GITNUXSOFTWARE REVIEW
Finance Financial ServicesTop 8 Best Gift Tax Software of 2026
Compare gift tax software options and tradeoffs for preparing returns, with reviews covering tools like Drake Tax and UltraTax CS.
How we ranked these tools
Vendors set the topic, but our editors set the inclusion criteria and the evaluation framework before research starts.
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Framework: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
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Drake Tax is the best pick for practices preparing occasional gift returns alongside client income work because its installed desktop suite combines gift, estate, fiduciary, and individual modules with shared client records, while UltraTax CS is the better fit for offices already in Thomson Reuters workflows thanks to its Form 709 workpapers and document handling inside the same engagement lifecycle.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
Drake Tax
Drake Tax combines gift, estate, fiduciary, and individual return modules in one installed tax-preparation suite.
Best for: Fits when tax practices need desktop preparation for occasional gift returns alongside client income filings.
UltraTax CS
Editor pickUltraTax CS ties gift tax preparation workpapers and document handling into the same Thomson Reuters tax engagement lifecycle.
Best for: Fits when tax offices already run Thomson Reuters workflows and need governed Form 709 preparation.
TaxAct Professional
Editor pickShared professional return workflow spanning individual, business, and fiduciary client engagements.
Best for: Fits when preparers need gift filings alongside recurring individual, business, and fiduciary returns.
Comparison Table
Drake Tax
SMBDrake Tax supports professional preparation of federal and state tax returns.
Drake Tax combines gift, estate, fiduciary, and individual return modules in one installed tax-preparation suite.
Small and midsize firms can keep donor records within the same installed environment used for related tax engagements. Drake Tax provides calculation diagnostics, prior-year data carryforward, worksheet-driven entry, and printable filing output. These controls reduce repeated data entry for recurring family, trust, and estate clients.
The desktop architecture limits browser-based collaboration and does not provide a documented public API for automated transfer-data imports. Gift returns may also require printing and separate mailing outside income-return e-filing workflows. Drake Tax fits offices that prioritize broad tax-form coverage over cloud collaboration and external automation.
The application is most useful when one tax practice manages income, fiduciary, estate, and gift filings for connected clients. Its shared records reduce application handoffs, while manual appraisal documentation remains necessary for complex assets.
- +Shared client records connect gift work with individual, estate, and fiduciary returns.
- +Prior-year carryforward reduces repeated entry for recurring family and trust engagements.
- +Built-in diagnostics identify incomplete or inconsistent return data before output.
- +Desktop installation supports firms controlling local tax preparation workflows.
- –No documented public API supports automated imports from wealth-management or valuation systems.
- –Gift returns may require print-and-mail handling outside income-return e-filing.
- –Complex asset valuations still depend on source appraisals and manual attachments.
- –Desktop deployment limits browser-based collaboration across distributed offices.
Private client tax firms
Recurring family transfer filings
Less repeated client entry
Fiduciary tax practices
Connected trust and donor engagements
Fewer application handoffs
Show 1 more scenario
Local tax offices
Managed workstation preparation
Controlled local processing
Local installation supports firms that keep tax files and processing within managed office systems.
Best for: Fits when tax practices need desktop preparation for occasional gift returns alongside client income filings.
UltraTax CS
enterpriseUltraTax CS prepares professional tax returns, including federal gift tax filings.
UltraTax CS ties gift tax preparation workpapers and document handling into the same Thomson Reuters tax engagement lifecycle.
UltraTax CS supports gift tax return preparation centered on Form 709 input capture and return output steps.
It reduces operational friction for firms already standardized on Thomson Reuters tax software because the gift workflow reuses the same engagement processes.
It supports professional review and workpaper-centric document handling that can support internally consistent preparation records.
- +Form 709 workflow integration reduces rekeying across related tax engagements
- +Workpaper and document handling supports audit-facing preparation trails
- +Consistent input capture supports complex multi-donor and multi-donee scenarios
- +Return output aligns with professional tax office review and signoff steps
- –Gift-specific configurations can require careful preprocessing for accurate computations
- –UI navigation for niche transfer types is slower than purpose-built gift tools
- –Third-party data import for valuation details is limited outside Thomson Reuters flows
- –Collaboration depends on the surrounding tax office setup and document conventions
Best for: Fits when tax offices already run Thomson Reuters workflows and need governed Form 709 preparation.
TaxAct Professional
SMBTaxAct Professional provides tax preparation software for accounting and tax practices.
Shared professional return workflow spanning individual, business, and fiduciary client engagements.
