The best tax planning software automates planning workflows and creates client-ready plans. It should have the right strategy depth, automation, and integrations for an accounting firm's existing tech stack.
We built this guide to help you find the right fit. Below, see the strengths, limitations, and best-use cases of 6 tax planning software in Australia in 2026, as well as a guide on how to choose the right one.
Key takeaways
- Depth of strategy library should match client needs: Look for a library that covers trusts, Division 7A, superannuation, capital gains, and business structures.
- Consider how your firm delivers tax planning: Firms that run occasional planning may only need scenario modelling, while firms selling planning as a paid service need client-ready reports, repeatable workflows, and a strategy library.
- Integrations are crucial: The right tool connects to your ledger, tax software, and practice management system, reducing manual data entry and errors between them.
- Stay updated with Australian tax law: Check how the provider updates its strategies and calculations after ATO changes, and whether the software is designed for the Australian market.
- Compare pricing by usage: Costs can vary by users, clients, modules, and add-ons, so test the model against your firm's size and expected growth.
What features to look for in tax planning tools
When comparing tax planning software, take note of these features:
- Strategy library depth
- Scenario modelling and auto-optimisation
- Client-ready reporting
- Integrations
- Tax compliance accuracy
- Support
- Pricing
You know you’ve found the right one when the software meets your firm’s needs, works well with your current systems, is easy for your team to use, and delivers clear value for the cost.
Strategy library depth
How many tax planning strategies does the software cover? Are these strategies included important to you and your client mix? Look for libraries that cover trusts, Division 7A, superannuation, capital gains, and business structures.
Scenario modelling and auto-optimisation
Can you model and compare strategies? Good software lets you play out different scenarios and automatically identify or optimise strategies, even at scale.
Client-ready reporting
Can you turn analysis into a clear report or advice document? This feature can save your team time and effort spent manually recreating calculations and formatting client reports.
Integrations
Does it integrate with your current tech stack? Picking the option with the right integrations can help reduce your team’s manual data entry and double-handling when moving between systems.
Tax compliance accuracy
Does it reflect current Australian tax rules? Given the many recent ATO changes, check how the provider updates its strategies, calculations, and tax content. Also, check whether the software is designed for the Australian market.
Support
Does the provider offer help beyond the software itself? Check whether the provider offers training, implementation support, and ongoing assistance.
Pricing
How much does the software cost? And what is the pricing model? Take note that pricing may change depending on users, clients, features, or modules.
Software comparison at a glance
Below are 6 tax planning tools most commonly used by accountants in Australia. Some are dedicated tax planning software; others are accounting software with tax planning features.
| Software | Best for | Strategy library | Automation | Integrations | Pricing |
| ChangeGPS TaxPlan | Scaling tax planning services | 90+ specialist strategies | Automated recommendations, trust distribution optimisation, and scenarios | XPM, APS, Access Handisoft | From A$688/month excl. GST (10 seats, 12-month term) |
| TaxFitness | Building tax planning into broader advisory | 250+ tax strategies | Automated tax planning and scenario modelling | Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks | A$1,320/year incl. GST |
| Insight Longview Tax | Complex tax functions | No dedicated library | Enterprise automation for tax processes | 200+ ERP/EPM systems | Contact vendor |
| MYOB Accountants Enterprise | Larger firms using MYOB | No dedicated library | What-if scenario modelling | MYOB ecosystem | Contact vendor |
| CCH iFirm Tax | Compliance-focused firms | No dedicated library | Automated tax workflows | CCH iFirm, Xero, MYOB, APS, Reckon, SmartDocs, and others | Contact vendor |
| Access HandiSoft | Firms already using HandiSoft | No dedicated library | Automated tax and compliance workflows | HandiSoft suite | Contact vendor |
Information is accurate at the time of writing.
The best tax planning tools for Australian accountants
1. ChangeGPS TaxPlan
ChangeGPS is an Australian-built, AI-powered modular software designed for scaling tax advisory, practice, and compliance. Since it's modular, you’re free to choose which capabilities to add to your system. TaxPlan is one of 17 modules, designed to help you automate and standardise tax planning across your teams and client base.
