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Accounting · head to head

MYOB vs TaxAct

MYOB logo

MYOB

Accounting

Australian accounting and business management software for small and mid-sized businesses

From
12/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TaxAct logo

TaxAct

Accounting

Get your maximum refund, guaranteed

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TaxAct has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MYOB every published price is promotional and reverts to a higher regular rate after an introductory period, for example Business Pro rises from AUD 21/month to AUD 70/month after 6 months; TaxAct free edition available only to approximately 40% of filers
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MYOB and TaxAct actually diverge.

Attributes where MYOB and TaxAct differ
AttributeMYOBTaxAct
Starting price12/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MYOB

  • Tracking income and unlimited expenses for tax lodgementnot TaxAct
  • Processing payroll with automated superannuation contributionsnot TaxAct
  • Managing GST compliance and Business Activity Statement filingnot TaxAct
  • Reconciling bank transactions and monitoring cash flownot TaxAct

TaxAct

  • Individual tax filingnot MYOB
  • Self-employed tax preparationnot MYOB

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MYOB

  • Every published price is promotional and reverts to a higher regular rate after an introductory period, for example Business Pro rises from AUD 21/month to AUD 70/month after 6 months
  • Adding payroll employees beyond the included allowance costs an extra AUD 3/month per additional employee on top of the plan price

TaxAct

  • Free edition available only to approximately 40% of filers
  • Pricing excludes separate state filing fees
  • Xpert Full Service pricing available on request only

Pricing, plan by plan

MYOB

12/year
  • Solo by MYOB$99/year
    • First year $12 (70% off)
  • Business Lite$315/year
    • First year $94.50 (70% off)
    • Payroll $3/month per employee max 2
  • Business Pro$70/month
    • First 6 months $21 (70% off)
    • Unlimited payroll employees
    • 14-day free trial
  • Business AccountRight Plus$165/month
    • First 3 months $66 (60% off)
    • Unlimited payroll
    • 14-day free trial

TaxAct

Free
  • Free EditionFree
    • W-2 income
    • Unemployment
    • Basic credits and deductions
  • Deluxe$59.99/tax-year
    • All Free Edition features
    • Home ownership deductions
    • Childcare and dependent care
  • Premier$99.99/tax-year
    • All Deluxe features
    • Investment income and capital gains
    • Cryptocurrency reporting
  • Self-Employed$109.99/tax-year
    • Complete business support
    • For contractors, freelancers, and sole proprietors

Which should you pick?

Choose MYOB if

Nothing in the data separates MYOB from TaxAct on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

MYOB review

Choose TaxAct if

  • You want to start without paying.
TaxAct review

Questions people ask

Is MYOB or TaxAct better?
Neither clearly leads. MYOB starts at 12/year and TaxAct at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MYOB or TaxAct?
TaxAct has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at 12/year for MYOB and Free for TaxAct.
Does MYOB or TaxAct run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use TaxAct for free?
Yes. TaxAct has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MYOB starts at 12/year.
What is MYOB best used for?
MYOB is most often used for tracking income and unlimited expenses for tax lodgement, processing payroll with automated superannuation contributions, managing gst compliance and business activity statement filing, reconciling bank transactions and monitoring cash flow. Of those, tracking income and unlimited expenses for tax lodgement and processing payroll with automated superannuation contributions are not what TaxAct is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MYOB: How much does MYOB cost?

MYOB pricing starts at $12 AUD per year (first year only) for Solo, with plans ranging to $165 AUD per month for AccountRight Plus after introductory periods expire.

Source
TaxAct: How much does TaxAct cost?

TaxAct offers a free edition for approximately 40% of filers, Deluxe at $59.99, Premier at $99.99, and Self-Employed at $109.99 per tax year.

Source
MYOB: What is MYOB's introductory pricing?

MYOB offers 60-70% off introductory pricing for the first 3-12 months depending on plan selection, after which regular pricing applies with no lock-in contracts.

Source
TaxAct: Is TaxAct truly free for eligible filers?

Yes, TaxAct's Free Edition is available at no cost for W-2 employees, students, and filers meeting basic income and deduction requirements.

Source
MYOB: Does MYOB include payroll pricing?

Payroll starts at $3/month per employee (limited on lower tiers) and is included unlimited on Business Pro and AccountRight Plus plans.

Source
TaxAct: What is the difference between Premier and Deluxe plans?

Premier adds support for investment income, capital gains, cryptocurrency, rental properties, and home sale reporting compared to Deluxe.

Source
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