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Instead

instead.com

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Spec score 8.9 #1 of 30 in Small Business Tax Software

What it is

Instead is a web-based AI agent for tax research, planning, preparation, filing, and defense. It lists support for individual 1040, C corporation 1120, S corporation 1120-S, partnership 1065, and trust and estate 1041 returns. Users choose which workflows to run, and credits are consumed only when they start a task; the credit estimate is shown beforehand. Users can review the agent’s work before filing. Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box are live integrations with two-way sync, version tracking, and automatic folder mapping. Instead says it is IRS-approved and supports e-filing in 48 or more state jurisdictions, as well as local filing. Federal and state e-file and prior-year import are listed. The free Instead Platform plan is free and includes unlimited users, entities, e-file and print file, multi-entity support, and collaborators and viewers. Instead Agent is billed per credit, with pricing dependent on volume and usage; purchased credits are valid for 12 months. The service lists a free trial, US-based customer support, and 24/7 support, with email responses within 24 business hours.

Spec sheet

What it does
Instead is an AI tax platform that coordinates research, planning, preparation, filing and defense in one system.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Product
Instead describes itself as an AI agent for tax research, planning, preparation, filing, and defense.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Audience
The product is presented for CPA firms, tax preparers, corporate tax teams, family offices, businesses, and high net worth individuals.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Integrations
Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box are listed as live integrations with two-way sync, version tracking, and automatic folder mapping.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Support
Terms state that standard support may use in-product help, websites, chat, email, video, phone and online communities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Headquarters
San Francisco, California, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · instead.com
Agent control
Users choose which workflows to run, and the agent consumes credits only when they initiate a task.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
AI agent
Each client receives a dedicated agent that keeps context across entities, workflows and firm operations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
API availability
An independent API audit found no public API, developer portal, documented endpoints, sandbox, authentication method or client libraries; api.instead.com returned 404 when checked in September 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · supergood.ai
Company profile
LinkedIn lists Instead as a privately held software-development company founded in 2023, headquartered in San Francisco and employing 51–200 people.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Corvee relationship
Instead states that Corvee is now part of the Instead family, with existing Corvee accounts, data, workflows and pricing retained.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Credit estimate
The pricing FAQ says the credit estimate is shown before a workflow runs.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Credit validity
Purchased credits remain valid for 12 months from the purchase date.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Document extraction
Users can upload returns, statements and transcripts for automated reading, extraction and document-referenced insights.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
E-filing
Instead says it is IRS-approved and supports filing in 48 or more state jurisdictions, with local filing supported.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
E-filing coverage
Instead states that it is IRS approved and supports electronic filing across more than 48 state jurisdictions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Integration connection methods
Services can be connected through OAuth or API keys, with webhook notifications and automatic folder mapping.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Integration roadmap
The roadmap lists Dropbox, TaxDome, Karbon, Canopy, Xero, QuickBooks Online, Bloomberg Tax, Plaid and SmartVault.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
License and self-hosting
Instead's terms prohibit copying, modifying, reverse engineering or creating derivative works of its services and technology, indicating proprietary hosted software rather than open-source or self-hosted code.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Limit: delivery and refunds
A Trustpilot reviewer said a prepaid contract for 125 returns produced only 17 and that a refund for the undelivered returns was refused.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Limit: migration and budgeting
Agent Finder cautioned that unpublished credit pricing complicates forecasting and that migrating existing client files requires significant effort.Read 15 Oct 2026 · agent-finder.co
Limit: pricing transparency
Trustpilot reviewers said the free messaging was misleading because filing required paid AI credits, and one reviewer said a demo quoted a $25,000 annual package.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Limit: resolution coverage
A Trustpilot reviewer reported that the resolution functionality could not pull transcripts, prepare back-tax returns or handle intake.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Limit: review verification
Trustburn marks the business information as unverified and says the company did not reply to negative reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustburn.com
Live integrations
Google Drive, OneDrive and Box integrations are listed as live, with two-way sync, version tracking and automatic folder mapping.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Multi-entity support
Users can link individual, S-corporation, C-corporation, partnership and trust entities to optimize the combined tax picture.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Notable news: Skylark investment
On March 25, 2026, Instead announced a strategic investment from Skylark Partners and said its AI automated more than 90% of tax preparation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · globenewswire.com
Planned entity types
The pricing FAQ says estate tax 706, gift tax 709, and exempt organization 990 support are planned.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Planned integrations
Dropbox, TaxDome, Karbon, Canopy, Xero, QuickBooks Online, Bloomberg Tax, Plaid, and SmartVault are shown as coming soon.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Praise: broad tax coverage
Agent Finder praised Instead's IRS, 48-state and city approvals plus one workflow spanning research, planning, preparation, filing and defense.Read 15 Oct 2026 · agent-finder.co
Praise: usability and support
Trustburn reviewers repeatedly described the software and website as easy to use, efficient and reliable, with responsive customer support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustburn.com
Privacy and compliance
Instead says it protects personal and business information with privacy procedures and aims to meet global, regional and industry compliance standards.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Rating on Agent Finder
7 out of 10 from the site's editorial review.Read 15 Oct 2026 · agent-finder.co
Rating on Glassdoor
4.3 out of 5 from 18 employee ratings, with 88% saying they would recommend the company.Read 15 Oct 2026 · glassdoor.co.in
Rating on Trustburn
4.1 out of 5 from 10 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustburn.com
Rating on Trustpilot
2.8 out of 5 from 3 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Reports and workpapers
A prompt can generate tax plans, entity workpapers, strategy memos and calculation-based reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Review before filing
The pricing page says users can review the agent's work before filing.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Security access controls
The security page describes role and permission controls at workspace, entity, tax-professional and taxpayer levels.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Security certification
The maker's careers page states that Instead is SOC 2 Type II certified.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Supported entity types
The platform supports individuals (1040), C corporations (1120), S corporations (1120-S), partnerships (1065), and trusts and estates (1041).Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Supported returns
The pricing page lists support for individual 1040, C corporation 1120, S corporation 1120-S, partnership 1065, and trust and estate 1041 returns.Read 3 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Tax research
The research feature answers complex and state-specific tax questions using more than 1,500 authoritative sources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Tax workflows
Workflows automate repetitive tasks across documents and can create tax files, snapshots and returns.Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com

Plans and prices

Instead Platform Free No credit card required Unlimited users · Unlimited entities · Unlimited e-file and print file · Multi-entity support · Collaborators and viewers Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com
Instead Agent $30, paid once Per credit; annual agreement required Tax research · Document extraction · Memos, plans and deliverables · Workflows and return preparation · Tax resolution Read 15 Oct 2026 · instead.com

Every Instead plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports five listed individual and entity return types.
  • Credit estimate appears before a workflow runs.
  • Users can review work before filing.
  • Live integrations include two-way sync and version tracking.
  • Free Platform plan includes unlimited users and entities.

Limits

  • Agent credit pricing depends on volume and usage.
  • Purchased credits are valid for 12 months.
  • Several planned integrations are not yet listed as live.

Who it suits

Instead is presented for CPA firms, tax preparers, corporate tax teams, family offices, businesses, and high net worth individuals. Its listed return types and integrations may suit teams handling multiple entity categories and documents across cloud drives.

Verdict

Instead combines tax workflows with return preparation, filing, and document integrations, while leaving workflow selection and review to users. Check the per-credit terms and confirm that the needed return types and live integrations fit your work.

Where Specifiction places it

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