Strengths
- 90+ Australian tax strategies: Gives you a library of deep strategy advice points focused on the most common, heavy-hitting structural and entity strategies. These include strategies for Division 7A, trust distributions, S100A, and PCG 2021/4, designed to protect your firm from accidentally giving risky tax advice.
- Trust distribution optimisation: Auto-optimises trust distributions to help you identify potential tax outcomes across several distribution options.
- Scenario comparison: Models different tax planning scenarios and compares their likely outcomes, so it’s easier to assess different strategies before discussing them with your client.
- Client-ready reports: Turns planning results into reports that help you explain recommendations and outcomes clearly to clients, without you having to create each report from scratch.
- Practice integration: Works with XPM, Handisoft, or APS.
Limitations
TaxPlan focuses on tax planning rather than providing the full range of accounting, compliance, and practice management functionality in one product. If you want those capabilities, you need to add other ChangeGPS products or use complementary software.
Best for
TaxPlan is ideal for accounting firms that already provide tax planning or want to make it a more structured, repeatable service. You can standardise the delivery of tax planning across your team and client base.
It’s also good for scaling firms. Since TaxPlan is modular, you get to pay for features you actually need, while giving your systems room to grow as your practice expands.
2. TaxFitness
TaxFitness combines tax planning, business benchmarking, and advisory. It lets you use client financial data for tax planning and business advisory.
Strengths
- Business benchmarking: Compares your client’s performance against the top 20% of their industry to identify where they can improve profitability, pricing, and overheads.
- Tax strategy library: Gives you 250+ tax strategies for greater variety.
- Client-ready reports: Generates reports automatically, so you don’t have to create them manually.
- Practice integration: Works with Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks.
Limitations
TaxFitness functionalities may be more than smaller accounting firms need. Check your service line against the features provided in this software to ensure you’re not getting something that’ll sit mostly unused.
Best for
TaxFitness is suited for firms that want to build tax planning into a wider advisory service. Its combination of tax strategies, business benchmarking, and advisory tools can help you identify tax and wider business improvement opportunities.
3. Insight Longview Tax
Insight Longview Tax is an enterprise tax management platform covering tax provisioning, reporting, forecasting, and tax management.
Strengths
- Enterprise automation: Helps larger tax teams reduce manual work and support more frequent reporting and forecasting.
- Multi-entity management: Supports tax work across multiple entities and jurisdictions.
- Broad tax management: Covers tax provisioning, reporting, forecasting, transfer pricing, and other tax functions within one platform.
- Complex integrations: Connects with 200+ ERP and EPM systems across complex technology environments.
Limitations
Longview Tax delivers tax management rather than dedicated client tax planning. Its enterprise focus may also be more than smaller accounting firms need.
Best for
Longview Tax is ideal for larger organisations that need broad tax management, strong automation, and extensive system integrations, rather than firms looking for dedicated tax planning.
4. MYOB Accountants Enterprise
MYOB Accountants Enterprise combines compliance, accounting, practice management, and tax planning functionality within the MYOB ecosystem.
Strengths
- MYOB-native workflow: Keeps tax and planning within the MYOB ecosystems
- All-in-one platform: Combines tax, accounting, document management, and practice management in one system.
- Scenario planning: “What if” functionality lets you model different tax outcomes and compare scenarios.
Limitations
Tax planning is just one element of its accounting and compliance features, not the main focus. It’s not ideal for firms looking for specialist tax planning tools.
Best for
MYOB Accountants Enterprise suits large firms that want tax planning within the MYOB ecosystem.
5. CCH iFirm Tax
CCH iFirm Tax is primarily a tax compliance platform. Its wider CCH iFirm research tools also include tax planning guidance.
Strengths
- Tax research: Offers tax guides, examples, calculators, checklists, and other resources to help you answer tax questions.
- Tax preparation and lodgement: Supports a wide range of tax tasks, helping you manage returns and compliance.
- Practice integration: Connects with other CCH iFirm, Xero, MYOB, SmartDocs, APS, Reckon, ATOmate, and FeeSynergy.
Limitations
CCH iFirm Tax is primarily used for tax compliance, rather than dedicated tax planning. You may need additional tools if you’re after deeper tax planning work.
Best for
CCH iFirm Tax is best suited to firms that prioritise tax compliance, research, and an integrated practice workflow, rather than those wanting specialist tax planning tools.