TaxAct Professional places gift tax work beside individual, business, and fiduciary return preparation. Client records and diagnostic checks reduce duplicate entry across related engagements. Form 709 support gives professional preparers a familiar federal return workflow for standard donor filings.
The tradeoff is limited specialized modeling for complex transfers. Valuation discounts, GST allocation, and unusual supporting documentation require more manual research and external workpapers. A CPA firm preparing a donor's income return and related gift return can keep both engagements within one professional tax workflow.
- +Form 709 preparation sits alongside individual, business, and fiduciary returns.
- +Federal and state form coverage supports broader client engagements.
- +Built-in diagnostics flag incomplete or inconsistent return entries.
- +Electronic filing workflow supports applicable professional return submissions.
- –No dedicated estate-and-gift modeling environment.
- –Complex valuation discounts require external appraisals and manual inputs.
- –Spouse consent documentation needs disciplined file management.
- –Gift-specific automation is thinner than specialist applications.
Mixed-practice tax preparers
Add occasional donor filings
Fewer separate workflows
CPA firm teams
Coordinate related client returns
More consistent client handling
Show 1 more scenario
Small tax practices
Prepare standard donor filings
Faster routine preparation
Routine gifts fit a familiar interview and form workflow, while unusual transfers require manual review.
Best for: Fits when preparers need gift filings alongside recurring individual, business, and fiduciary returns.
ProConnect Tax Online
SMBCloud-based professional tax software supporting Form 709 gift tax returns.
Step-by-step Form 709 input prompts that tie valuation attachment uploads to the specific gift entries during preparation.
ProConnect Tax Online prepares gift tax return preparation workflows for Form 709, including support for cumulative taxable gifts calculations and carryforward of prior taxable gifts. The software guides data entry for donor and donee relationship tracking and helps collect key spousal consent documentation used for gift-splitting elections.
- +Form 709 workflow guidance keeps input fields aligned to gift tax return e-filing output
- +Supports cumulative taxable gifts logic for taxable gifts computation across multiple gifting events
- +Captures valuation attachments used for closely held business interests and fractional interests
- +Generates a preparation trail that maps input to supporting documentation
- –Gift-splitting election steps require careful review of spouse consent documentation fields
- –Limited automation for recurring donor scenarios can increase repeated entry
- –Appraisal attachment handling adds manual work when documentation is incomplete
- –Amended gift tax returns require re-validating previously entered gift allocation details
Best for: Fits when tax staff need structured Form 709 preparation with recurring workpaper and attachment capture.
TaxSlayer Pro
SMBProfessional tax preparation software supporting individual returns including gift tax filings.
Dual desktop and browser-based professional workflows allow firms to prepare and manage returns across different operating environments.
TaxSlayer Pro gives professional preparers access to federal forms, state returns, diagnostics, calculation worksheets, client records, and electronic filing controls. Desktop and ProWeb deployment options support firms with different workstation and access requirements. The surrounding tax workflow helps maintain client data and return status alongside gift tax preparation.
- +Supports professional Form 709 preparation and electronic filing workflows
- +Desktop and ProWeb deployment options serve different firm environments
- +Built-in diagnostics help identify return errors before submission
- +Client management connects gift tax work with broader tax engagements
- –Complex asset valuation still requires substantial preparer judgment
- –No dedicated estate-planning modeling environment
- –Advanced appraisal documentation may require external file management
- –Professional configuration can exceed the needs of occasional filers
Small tax practices
Recurring family wealth engagements
Consolidated engagement handling
Estate tax specialists
Annual taxable gift reporting
More consistent preparation
Show 2 more scenarios
Distributed tax teams
Browser-based return preparation
Flexible staff access
ProWeb gives authorized preparers browser access while firms retain centralized return management.
High-volume preparers
Mixed return production
Higher workflow continuity
Desktop and web workflows support gift tax assignments within broader seasonal return production.
Best for: Fits when tax practices need gift tax preparation integrated with recurring individual and business return work.
CCH Axcess Trust Tax
enterpriseCloud-based fiduciary tax software supporting estate and gift tax return preparation.
Calculation lineage that links gift computation figures to return outputs within the trust-oriented workpaper workflow.
CCH Axcess Trust Tax targets gift tax return preparation inside a broader trust and estate tax workflow rather than gift-only tooling. It focuses on tracking donor and donee relationships, prior taxable gifts, and cumulative computations needed for Form 709, including support for spousal consent documentation when gifts route through a spouse.
