Instead vs LEXinform

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.

LEXinform is a research database for current tax and business information used in professional advisory work. Its classic collection covers tax laws, administrative guidance, case law, pending proceedings, EU law, practical tools, and other tax materials. Comfort adds information on personnel management, commercial and civil law, EU law, and business administration. Cross-content search returns targeted results ordered by relevance, and the DATEV Wissensplattform can search LEXinform alongside partner databases from NWB and Haufe in one query. LEXinform plus adds LEXchat, which uses AI-assisted research across LEXinform comfort and DATEV Verlagsmedien comfort and provides references to sources. The product page says about 300,000 of roughly 600,000 documents are currently available to LEXchat. DATEV advises checking AI output for suitability, accuracy, and completeness and avoiding entry of sensitive personal or professionally protected data. Protected documents require DATEV SmartLogin or DATEV mIDentity/SmartCard. LEXinform comfort works online on smartphones and tablets as well as in the user's usual DATEV environment. A DATEV Basis-Angebot Zusatzmodul costs €14.80 a month; other listed product prices are not provided.