8 Best Tax Software for Online Business in 2027: Income and Sales Tax

Choosing tax software for an online business in 2027 is really two decisions. The first is how you file your own income tax return. The second, which trips up more ecommerce sellers, is how you calculate, collect and file sales tax across the states or countries where you sell. This guide covers eight tools and approaches across both jobs, what each one costs where we could verify it, and how to pick without overbuying. Vendors in this category reprice often, so treat every number below as a starting point and confirm it on the vendor's pricing page before you buy.

Two jobs, two kinds of software

Most "best tax software" lists blur these together, which is why sellers end up with the wrong tool.

• Income tax and bookkeeping software tracks revenue and expenses, produces profit and loss numbers and helps you file your return or hand clean books to an accountant.
• Sales tax and VAT software calculates tax at checkout, monitors where you have created nexus, and files returns on your behalf.

A seller with a Shopify store, an Amazon FBA business and a Stripe account usually needs both. A small seller who only sells through a marketplace that collects tax for them may need only the first.

The 8 best tax software options for an online business in 2027

1. QuickBooks Online (bookkeeping and income tax prep)

QuickBooks remains the default for ecommerce bookkeeping because it connects to Shopify, Amazon, Stripe and PayPal, categorizes expenses and gives your accountant a familiar ledger. It is not a sales tax filing tool on its own, but it integrates with the tools below. Plans and promotional pricing change often, so check the current pricing page. Best for sellers who want one system for books, invoices and year-end tax reports.

2. Xero (bookkeeping, strong outside the US)

Xero is a common choice for sellers outside the US or those selling into the UK, EU and Australia, where VAT and GST reporting matter. It also integrates with the main ecommerce platforms and with sales tax tools. Check Xero's current plan limits, since transaction caps on lower tiers can matter for high-order-volume stores.

3. TurboTax and similar consumer filing software

If you run a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC, your business income flows onto your personal return, and consumer filing software can handle Schedule C. The self-employed tiers cost more than basic filing, and the right tier depends on your situation, so check the current price on the vendor site. This works well when your books are already clean. It works poorly when you are reconstructing a year of marketplace payouts by hand.

4. TaxJar (sales tax for US online sellers)

TaxJar is owned by Stripe and is built for US sellers who want self-serve sales tax calculation and filing. According to a 2026 comparison from Beancount, the Starter plan is $39 per month for up to 200 orders, up from $19 after Stripe's acquisition, and Professional is $99 per month. AutoFile costs $50 per return on Starter and $55 on Professional. Starter has a 30-day free trial and there is no free plan. TaxJar's filing scope is US sales tax, so VAT or GST abroad needs a separate tool. Best for US-only sellers with integrations to Shopify, Amazon, QuickBooks or Xero. Watch the per-return fees if you file monthly in many states.

5. Avalara (enterprise and B2B)

Avalara is the heavyweight, with exemption certificate management, managed returns and ERP connectors. Pricing is quoted per deal. Avalara does not publish most prices. The same Beancount comparison cites roughly $403 per location for sales tax registration, but treat that as a rough figure and get a quote. It is overkill for a seller registered in a few states, and a strong fit for wholesale and B2B brands that need certificate handling.

6. Stripe Tax (built into checkout)

If you already take payments on Stripe, Stripe Tax calculates and collects tax at checkout. The Beancount comparison lists Basic at 0.5% per transaction through no-code integrations, or 50 cents per transaction through the API, in jurisdictions where you are registered, with Tax Complete bundles starting at $90 per month. With Basic you still handle registration, filing and remittance yourself. Best for single-channel sellers on Stripe. Certificate support is limited, so wholesale sellers should look elsewhere.

7. Anrok (SaaS and subscription taxability)

Anrok targets software and subscription businesses with complicated taxability rules. The Beancount comparison lists Starter at $100 per active market per month, with filing, remittance, certificate management and nexus tracking included. Companies with only a few markets may find a per-filing tool cheaper. Relevant if your online business sells digital products or subscriptions rather than physical goods.