- +Trust and gift workflows share inputs, reducing rekeying across filings
- +Gift tax return outputs carry calculation lineage suitable for review
- +Prior taxable gifts and cumulative taxable gifts computations stay in sync
- +Donor and donee relationship tracking supports complex transfer fact patterns
- –Gift-only firms may find the trust-first navigation slower
- –Complex valuation attachments can require manual document assembly effort
- –Automation surface is narrower than tools built around pure API integrations
- –Admin governance features are less granular for role-specific return control
Best for: Fits when firms run trust and gift tax workflows together and need consistent calculation lineage for Form 709.
ONESOURCE Trust & Estate
enterpriseEnterprise trust and estate tax software with a standalone 709 gift tax module.
Integrated trust-account context that drives consistent schedule outputs for gift-related reporting across the same engagement workspace.
ONESOURCE Trust & Estate supports gift and estate tax work by linking trust and individual reporting workflows to a single tax preparation environment. The tool focuses on tax engagement workflow tasks like organizing source documents, producing return-ready workpapers, and managing edits across related schedules.
- +Ties trust and individual tax production steps to shared return logic
- +Produces organized workpapers that carry edits across related schedules
- +Supports multi-person drafting and review with role separation
- +Leverages Thomson Reuters tax content integration for consistent forms
- –User configuration is required to match client-specific workflow conventions
- –Gift-splitting election handling can require manual data validation steps
- –Automation depth for valuation attachments varies by entity and asset type
- –Amended return workflows can feel heavier than single-return preparation
Best for: Fits when tax teams need controlled collaboration across related trust and gift workpapers for Form 709 preparation.
NumberCruncher
vertical specialistNumberCruncher models estate and gift tax consequences for wealth transfer planning.
Election-oriented preparation that ties gift-splitting and spouse consent evidence to the filing package inputs.
NumberCruncher targets gift tax return preparation with workflows that map closely to Form 709 production steps.
- +Form 709 workflow guidance aligns computations with filing outputs
- +Gift-splitting and consent documentation steps reduce missed election elements
- +Prior taxable gift tracking supports cumulative taxable gifts calculations
- +Workpaper-style outputs keep valuation and attachment logic traceable
- –Automation depth depends heavily on how standardized the incoming data is
- –Limited visibility into automated decision rules for complex valuation scenarios
- –Batch handling for high transaction volumes is not geared for large teams
- –External integrations and API surface are not positioned as a core capability
Best for: Fits when a tax team needs repeatable gift-splitting and attachment-ready Form 709 preparation.
Conclusion
After evaluating 8 gift tax software, Drake Tax stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
How to Choose the Right Gift Tax Software
Gift tax software in this guide is built around Form 709 preparation workflows, cumulative taxable gifts computation, and package-ready outputs that connect gift entries to filing steps. The lineup covers TaxSlayer Pro, Drake Tax, TaxAct Professional, Bloomberg Tax Estate & Gift Tax, UltraTax CS, CCH Axcess Trust Tax, NumberCruncher, Lacerte Tax, ProConnect Tax Online, and ONESOURCE Trust & Estate.
Across these tools, the practical differences show up in how teams handle pro workflows versus desktop preparation, how much trust context is built into gift outputs, and how repeatable elections like gift-splitting and spouse consent evidence are. Automation and extensibility also diverge, with Drake Tax lacking a documented public API while TaxSlayer Pro offers both dual desktop and browser-based professional workflows for firms that run multiple operating environments.
Gift Tax Software for Form 709 preparation, gift histories, and filing-ready workpapers
Gift tax software supports gift tax return preparation by guiding gift data entry, linking calculations to return outputs, and generating the filing package components needed for Form 709. Lacerte Tax centers gift-history-driven computations to keep cumulative taxable gifts and remaining lifetime exemption synchronized during Form 709 preparation.
Teams also choose based on how the software ties gift work into broader tax engagements, such as TaxSlayer Pro connecting professional gift preparation to integrated electronic filing workflows across desktop and browser environments. Other tools go further into specialized workflows, including Bloomberg Tax Estate & Gift Tax with integrated GST exemption allocation that connects skip classification to return drafting and workpaper build steps.
What matters in Gift Tax Software for Form 709 and filing packages
Gift tax software succeeds when Form 709 preparation keeps gift entries tied to computed figures and generates workpapers that match the filing package workflow. The strongest tools also reduce rekeying by connecting related client and engagement context to gift-specific return outputs.
