Instead vs UpTax

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.

UpTax is web-based AI tax preparation software for U.S. CPA, EA, tax, and accounting firms, plus bookkeeping practices and family offices. It reads client documents, reconciles figures, and drafts review-ready returns. Supported forms are 1040, 1065, 1120, 1120S, 1041, and 990, with matching state filings across all 50 states. Firms can submit W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, brokerage statements, trial balances, and prior-year returns, including scans and photos. Return figures link to source documents, calculations, and reasoning; prior-year comparisons flag unexpected changes. Preparer, reviewer, and partner workflows record statuses, notes, and an audit trail. A licensed professional must approve every return, and the AI does not file independently. The homepage says approved returns are e-filed to the IRS and states, with acknowledgements tracked to acceptance. UpTax states that data is encrypted, firm data is isolated, and client data is not used to train shared models. The first two returns are free; paid pricing is available on request.