 200 or more complex returns annually — think clients with multi-entity structures, significant K-1 activity, or filings across five or more states. Solo practitioners and small firms handling straightforward 1040s will overpay for capabilities they rarely use. ProSeries is Intuit's more cost-appropriate option for lower-complexity practices.
How does Lacerte handle data security and client confidentiality?
Client data on the desktop version is stored locally or on the firm's own server, so security posture depends on the firm's own IT controls. When using Intuit Hosting, data resides in Intuit-managed data centers with encryption in transit and at rest. Lacerte itself does not offer built-in client portal functionality — ShareFile or a separate portal tool is required for secure document exchange.