Form 709 workflow that connects inputs to outputs
TaxSlayer Pro connects professional Form 709 preparation to both desktop and browser-based professional workflows that support package-ready output generation. ProConnect Tax Online uses step-by-step Form 709 input prompts that tie valuation attachment uploads to specific gift entries for e-filing.
Cross-engagement context for reduced rekeying
Drake Tax ties shared client records across gift, estate, fiduciary, and individual modules to reduce repeated entry across recurring engagements. UltraTax CS links gift tax preparation workpapers and document handling into the same Thomson Reuters tax engagement lifecycle.
Support for gift elections and spouse consent evidence
NumberCruncher provides election-oriented preparation that ties gift-splitting and spouse consent evidence to filing package inputs. ProConnect Tax Online includes structured gift-splitting election steps that require careful review of spouse consent documentation fields.
GST and exemption allocation integration for GST-focused firms
Bloomberg Tax Estate & Gift Tax integrates GST exemption allocation workflow with skip classification and return drafting plus supporting workpapers. TaxSlayer Pro focuses on Form 709 professional workflows and does not include a dedicated estate-planning modeling environment.
Calculation lineage inside trust and gift workpapers
CCH Axcess Trust Tax links gift computation figures to return outputs within a trust-oriented workpaper workflow that carries calculation lineage into review. ONESOURCE Trust & Estate provides trust-account context that drives consistent schedule outputs for gift-related reporting in the same engagement workspace.
A decision framework for picking Gift Tax Software by workflow fit
Start by matching the software deployment and workflow shape to how the team prepares and files Form 709 returns. Then validate that the tool supports the specific election evidence and document assembly steps used in the practice’s gift process.
Match deployment and workspace style to day-to-day production
TaxSlayer Pro supports dual desktop and browser-based professional workflows that fit firms operating across different environments. Drake Tax and UltraTax CS fit teams that prepare gift work on an installed desktop workflow tied to broader modules.
Choose the product philosophy for cross-module client data entry
Drake Tax centralizes shared client records so gift work can reuse the same client data across individual, estate, and fiduciary return work. UltraTax CS and ONESOURCE Trust & Estate tie gift outputs to a governed engagement lifecycle or workspace to keep edits consistent across related schedules.
Confirm election handling aligns with the practice’s review and documentation process
If gift-splitting and spouse consent evidence must be repeatable, NumberCruncher focuses on election-oriented preparation that ties those elements into filing package inputs. If spouse consent data is captured through structured prompts, ProConnect Tax Online requires careful review in the gift-splitting election steps to avoid missing elements.
Validate the valuation workflow for discount cases and documentation attachments
Tools that guide Form 709 inputs still depend on preparer judgment when asset valuation is complex, and TaxSlayer Pro calls out valuation complexity that still requires substantial preparer judgment. Lacerte Tax uses gift-history-driven computations but still carries heavier setup for practices that want lightweight gift-only workflows.
Pick the specialized integration path when GST allocation or skip classification is in scope
Bloomberg Tax Estate & Gift Tax integrates GST exemption allocation workflow with skip classification and return drafting plus supporting workpapers. If the workflow scope is trust-first calculation lineage rather than GST allocation, CCH Axcess Trust Tax emphasizes calculation lineage inside trust-oriented workpapers.
Plan for repeat engagement speed using carryforward or prior-year inputs
Drake Tax reduces repeated entry for recurring family and trust engagements with prior-year carryforward. Lacerte Tax synchronizes gift history so cumulative taxable gifts and remaining lifetime exemption stay aligned during Form 709 preparation.
Who should use which Gift Tax Software workflow
Gift tax software selection depends on whether the practice treats gift work as an occasional add-on to broader returns or as a repeatable standalone process with heavy election and attachment work. Firms also differ on whether they want trust-first workpaper lineage, governed engagement lifecycle document handling, or built-in GST exemption allocation workflows.
Tax practices preparing occasional gift returns alongside recurring income work
Drake Tax supports desktop preparation for occasional gift returns alongside client income filings with shared client records. TaxAct Professional also places Form 709 preparation alongside individual, business, and fiduciary returns within a shared workflow.
Firms standardizing governance and document handling within an engagement lifecycle
UltraTax CS ties gift tax preparation workpapers and document handling into the Thomson Reuters tax engagement lifecycle. ONESOURCE Trust & Estate provides controlled collaboration in the same engagement workspace for trust and gift workpapers tied to consistent schedule outputs.
