How we rate

Three rating layers

TaxProsRated rates three distinct things — they share the “Rated” label but serve different purposes:

1. Editorial software ratings.Six criteria — ease of use, pricing, features, support, international reach, best-for fit. Scored 0–5 by a named editor twice a year. Scores are independent of commission rate.
2. Verified credentials on listed pros.Every claimed pro’s credential is verified against the issuing authority’s public registry — IRS PTIN lookup, state CPA boards, IRS EA roster, TPB for Australia. Verified pros carry a date-stamped badge; we re-verify quarterly.
3. Paid placements.Pros and software brands can buy promoted slots in the directory and on content pages. Sponsored placements are visually distinct and carry a “Sponsored” label per FTC guidance. Editorial scoring is unaffected.

Software scorecard

The six criteria each score 0–5; the overall score is a weighted average:

• Ease of use (20%) — setup time, on-screen help, error recovery
• Pricing transparency (15%) — tier clarity, hidden upsells, refund posture
• Features (20%) — coverage breadth, edge-case handling, multi-state and multi-jurisdiction
• Support (15%) — channels, response time, expertise quality
• International reach (15%) — non-US filing support, currency, treaty awareness
• Best-for fit (15%) — persona alignment vs catch-all marketing

AI-assisted content

Long-tail country pages are drafted with AI assistance from cited public sources (KPMG, PwC, EY, Deloitte, OECD, government tax-authority sites). Every numerical claim carries an inline citation. Every page is reviewed by a named editor before publish. The AI-content disclosure block is present and uncollapsed at the top of every AI-assisted page. EU AI Act Art 50 transparency applies.

Corrections

Spot something wrong? Use the “Report an issue” widget on any content page. We triage corrections within 72 hours and publish a public correction note when we materially change a claim.