Tax Shield
Tax Shield is a privately held U.S. software company that develops desktop and online tax preparation software for professional tax preparers and tax preparation businesses, monetized through subscription licensing and a per-return incentive program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Tax Shield does
Tax Shield is a privately held U.S. software company headquartered in Columbus, Georgia that develops desktop and online tax preparation software for professional tax preparers, enrolled agents, CPAs, and small tax preparation businesses operating in the United States. Its product portfolio centers on two core offerings — Tax Shield Desktop Software and Tax Shield Online Software — both built around real-time return processing, paperless electronic filing, and a Pro-forma feature that automatically carries W-2s, Schedule C's, 1099s, and other client documents across tax years. An add-on service, Audit Assist, provides amendment support and low-cost audit protection for end clients.
The company's revenue model combines subscription-based software licensing with an incentive program that pays tax preparers up to $130 per funded personal tax return, supported by a freemium first-year software offer used as the primary customer acquisition mechanism. Supplementary programs — Mentorship, Reseller, and Franchise — extend the company's reach into aspiring entrepreneurs starting tax preparation businesses, with the mentorship sign-up page citing an October 31, 2022 deadline. The software stack integrates with a partnership network of refund processors, audit-protection providers, and banking partners including TPG, Refund Advantage, Refundo, CADR+, Protection Plus, Latina Tax Pro, TFS, and River City Bank, enabling guaranteed bank approvals and refund-transfer services for preparer customers.
Tax Shield is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating in Central Georgia, holds no disclosed external venture or private equity funding, and operates as a bootstrapped private company serving a fragmented, long-tail base of U.S. tax professionals. The company's website shows active maintenance with content dated October 2023, alongside social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and a LinkedIn company page.
Tax Shield firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tax Shield
- Legal name
- Tax Shield
- Website
- https://taxshieldsoftware.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Tax Shield is a privately held U.S. software company that develops desktop and online tax preparation software for professional tax preparers and tax preparation businesses, monetized through subscription licensing and a per-return incentive program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tax Shield industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tax Preparation Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tax Return Filing, Processing & Assessment (BPAIADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tax Advisory & Compliance (BPAHABAB), Tax Planning & Personal Tax Optimization Tools (FSAGADAJ)
Keywords
Where Tax Shield is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tax Shield business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Software Licensing: Tax Shield Software licenses its tax preparation software to tax professionals. The company offers a free first year promotion as an incentive to attract new users, then charges for software access. Revenue is generated through software subscription fees paid by tax preparers who use the platform.
- Tax Shield Incentive Program: Pays tax professionals up to $130 per funded personal tax return for using their software. This creates a network effect where the company pays users to use their platform while generating revenue from tax preparation volume processed.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Year Promo - Software free for first year |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Tax Shield product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tax Shield designs, develops, and licenses tax preparation software for professional tax preparers and tax preparation businesses, delivered as both a desktop application and a web-based online product. The software provides real-time return processing, a Pro-forma feature that carries W-2s, Schedule C's, 1099s, and other documents over year-to-year, paperless electronic filing, and integrated refund and audit services through partner banks and tax service firms. The company monetizes primarily through software licensing (subscription) and an industry-leading incentive program that pays tax preparers up to $130 per funded personal tax return.
Product overview
Tax Shield is a tax preparation software company offering a unified product portfolio centered on two core tax preparation solutions: Desktop Software and Online Software. Both products provide real-time processing, paperless electronic filing, and a Pro-forma feature that carries W-2s, Schedule C's, 1099s, and other documents over from year to year. The company supplements its core software with Audit Assist (an add-on service providing audit protection and amendment assistance) and offers business development programs including Mentorship, Reseller, and Franchise opportunities for tax professionals looking to build their own tax preparation businesses. Video tutorials are included with software purchase for customer support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tax Shield Desktop Software
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to $130 back per funded personal tax return
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Tax Shield
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tax Shield technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Tax Shield partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- TPG (Tax Processing Group)coreIndustry partner providing refund processing and tax-related financial services. TPG is one of the primary industry partners that enables Tax Shield's guaranteed bank approval and refund services.