Teams focused on repeatable gift-splitting elections and spouse consent evidence capture
NumberCruncher is built around election-oriented preparation that includes spouse consent evidence and gift-splitting inputs in a repeatable package flow. ProConnect Tax Online uses structured Form 709 prompts that align valuation attachment uploads to gift entries and includes guided election steps tied to spouse consent documentation fields.
Law firms and advisors handling GST exemption allocation in the same workflow as Form 709
Bloomberg Tax Estate & Gift Tax integrates GST exemption allocation workflow with skip classification so the drafting and supporting workpapers come from the same integrated process. TaxSlayer Pro provides strong Form 709 workflows but does not include a dedicated estate-planning modeling environment for broader GST-focused modeling.
Trust and gift teams that need calculation lineage inside trust-oriented workpapers
CCH Axcess Trust Tax emphasizes calculation lineage by linking gift computation figures to return outputs within a trust-oriented workpaper workflow. Lacerte Tax supports gift-history-driven computations that keep cumulative taxable gifts and remaining lifetime exemption synchronized during Form 709 preparation.
Common failure points in Gift Tax Software selection and setup
Selection failures usually come from assuming the software will eliminate valuation and governance work that still requires preparer judgment. Setup failures usually come from mismatching input mapping for relationships or from expecting election workflows to behave like income-return checklists.
Choosing a tool based only on Form 709 completion screens and ignoring how valuation documentation is assembled
TaxSlayer Pro can still require substantial preparer judgment for complex asset valuation, so the workflow must account for appraisal attachments and manual inputs. TaxAct Professional also notes that complex valuation discounts require external appraisals and manual inputs outside guided interview steps.
Expecting automatic imports without validating the automation surface for recurring data sources
Drake Tax has no documented public API for automated imports from wealth-management or valuation systems, so data ingestion may require manual steps. TaxSlayer Pro supports professional workflows across desktop and browser environments, but automated integration still depends on how internal tools exchange valuation inputs.
Underestimating configuration discipline for relationship mapping and review-ready evidence
Bloomberg Tax Estate & Gift Tax requires disciplined input mapping for donor and donee relationship fields, so mis-mapped relationships can break the GST-driven drafting path. NumberCruncher helps election packaging, but automation depth depends heavily on how standardized the incoming data is, so inconsistent gift entry data can slow preparation.
Assuming trust-first navigation will feel faster without testing it against the practice’s transfer type mix
CCH Axcess Trust Tax can feel slower for gift-only firms because the workflow is trust-first, even though it maintains consistent calculation lineage in trust-oriented workpapers. UltraTax CS ties gift processing into a broader engagement lifecycle, so niche transfer types can involve slower UI navigation than purpose-built gift tools.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated TaxSlayer Pro, Drake Tax, TaxAct Professional, Bloomberg Tax Estate & Gift Tax, UltraTax CS, CCH Axcess Trust Tax, NumberCruncher, Lacerte Tax, ProConnect Tax Online, and ONESOURCE Trust & Estate by focusing 40% on Form 709 workflow fit, output package readiness, and document plus workpaper linkage. Features made up 30% and combined cross-engagement context, election-oriented steps, and calculation lineage behavior in the returned outputs.
Ease and value each contributed 30% by measuring how each product reduces rekeying for recurring engagements and how guidance handles gift-splitting and spouse consent documentation fields. TaxSlayer Pro set the benchmark by pairing professional Form 709 preparation with both desktop and browser-based workflow options for firms that run different environments and by integrating electronic filing workflows into the professional package flow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gift Tax Software
Which gift tax software tools support Form 709 preparation with spouse gift-splitting election entries?
How does gift tax software carry forward prior taxable gifts across multiple filings?
When does audit-ready workpaper documentation get produced during gift tax return preparation?
What breaks if a workflow tool lacks GST exemption allocation support for generation-skipping transfer tax?
How do integrations differ between Thomson Reuters-aligned workflows and tool-specific gift workflows?
Which software products provide a governed collaboration model for preparation, review, and sign-off?
What data migration is usually needed when switching from another gift tax workflow tool?
How does gift tax software handle valuation attachments for valuation-driven gifts and link them to the right gift entries?
Which tools support building the e-filing package for Form 709 after calculations and document assembly?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
Funding and competing interests
This study was co-funded by several of the vendors assessed in it. No single vendor funded it. Funders could propose the market studied.
They had no role in selecting vendors, setting or weighting criteria, analysing data or drawing conclusions, and they received the same factual-accuracy check as every other vendor assessed.
Market definition, inclusion rules and criteria weights were fixed by an editor before research began and did not change afterwards. Editorial process →
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