8. A CPA who knows ecommerce

Software does not replace judgment. A CPA experienced with marketplace sellers can advise on entity structure, inventory accounting, nexus exposure and multi-state registration, and will often be cheaper than an avoidable penalty. Many sellers pair QuickBooks or Xero with a sales tax tool and a CPA who reviews quarterly.

How to choose

Match the tool to your sales channels

Marketplaces such as Amazon collect and remit sales tax on many transactions under marketplace facilitator rules. That does not cover your own website, wholesale orders or every jurisdiction, so check where you still carry the obligation. Your own store on Shopify or WooCommerce usually needs a calculation tool plus a filing plan.

Match the tool to your registration footprint

If you are registered in two or three states, a lighter tool with per-return fees can be cheaper. Once you file monthly in many states, flat-rate or included-filing models start to win. Do the math on your real return count before you commit.

Check integrations before price

The cheapest tool that does not sync with your cart, marketplace or accounting system will cost you hours every month. Confirm the integration list covers every channel you sell on, including your payment processor.

Plan for nexus, not just filing

Economic nexus rules mean you can owe sales tax in a state where you have no office or warehouse. Choose software that monitors your sales by state and warns you before you cross a threshold. Rules vary by state and change over time, so verify thresholds with the state's revenue department or your CPA.

A simple 2027 setup by business stage

• Early stage, marketplace only: accounting software plus consumer or CPA-assisted filing.
• Growing DTC store in the US: accounting software, a sales tax calculation and filing tool, and a CPA.
• Multi-country or B2B: accounting software with VAT support, an enterprise sales tax tool for certificates and returns, and a specialist advisor.

For more on the wider stack, see our roundup of the best ecommerce software and the ecommerce inventory management guide, since inventory valuation feeds directly into your tax numbers. You can also browse vetted vendors in the Cruxfinder directory.

The GTM angle

Tax season is one of the most predictable buying triggers in ecommerce, and most agencies and tool vendors ignore it. If you sell bookkeeping, accounting, sales tax, inventory or finance services to Amazon sellers and online brands, build outbound around events rather than generic lists.

• Trigger-based cold email: target brands that recently crossed a revenue milestone, opened a new sales channel or started selling in a new state. Each is a nexus or registration trigger.
• ICP segmentation: split by channel mix. A marketplace-only seller needs different messaging than a DTC store with wholesale accounts.
• Offers that lower risk: a free nexus review or a quick check of which states they likely owe returns in beats a generic demo request.
• Timing: send the sequence in the weeks before quarterly estimated tax and annual filing deadlines, when the pain is fresh.

Use the cold email ROI calculator to model what a campaign needs to deliver, and the Amazon sales calendar to time sends around seller busy seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need separate software for sales tax and income tax?

Usually yes. Income tax and bookkeeping tools track profit and help you file your return, while sales tax tools calculate, collect and file transaction taxes. Some accounting platforms integrate with sales tax tools so the data flows between them.

Does Amazon handle sales tax for me?

Amazon collects and remits sales tax on many marketplace orders under marketplace facilitator rules. You are still responsible for income tax and for sales tax on sales outside the marketplace, such as your own website. Check Seller Central and your state rules.

What is economic nexus?

It is the point at which your sales volume or transaction count in a state creates a sales tax obligation, even without a physical presence. Thresholds vary by state, so confirm current rules with the state or your CPA.

Is free tax software enough for an online business?

Free tools can cover very simple situations. Most ecommerce sellers outgrow them once they have multiple channels, inventory or sales in several states. Compare the cost against the time saved and the penalty risk.

When should I hire a CPA instead of relying on software?

Hire one when you form an entity, start inventory-heavy operations, expand to new states or countries, or receive a tax notice. Software calculates and files, but a CPA advises on structure and exposure.

Takeaways

• Separate your two jobs: income tax and bookkeeping, and sales tax or VAT.
• Match the tool to your channels, registration footprint and integrations before you compare price.
• Prices in this category change often, so verify on the vendor's page.
• Monitor nexus by state and pair software with a CPA at key growth points.
• Sellers of tax and finance services should build outbound around filing deadlines and nexus triggers.

Want help building that pipeline? See Cruxfinder's cold outbound service and the free GTM calculators.