Comparison · updated monthly
TaxAct is a low-cost option for US-domestic filers. It's not built for the expat forms you need once you're abroad.
TaxAct is a budget-friendly US tax product that genuinely undercuts the big names on price for straightforward domestic returns. But it's a US-domestic tool: the expat machinery — Form 2555, Form 1116, Form 8621 (PFIC) and the FBAR — isn't its focus. Atamatax is built specifically for the self-serve expat case.
Who TaxAct is for
TaxAct fits cost-conscious US-domiciled filers with W-2 income, a US brokerage 1099, and no foreign accounts. The moment you're abroad with a foreign brokerage, a foreign pension, or PFICs, it's the wrong tool.
Side-by-side
Price for a simple domestic return
- Atamatax
- Expat-focused; flat $299 / $499 / $799 per return.
- TaxAct Winner
- Among the cheaper US-domestic options.
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555)
- Atamatax Winner
- Built into the expat flow.
- TaxAct
- Not an expat product; 2555 support is limited.
Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116)
- Atamatax Winner
- Built-in, with the FEIE-vs-FTC decision guided.
- TaxAct
- Basic 1116 may be present but not expat-oriented.
Form 8621 (PFIC)
- Atamatax Winner
- Built-in; up to 25 per return.
- TaxAct
- Not supported.
FBAR (FinCEN Form 114)
- Atamatax Winner
- Generated in the same flow.
- TaxAct
- No FBAR workflow.
FATCA (Form 8938)
- Atamatax Winner
- Covered in the expat baseline.
- TaxAct
- Not an expat focus.
US-domestic complexity (rental, K-1, crypto)
- Atamatax
- Federal expat-baseline; some domestic schedules limited.
- TaxAct Winner
- Mature for domestic schedules.
Integrated e-file
- Atamatax
- PDF package today; e-file Q3 2026 (EFIN pending).
- TaxAct Winner
- E-file across all 50 states.
State returns
- Atamatax
- Federal-only in v1.
- TaxAct Winner
- 50 states.
The marked column indicates which product handles the feature more completely as of June 2026. We update this page when their offering changes — tell us if it's out of date.
Bottom line
If you're a US-domiciled filer on a budget, TaxAct is a reasonable, cheaper choice — it does more for domestic returns and files state. If you're an expat with a foreign brokerage, foreign pension, or PFICs, TaxAct simply doesn't carry the forms (2555/1116/8621/FBAR) you need. Atamatax is built for that case.
Try it free
The draft is always free. You only pay when you finalise.
Start the wizard, see your real numbers, and decide from there.