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
- Draft PDF package; no integrated e-file or transmission.
- 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 August 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 We update this page when their offering changes — tell us if it's out of date.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 on-screen draft is free. You pay when you generate the PDF package.
Start the wizard, see your real numbers, and decide from there.