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UltraTax CS

Thomson Reuters' Windows desktop tax software for CPA firms and tax practices, covering 1040 to 990 returns. Pricing is quote-based.

Our take: UltraTax CS is built for firms that file many return types and want one vendor for tax, accounting and practice management.

Best forCPA firms on CS Suite
ReviewedPricing: Paid
6.2 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try UltraTaxQuote-based; per-return pricing available

UltraTax CS is Thomson Reuters' professional tax preparation software for accounting firms, covering returns from 1040 to 990 and 5500 with state and local programs. It runs on Windows or through Thomson Reuters' hosted Virtual Office CS. There is no public price: Thomson Reuters quotes by users, returns and states, and offers per-return pricing.

The bottom line

A strong fit for firms already on Thomson Reuters tools; get a written quote before you commit.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isThomson Reuters' Windows desktop tax preparation program for accounting firms, sold inside the CS Professional Suite.
Our takeUltraTax CS is built for firms that file many return types and want one vendor for tax, accounting and practice management.
Its return coverage and data sharing between related returns are its strengths. The weak spot is buying it: there is no public price, the per-return fee schedule sits inside the software, and the desktop edition needs Windows. Ask for a quote that covers every entity and state you file.
Why we rate itIt covers a long list of federal, state and local returns and links closely with Thomson Reuters' practice tools.
The catchNo published prices, and the desktop edition is Windows-only.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • CPA firms preparing many business and multistate returns
  • Firms using Accounting CS, Practice CS or Onvio
  • Practices that want per-return pricing for rare entity types
Not good for
  • Buyers who want a public price list before talking to sales
  • Mac-only offices that do not want hosting
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Weeks: request a demo and quote, license the entities and states you need, install on Windows or set up Virtual Office CS, then convert prior-year data.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Cost grows with users, return volume and states; firms that exceed their per-return budget may need an unlimited license for that entity.
  3. Walled garden
    Medium: the deepest integrations are with other Thomson Reuters products.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, try it on the official site.
Try UltraTax

How UltraTax CS is priced

OptionPriceHow it works
Unlimited licensesQuote-basedPriced by number of users, tax returns and states
Per-Return Pricing (PRP)Per-return fee (not published online)Pay for each return not covered by an unlimited license; PRP codes billed monthly
Virtual Office CS hostingQuote-basedThomson Reuters-hosted access through Citrix

From Thomson Reuters' UltraTax CS product page and help pages, checked 4 October 2026. No dollar prices are published.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does UltraTax CS cost?

Thomson Reuters does not publish a price. Its product page says custom pricing is based on the number of users, tax returns and states, so you need a quote from sales (checked 4 October 2026). Figures on third-party sites are estimates, not vendor prices.

Does UltraTax CS have pay-per-return pricing?

Yes. Per-Return Pricing (PRP) lets you pay a fee for each return not covered by an unlimited license. You download a PRP code before you can view, print or file that return, and PRP codes are billed monthly. The fee schedule is inside UltraTax CS under Utilities, CS Connect (checked 4 October 2026).

What is UltraTax CS?

It is Thomson Reuters' professional tax preparation software for accounting firms. It handles individual, corporate, partnership, fiduciary, estate, gift, exempt-organization and benefit-plan returns, with state and local programs and e-filing, and is part of the CS Professional Suite.

Is there a free trial of UltraTax CS?

Thomson Reuters advertises a free customized demo, booked through a form on its website, rather than a free trial.

What do I need to run UltraTax CS?

Thomson Reuters lists Windows 11 or Windows Server 2016 to 2025, a 64-bit 2 GHz processor, at least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB or more recommended), about 2.25 GB of disk space and a steady broadband connection. A hosted version, Virtual Office CS, is also available.

How can I contact UltraTax CS support?

Thomson Reuters offers phone, email and chat support plus a 24-hour online help center for UltraTax CS. Conversion Gems is a review site; use the contact page at tax.thomsonreuters.com/en/products/ultratax-cs/contact for help with your account.

UltraTax CS alternatives

Other professional tax software to compare:

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Sources checked October 4, 2026: UltraTax CS product page, UltraTax CS features, UltraTax CS demo request, Per-Return Pricing overview, UltraTax CS system requirements, Virtual Office CS requirements.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#UltraTaxCS#TaxSoftware#ThomsonReuters

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