- Refund AdvantagecoreIndustry partner for refund processing services integrated with Tax Shield software.
- RefundocoreIndustry partner providing refund processing and financial services.
- TFS (Tax Financial Services)coreIndustry partner providing tax-related financial services and refund processing.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Tax Shield competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Drake Software: Drake Software sells desktop and online professional tax-preparation software to enrolled agents, CPAs, and independent preparers. It is one of Tax Shield's most direct competitors in the small-firm tax-prep software category.
- TaxAct Professional: TaxAct Professional offers tax-preparation software aimed at tax professionals and small firms, competing head-to-head with Tax Shield on price, ease of use, and form coverage for individual returns.
- TaxSlayer Pro: TaxSlayer Pro provides professional tax-prep software for enrolled agents, CPAs, and small tax businesses. Like Tax Shield, it targets independent preparers seeking an affordable, easy-to-use platform with bank-product integrations.
Broad incumbents
- Jackson Hewitt: Jackson Hewitt operates a national franchise-based tax-preparation business and sells related software tools. Its franchise structure and bank-product partnerships are conceptually similar to Tax Shield's reseller and franchise programs.
- Liberty Tax: Liberty Tax is a franchised tax-preparation brand with affiliated preparer software and training. Its franchise model and bank-product partnerships make it a comparable peer in distribution and channel strategy.
- H&R Block Premium & Business: H&R Block offers professional tax-prep software (H&R Block Premium, Business) and a large franchise network of preparers. It overlaps with Tax Shield's software-plus-franchise model and competes for the same small-firm and independent preparer customer.
- Intuit (ProConnect Tax Online / ProSeries / Lacerte): Intuit is the dominant professional tax-preparation software provider through ProConnect (cloud), ProSeries, and Lacerte, serving CPAs and tax firms across the US. Tax Shield competes for the same professional preparer segment with a much smaller footprint.
- Wolters Kluwer (CCH / ATX): Wolters Kluwer's CCH and ATX tax software lines serve mid-market and enterprise tax firms with deep form libraries and compliance features. Tax Shield competes at the lower end of the same professional tax-prep segment.
Emerging players
- 1040.com (TaxHawk): 1040.com offers low-cost online professional tax-preparation software for enrolled agents and small preparer firms. It overlaps with Tax Shield's online product and similar pricing tier.
- Money Pro (Money Software): Money Pro sells affordable professional tax-preparation software targeted at smaller practices. It competes with Tax Shield for price-sensitive tax professionals seeking straightforward return-prep workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tax Shield social profiles
Digital presenceTax Shield compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Tax Shield financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tax Shield leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Tax Shield funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tax Shield M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tax Shield
What does Tax Shield do?
Tax Shield designs, develops, and licenses tax preparation software for professional tax preparers and tax preparation businesses, delivered as both a desktop application and a web-based online product. The software provides real-time return processing, a Pro-forma feature that carries W-2s, Schedule C's, 1099s, and other documents over year-to-year, paperless electronic filing, and integrated refund and audit services through partner banks and tax service firms. The company monetizes primarily through software licensing (subscription) and an industry-leading incentive program that pays tax preparers up to $130 per funded personal tax return.
Is Tax Shield a public or private company?
Tax Shield is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tax Shield founded?
Tax Shield was founded in -1.
Where is Tax Shield based?
Tax Shield is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tax Shield make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing is the primary driver. The others are tax Shield Incentive Program.
Who are Tax Shield's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Drake Software, TaxAct Professional and TaxSlayer Pro. Broad incumbents are Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax, H&R Block Premium & Business, Intuit (ProConnect Tax Online / ProSeries / Lacerte) and Wolters Kluwer (CCH / ATX). Emerging players are 1040.com (TaxHawk) and Money Pro (Money Software).
Does Tax Shield have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tax Shield.
What industry is Tax Shield in?
Tax Shield's product category is Tax Preparation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIADAC, Tax Return Filing, Processing & Assessment, with a secondary code of BPAHABAB, Tax Advisory & Compliance. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.