The burden of a company filing 15 information returns compared to an accounting firm filing 1500 returns is a vastly different. Tax software prices do not always reflect the difference.
Another problem is that many companies are heavily dependent on the seasons to prepare their tax returns. For example small businesses may utilize its software to file often during a certain time duration, but it is not used throughout the year.
This raises a critical problem with purchasing. Should businesses pay on a continuous basis for access, or should its software costs be in line with the amount it files?
TaxFormHero follows the second strategy with per-form pricing instead than subscription fees, signup costs or seat licenses.
Begin with your current filing volume
A comparison of platforms solely on their advertised prices can be misleading. Compare the number of returns you are expected to file, and the type of services you will require.
TaxFormHero’s published pricing starts at $1.99 for each form. The price per form drops with the increase in volume, and reaches $0.45 after 1,000 forms. Custom rates are offered to organizations that file large volumes.
If you’re a frequent filing, there isn’t a subscription that you can cancel at the end of filing season. If the CPA is handling many clients, he/ she does not need to purchase seat licenses for each client separately as more staff is required to help with the process.
Optional Services should be Optional
Not all filers need the same type of services.
A company may be comfortable with the process currently in place of downloading copies of the recipient’s copy, and then dispersing copies to them. Some businesses may prefer to allow the service provider take care of delivery.
With TaxFormHero’s 1099 e-filing platform, recipient copies can be downloaded free. Pay-for-services that include electronic recipient delivery along with print-and-mail and TIN verification. The verification of TINs is an extra service.
This modular approach enables businesses to separate the expense of filing and the expense of other services, rather than spending money on features they might not need.
The scale of the problem is also a challenge for companies
When filing additional documents, cost isn’t the only thing to be considered.
An accountant who is working with multiple businesses must keep their separate EINs in order without having to maintain an unattractive collection of different accounts. TaxFormHero lets you manage multiple payer entities using the same login. It also supports bulk imports by using Excel or CSV.
In keeping the distinction between the payer and record and the W-9 collection, a more comprehensive solution for 1099 filing and W-9 collections should reduce repetitive administrative workload. If you are a professional who handles a lot of returns, importing data organized in a way that is logical can be more convenient than entering specific forms.
Cost discussion should also include security and compliance
The cheapest method of filing may not be the most economical if it involves additional administrative tasks or if it doesn’t have the capabilities the company requires.
IRS-approved, TaxFormHero offers electronic filing for 1099s, W-2s and other informational returns. The company states that it employs 256-bit encryption at rest and during transport, and offers two-factor verification. It reports completing an independent SOC 2 Type I audit to meet the Security trust services criteria in October 2025.
The business should look at these security and operational concerns in conjunction with the cost per return.
Buy to Use the Filing Machine You Have
Software economics is not the same for small companies accounting firms, small and large corporations.
The most effective calculation will take into consideration the volume of filings, the number of organizations that pay for data entry, the workload of data entry and requirements for delivery to recipients need to be verified, as well as security expectations together.
Software does not have to be a monthly expense for periodic compliance work. The cost of a pay-per-form structure can fluctuate in line with the amount that is submitted, making budgeting more efficient.