UltraTax CS Review (2026)

Thomson Reuters professional tax preparation software for firms

Updated June 16, 2026

By James Han · How we review

3.8 MAQTOOB rating

Our Verdict

UltraTax CS is a fit when a tax firm wants a mature professional tax system and is comfortable working with Thomson Reuters pricing and implementation. It supports a broad range of federal, state, local, individual, and business return types.

Before subscribing, ask for a custom quote based on your real user count, return volume, states, and jurisdictions. Firms that want public package pricing or faster first-week adoption should compare Drake and Lacerte before choosing it.

A good fit if you

  • Tax firms already using Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite.
  • Firms preparing many federal, state, local, individual, and business returns.
  • Practices that want professional tax software with quote-based packaging.

Look elsewhere if you

  • Individual taxpayers filing personal returns.
  • Small preparers who need simple public pricing.
  • Firms that want a lightweight cloud-only product with minimal setup.
Next step: compare the pricing details below, then test UltraTax CS with a real workflow before committing.

What Is UltraTax CS?

UltraTax CS is professional tax preparation software from Thomson Reuters for firms preparing federal, state, local, and business returns. The official page says pricing is custom based on users, tax returns, and states or jurisdictions.

It makes the most sense for firms already using Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite or those that need a mature professional tax platform. It is not built for individual DIY filing.

UltraTax CS Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Broad return coverage — The official page lists 1040, 1041, 1120, 1120S, 1065, 990, 5500, and more than 200 state/local returns.
  • Professional firm focus — UltraTax CS is designed for preparers and firm workflows, not casual DIY filing.
  • CS suite fit — It can make sense when a firm already uses Thomson Reuters tools.

Cons

  • Quote-based pricing — Users must contact Thomson Reuters for pricing based on users, returns, and states or jurisdictions.
  • Mixed user rating — The G2 score is lower than Drake and Lacerte in this batch.
  • Implementation requires planning — Firms should validate conversion, state coverage, e-file, and staff workflow before switching.

Key Features

Feature What it does Best plan fit
Professional tax return preparation Supports individual, corporate, partnership, estate/trust, exempt organization, and other returns. Custom package
State and local programs Covers more than 200 individual and business state/local tax returns. Custom package
E-file workflow Supports electronic return transmission for professional preparers. Custom package
CS Professional Suite alignment Fits firms using related Thomson Reuters tax and accounting tools. Suite users

Who Uses UltraTax CS — and For What

Thomson Reuters firms preparing many return types

Use UltraTax CS when suite alignment and broad return coverage matter.

Request a quote.

Multi-state practices

It fits firms that need many state and local return programs.

Confirm state/jurisdiction pricing.

Firms comparing professional suites

Test UltraTax against Lacerte and Drake with real sample returns.

Demo before switching.

Pricing

Plan Price Best for / notes
UltraTax CS Custom pricing Official page says pricing depends on number of users, tax returns, and states/jurisdictions.
Demo Request free demo Official page offers a demo/request path.

Source: Official pricing page.

UltraTax CS uses custom pricing. Thomson Reuters says pricing is based on users, tax returns, and states or jurisdictions. Pricing checked 2026-06-16.

Prices checked 2026-06-16 against official product sources.

Integrations

UltraTax CS should be evaluated with the rest of the Thomson Reuters tax and accounting stack. Firms should check document workflow, research tools, e-file processes, data conversion, client communication, and any CS Professional Suite products already in use before switching.

Getting Started: What Implementation Actually Takes

Request a quote with exact staff count, return volume, states, and entity types. During the demo, test return preparation speed, diagnostics, e-file workflow, and conversion from your current tax software. Ask how pricing changes when the firm adds users, states, or business return types.

What Users Say

G2 3.4/5 · 61 reviews

Common praise

  • Users value the breadth of professional tax coverage and the fit with firm workflows.
  • Firms in the Thomson Reuters ecosystem may benefit from product alignment.

Common complaints

  • The G2 rating is more mixed than several alternatives in this batch.
  • Users should expect setup, training, and quote negotiation before rollout.
MAQTOOB take: UltraTax CS can work for established firms, but users should demo it with real returns and compare workflow speed before committing. Its G2 rating is more mixed than Drake and Lacerte, so the demo should focus on daily preparer experience, not only form coverage.

Top UltraTax CS Alternatives

  • Choose Lacerte if Use Lacerte if your firm fits the Intuit accountant ecosystem better.
  • Choose Drake Tax if Use Drake Tax if transparent package pricing is important.
  • Choose ProTaxPro if Use ProTaxPro if you need a lower-cost professional tax option.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does UltraTax CS cost?

The official page says pricing is custom based on users, tax returns, and states or jurisdictions.

Does UltraTax CS offer a free trial?

The official page offers a request-free-demo path; no self-serve free trial price was confirmed.

Who should use UltraTax CS?

Tax firms and professional preparers, especially those already considering Thomson Reuters tools.

Related Tools