Comparison · updated monthly
TurboTax is the default for US-domestic filers. For expats it routes you to TurboTax Live (a CPA) — not the self-serve product.
TurboTax dominates US-domestic filing but explicitly recommends TurboTax Live Full Service for expat returns with Form 2555, foreign brokerages, or PFICs. That's a CPA-assisted product, not self-serve software. Atamatax is built specifically for the self-serve expat case.
Who TurboTax is for
TurboTax self-serve fits US-domiciled filers with W-2 income, a US brokerage 1099, and no FBAR. The moment you're abroad with a foreign brokerage, TurboTax sends you to Live.
Side-by-side
Self-serve expat coverage
- Atamatax Winner
- End-to-end (Form 1040, 2555, 1116, 8938, 8621, FBAR).
- TurboTax
- Recommends TurboTax Live for expats.
Pricing for expats
- Atamatax Winner
- $299 / $499 / $799 flat per return.
- TurboTax
- TurboTax Live Full Service ranges by complexity.
Form 8621 (PFIC)
- Atamatax Winner
- Built-in; up to 25 per return.
- TurboTax
- Not in self-serve TurboTax.
FBAR (FinCEN Form 114)
- Atamatax Winner
- Generated in the same flow.
- TurboTax
- Not part of TurboTax (FBAR goes to FinCEN, separate).
Treaty positions (Form 8833)
- Atamatax Winner
- Dedicated FR / UK / DE / CA / AU desks.
- TurboTax
- Available via TurboTax Live.
US-domestic complexity (rental, K-1, crypto)
- Atamatax
- Federal expat-baseline; some domestic schedules limited.
- TurboTax Winner
- Mature: every schedule, full integrations.
Integrated e-file
- Atamatax
- PDF package today; e-file Q3 2026 (EFIN pending).
- TurboTax Winner
- E-file across all 50 states.
State returns
- Atamatax
- Federal-only in v1.
- TurboTax 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 We update this page when their offering changes — tell us if it's out of date.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, TurboTax is the better tool — it does more, including state returns. If you're an expat with a foreign brokerage, TurboTax self-serve won't actually complete your return; you'd end up on TurboTax Live at CPA prices. Atamatax keeps the self-serve workflow intact for the expat 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.