6. HandiSoft
HandiSoft covers tax preparation, BAS work, accounting, and practice management. It also includes some planning tools, such as tax estimates and beneficiary tax summaries.
Strengths
- Planning support: Provides tax estimates and beneficiary tax summaries that support tax planning discussions.
- Tax and BAS support: Supports tax preparation and BAS-related work for Australian practices.
- Broad practice functionality: Combines accounting, tax, and practice tools, so you can manage your workflow in one place.
- Integrated workflow: Connects tax and accounting tasks within the HandiSoft suite.
Limitations
HandiSoft covers tax and accounting broadly. If your firm runs regular tax planning as a service, you will likely need a dedicated tool alongside it.
Best for
HandiSoft is suited for firms already on HandiSoft that want to keep tax and accounting within a native system, and need only light tax planning tools.
How to choose the right tool for your practice
Check that the software’s strategy depth, automation, and integrations match your practice’s needs. Once you’ve got a shortlist, see how each option fits your client mix, current systems, and preferred pricing.
Match the tool to your client mix
Consider the types of clients you advise and how much tax planning they need. Do your clients need:
- Mostly compliance with occasional planning: A tax platform with scenario or “what if” functionality may be enough.
- Regular tax planning: Look for deeper strategy libraries, automated calculations, and scenario comparison.
- Tax planning as a paid advisory service: Client-ready reports, repeatable workflows, and a strategy library become important. If you’re curious what kind of strategies you may find in a strategy library, see our Tax Planning Strategies Guide for examples.
Check your current tech stack
The right tax planning software in Australia connects to your accounting ledger, tax software, and practice management system. Choosing the right tool will help data move quickly between systems, saving you time and money that would otherwise be lost to manual work and mistakes.
While you’re already reviewing your wider practice technology stack, you may want to evaluate your practice management software as well, to find something that will work seamlessly with tax and compliance tools.
Check the pricing model
When considering tax planning software pricing, compare how each tool charges, considering users, clients, modules, and add-ons. Check that the pricing structure fits your practice size and expected usage, as well as how costs may change as your firm grows.
Choosing the best tax planning software for your firm
There is no top pick here. The best tax planning software for your firm will depend on fit. Pick a tax planning software that matches the strategy depth you need, automation you want, and integrations that work with your client mix and current systems.
And remember, price isn't just about what's on the label. You should compare pricing against your firm's current size, expected growth, and time saved against additional planning work. Speak to our experts to find out if TaxPlan is the right fit for your firm.
FAQ
Tax planning software
What is the best tax planning software for accountants?
The best tax planning software depends on your firm’s strategy depth, automation, and integration needs. Once you’ve narrowed your options, find the one best aligned with your client mix, tech stack, and preferred pricing model.
How much does tax planning software cost?
From around $1,320 a year for TaxFitness to $688 a month for TaxPlan Pro (10 seats), enterprise tools are usually quote-based. Prices will vary based on provider, features, users, and subscription structure. Always discuss with the vendor for a package that fits your firm best.
Does tax planning software work for small firms?
Yes. There’s tax planning software built for small firms and medium-sized firms. We recommend finding software with features you’ll actually use, and software that’s scalable.
Can tax planning software integrate with my practice management system?
Yes, if the software has integrations for your current system. For example, CCH iFirm Tax connects with Xero and MYOB, while ChangeGPS TaxPlan connects with XPM and APS.
Is tax planning software worth it?
Yes, if it saves enough staff time or helps you deliver enough additional tax planning work to justify the cost. Consider how much manual work it replaces, how often your team will use it, and whether the time saved or additional revenue outweighs the software cost.
What's the difference between tax planning and compliance software?
Tax planning software helps accountants map strategies and model scenarios for their clients before they act to optimise their tax returns. Compliance software handles the required work tasks of preparing and lodging tax returns in accordance with tax rules and regulations.
What features in tax planning software matter most for small firms?
For small firms, features that matter most in tax planning software include modular and scalable pricing, so you only pay for the features you need. Small firms will also benefit from automation and scenario comparisons, which reduce the time lean teams spend on a plan, as well as client-ready reporting and easy integration with the tools the firm already uses.