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
| Feature | Atamatax | TurboTax |
|---|---|---|
| Self-serve expat coverage | End-to-end (Form 1040, 2555, 1116, 8938, 8621, FBAR). | Recommends TurboTax Live for expats. |
| Pricing for expats | $299 / $499 / $799 flat per return. | TurboTax Live Full Service ranges by complexity. |
| Form 8621 (PFIC) | Built-in; up to 25 per return. | Not in self-serve TurboTax. |
| FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) | Generated in the same flow. | Not part of TurboTax (FBAR goes to FinCEN, separate). |
| Treaty positions (Form 8833) | Dedicated FR / UK / DE / CA / AU desks. | Available via TurboTax Live. |
| US-domestic complexity (rental, K-1, crypto) | Federal expat-baseline; some domestic schedules limited. | Mature: every schedule, full integrations. |
| Integrated e-file | PDF package today; e-file Q3 2026 (EFIN pending). | E-file across all 50 states. |
| State returns | Federal-only in v1. | 50 states. |
Highlighted cell indicates which product handles the feature more completely as of May 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 We update this page when their offering changes — tell us if it's out of date.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.
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