ProSeries Tax
Professional tax software from Intuit designed for small to mid-sized accounting firms.
About ProSeries Tax
ProSeries Tax is Intuit's desktop-first tax preparation software built for small to mid-sized firms handling individual, partnership, S-corp, and corporate returns. Day-to-day, practitioners work in a forms-based interface where the return looks like the actual IRS form — no abstraction layer between the preparer and the document. The standout feature for partnership and S-corp practices is automatic K-1 transfer: flow-through income populates directly into shareholder or partner returns without manual re-entry, which cuts real time on multi-entity engagements. ProSeries sits between TurboTax and Lacerte in Intuit's lineup. It handles the volume and complexity that consumer software can't, without the configuration overhead of Lacerte. Firms doing 200 to 1,500 returns per season and prioritizing reliable form completion over workflow automation will get the most from it. The weak spots are real. Third-party integrations outside the Intuit ecosystem are thin — if your firm uses practice management tools from Thomson Reuters or Wolters Kluwer, expect manual data handling. The pricing structure adds up fast once you account for state e-file fees and per-return charges on top of the base subscription. There is no trial tier, so you are committing before you test it against your actual return mix.
Best for
Small to mid-sized tax firms wanting reliable, forms-based tax preparation
Key Features
- Forms-based tax preparation interface
- Automatic K-1 transfer between returns
- Client document portal for secure file sharing
- Electronic filing capabilities
- Tax planning and calculation tools
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Forms-based interface mirrors actual IRS forms, so experienced preparers work exactly where they expect without navigating abstract data-entry screens
- Automatic K-1 transfer pulls partnership and S-corp flow-through data directly into beneficiary or shareholder returns, eliminating manual re-entry across multi-entity files
- E-filing is built in for federal and most state returns, with direct transmission to the IRS and a status dashboard to track acknowledgements
- Client document portal handles secure file exchange without routing sensitive documents through email
- Deep QuickBooks integration means trial balances from QuickBooks Desktop or Online map into the business return with minimal rekeying
- Error-checking diagnostics flag missing data and common preparer errors before transmission, reducing reject rates on first submission
- Intuit's update cadence keeps forms current as the IRS revises them mid-season, which matters when late tax law changes hit in December
Cons
- Base subscription starts at $599 per month but state e-file fees and per-return charges apply separately — total seasonal cost for a 500-return firm runs materially higher than the headline price
- No free trial or evaluation license; you cannot test ProSeries on your actual return mix before committing financially
- Third-party integrations outside Intuit's ecosystem are limited — practice management platforms from Thomson Reuters, Wolters Kluwer, and Karbon require manual export-import workflows
- The desktop-first architecture means remote access requires either Intuit Hosting (an additional fee) or your own remote desktop infrastructure; it is not natively cloud-based
- Tax planning tools are basic compared to dedicated planning software like Holistiplan or BNA Income Tax Planner — ProSeries handles compliance well but not scenario modeling
- Switching costs are high once your client history and prior-year returns are in the system, which limits negotiating leverage on annual renewal pricing
Ledger Brief Take
This is Intuit's traditional desktop tax software positioned between TurboTax and Lacerte, serving firms that need more than consumer tools but don't require enterprise-level complexity. The automatic K-1 transfer feature saves significant time for practices handling partnerships and S-corps, though the limited third-party integrations mean you'll likely stay within Intuit's ecosystem. Built for practitioners who prioritize reliable forms completion over workflow automation or advanced planning tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about ProSeries Tax.
What does ProSeries Tax actually cost for a small firm?
The base license starts at $599 per month, but that figure excludes per-state e-file fees and, depending on the package, per-return charges above a threshold. A firm filing 300 to 500 returns per season should budget roughly $4,000 to $8,000 annually all-in depending on state volume and selected package tier. Intuit does not publish a full fee schedule publicly; you get the complete cost breakdown during the sales conversation.
How does ProSeries integrate with QuickBooks?
ProSeries connects directly to both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online. For business returns, the trial balance imports into the tax return and maps to the correct Schedule L and M-1 lines. The integration covers most common chart-of-account structures but requires manual adjustment for non-standard account setups. This is one of the strongest points of the software for firms already in the Intuit ecosystem.
How does ProSeries compare to Lacerte?
Lacerte handles higher complexity returns and larger firm workflows with more robust diagnostics and deeper multi-state capabilities. ProSeries costs less and has a simpler interface but lacks Lacerte's advanced allocation and consolidated return tools. If your firm regularly handles complex multi-state corporate returns or consolidated groups, Lacerte is the appropriate step up. ProSeries fits firms whose complexity is moderate and whose priority is forms familiarity over configurability.
Is client data secure in ProSeries?
The client document portal uses encrypted transmission and Intuit's hosted infrastructure, which carries SOC 2 compliance. The desktop software itself stores data locally or on your server unless you pay for Intuit Hosting. If staff work remotely, local storage introduces a security dependency on your own IT setup. Firms with strict data residency requirements should confirm whether Intuit Hosting meets their obligations before committing.
Who should not use ProSeries?
ProSeries is a poor fit for firms that need deep practice management integration outside Intuit's ecosystem, firms doing heavy tax planning and scenario modeling alongside compliance, and solo preparers doing fewer than 75 returns per season where the cost per return is hard to justify. Large firms with consolidated return work or complex multistate allocation requirements will outgrow it and should evaluate Lacerte or Thomson Reuters GoSystem Tax RS.
Can ProSeries handle partnership and S-corp K-1 workflows efficiently?
Yes, this is where ProSeries earns its keep. The automatic K-1 transfer feature reads K-1 data from a partnership or S-corp return prepared in ProSeries and pushes it directly into the corresponding shareholder or partner individual return. For a firm preparing both the entity return and the owners' returns, this eliminates a full manual re-entry step and reduces transcription errors on flow-through income, basis calculations, and passive activity tracking.