HowardSoft Tax Preparer vs WISO Steuer
HowardSoft Tax Preparer
howardsoft.comWISO Steuer
buhl.deSide by side
| Figure | HowardSoft Tax Preparer | WISO Steuer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.08/mo | €3/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 6 |
| Spec score · Tax Software | 7.5 (#106) | 9.5 (#1) |
| Spec score · Personal Tax Software | 7.5 (#94) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Headquarters | Camas, Washington, United States | Neunkirchen, Germany |
| Intended users | HowardSoft presents Economy as intended for individuals and Standard or Premium as professional preparer packages. | The maker describes the product as suitable for employees, self-employed people, retirees, landlords, families, and beginners. |
| Platforms | HowardSoft describes Tax Preparer as Windows software and lists compatibility from Windows XP through Windows 10, including 32-bit and 64-bit versions. | WISO Steuer is available in a browser, as apps for iOS and Android, and as installable software for Windows and Mac; the browser version can be used on Linux. |
| Purpose | Tax Preparer is tax preparation software for professional preparers and individuals with complex returns. | WISO Steuer guides users through preparing and submitting German income tax returns. |
| Return limit | Economy allows up to 15 returns, while Standard and Premium allow unlimited returns. | One license allows users to submit up to five tax returns. |
| Support | HowardSoft lists telephone support at 1-858-454-0121 and email [email protected]. | The Vorteils-Abo includes a technical support hotline, and support requests can also be submitted through Buhl's ticket system. |
Plans
HowardSoft Tax Preparer
- Economy Level$229 a year
- Standard Level$329 a year
- Premium Level$469 a year
- Tax Preparer 1040 Economy Level$229 a year
- Tax Preparer 1040 Standard Level$329 a year
- Tax Preparer 1040 Premium Level$469 a year
WISO Steuer
- TestversionFree
- Vorteils-Abo€35.99 a year
- Einzelkauf€45.99, paid once
- TestversionFree
- Vorteils-Abo€35.99 a year
- Einzelkauf€45.99, paid once
In their own words
HowardSoft Tax Preparer
HowardSoft Tax Preparer has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
WISO Steuer
WISO Steuer guides people through preparing and filing German income tax returns. Users can photograph wage statements and receipts for automatic recognition, and the software updates an expected refund estimate as information is entered. With consent, it can retrieve tax data such as wage-tax information from the tax administration. SteuerGPT answers tax questions in natural language, while Tax Banking can retrieve and categorize transactions when connected to a finanzblick account. Completed returns are sent electronically to the tax office using the official ELSTER interface. One license allows up to five returns, and eligibility is limited to people with unlimited tax liability in Germany. The software is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. A free test version allows all functions to be tried, with payment requested when submitting a return. The Vorteils-Abo costs €35.99 a year and renews automatically each November; Einzelkauf costs €45.99 a month, billed as a one-time purchase for a tax year. Buhl says data is stored on servers in Germany and protected with HTTPS and AES-256 encryption in transit and storage.