Downloads for 2026 Editions of Tax Preparer

Release 2026.01j now available.

Initial installation for the year must be from the first COMPLETE program we provide you for the current tax season. Once you have completed the installation, you can use on-line updates shown on this page for subsequent changes throughout the tax season.

The downloads on this page are only for Tax Preparer for Form 1040 returns. Downloads for the Partnership Edition for Form 1065 returns are found on the Partnership Downloads page. Downloads for the California Supplement for Form 540 returns are found on the California Downloads page.

Tax Preparer Downloads

e-file information. (Standard and Premium Levels only) If you purchased e-file transmission software for the current filing season, you should receive a disk from PDP Tax Service customized for compatibility with Tax Preparer. You can install that software any time after you install the current edition of Tax Preparer.

Current Tax Preparer downloads. In order to use these downloads, you must have already installed the complete program for the 2026 edition of the Form 1040 software, such as release 2026.01. Just go to the level you installed and click the link. Your prior installation will then be updated to the latest release.

Economy Level. To update the Economy Level to release e2026.01j, click the following link: Update Tax Preparer 2026 Edition Economy (e2026.01j).

(7,710 KB) (revised 3/31/2026)

Standard Level. To update the Standard Level to release s2026.01j, click the following link: Update Tax Preparer 2026 Edition Standard (s2026.01j).

(42,455 KB) (revised 3/31/2026)

Premium Level. To update the Premium Level to release p2026.01j, click the following link: Update Tax Preparer 2026 Edition Premium (p2026.01j).

(42,534 KB) (revised 3/31/2026)

Changes in recent releases

(updated 3/31/2026)

Release 2026.01j differs from Release 2026.01i as follows:

•   Form 5695 revised (Standard and Premium Levels only) to ensure that your entries for home addresses you entered on our worksheets that support line 21c of Form 5695 are printed on line 21c for all printouts. (Formerly, the addresses were missing from printouts.)
•   Form 8949 revised to ensure your that your entries on gain/loss worksheets for lines 2 and 3 of Schedule D are printed with the proper alignment on Form 8949. (Formerly, the entries were printed 5 lines to high on the printouts.)
•   Newly revised IRS instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for Forms 3468 and 4562, for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel. (The Form 4562 instructions for line 14 were expanded with more information on Qualfied Production Property).

Release 2026.01i differs from Release 2026.01h as follows:

•   Form 1116 revised (Standard and Premium Levels only) to avert two pre-transmission errors in Form 1116 when there is an amount on line 18 or 19 of Form 1116. The error messages you would have seen before this update are (a) invalid child element ForeignTaxableIncBfExmpAmt, and (b)invalid child element ForeignTaxableIncBfExmpRt
•   Form 5695 added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for claiming Residential Energy Credits. CAUTION: The IRS added several new data lines for claiming the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credits, which require you to supply much more information on the improvements you made that warrant the credit than was required in the past. You must therefore take care to press I or F10 at any lines labeled ITEMIZE that relate to the credits you are claiming. That will take you to our new worksheets for supplying the required information in the format that the IRS requires. In particular, you must now identify the manufacturer of the installed products by the Qualified Manufacturer Identification Number (QMID), which is the first 4 characters of the 17-character product identification number that appears in the manufacturer's documentation or on a label on the product. In addition, to claim credit for improvements or replacements of existing electrical equipment (enabling property) in order to install qualified energy property (enabled property), you must now identify the enabled property (on line 25c of Form 5695) by a one-letter code defined in the IRS instructions. If more than one code applies, you must enter the multiple codes separated by one space each on our data entry line for line 25c.

Release 2026.01h differs from Release 2026.01g as follows:

•   Several forms revised for more accurate tax planning for 2026 (for returns filed in 2027):
  •   Control Form: The inflation rate used for Indexing % used for 2026 plans on screen 1 of the form is change from 2.70% to 2.27% to more accurately reflect most changes for tax year 2026. TIP: To ensure accurate tax planning, you must change an entry of the Control Form to ensure that the form is recalculated so that the entry for Indexing % used for 2026 plans is changed to the new value.
  •   Form 1040: Tax calculations for tax year 2026 are revised to reflect changes that deviate from the traditional indexing with inflation as a result of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
  •   Schedule 1, Form 5329, and Form 8606: The extra amount of allowed IRA contributions for those of age 50 or more is increased for tax year 2026 to $1,100 (up from $1,000 for tax year 2025). (The increased base amount of allowed contributions for 2026 was already reflected in the software, raising the $7,000 maximum for tax year 2025 to $7,500 for tax year 2026.)
•   Form 1040-ES added for figuring Estimated Tax for Individuals and the printing of quarterly payment vouchers. TIP: Additions to the 2026 Estimated Tax Worksheet reflect additional allowed deductions owing to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. As a result, you should pay particular attention to the new entries on screen 7 of our Form 1040-ES, for lines 1 through 4 of the IRS 2026 Estimated Tax Worksheet. For tax year 2026, nonitemizers will be allowed to deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 if married filing jointly) of charitable contributions made by cash or check, so the software adds a line above worksheet line 2a for Cash/check contributions, which is automatically limited to the $1,000 (or $2,000) maximum. And, like tax year 2025. certain taxpayers will benefit from the deductions allowed on the new Schedule 1-A, so the software adds two lines above line 2c of the worksheet to reflect those deductions. The Enhanced Deduction for Seniors is computed for you on the first of those two lines, but YOU must manually enter on the second line any other deductions you expect to claim on Schedule 1-A next year.
•   Newly released or revised IRS publications, forms, and instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel, including IRS Publications 946.

Release 2026.01g differs from Release 2026.01f as follows:

•   Form 1040 revised as follows:
  •   Graphic printout of page 1 revised to correct the alignment of checkboxes for Dependent 4 at lines (6) and (7), which were formerly shifted to the left by one space.
  •   MFS/HOH question on screen 4 of Form 1040 page 1 revised to force your answer to No when the filing status for the return is neither 3 (MFS) nor 4 (HOH).
•   Form 1040-X added for filing an Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. REMINDER: You must access Form 1040-X only AFTER filing your original return for the year, but BEFORE you make any changes to the return. This will ensure that column A of the form is completed for you automatically with the proper entries. In addition, in order for the return to be recognized by the IRS as an amended return, you MUST answer Yes to the question Filing 1040X for tax yr. 2025? at the top of screen 1 before filing the amended return.
•   Newly released or revised IRS publications, forms, and instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel, including IRS Publications 515 and 550.

Release 2026.01f differs from Release 2026.01e as follows:

•   Form 5329 added for figuring Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs and Other Tax-Favored Accounts), including taxes on early distributions from certain retirement plans (including IRAs), certain distributions from savings accounts, and excess contributions to various tax-favored accounts (including IRAs, education savings accounts, and medical savings accounts).
•   Form 8606 added for figuring taxable amounts for Nondeductible IRAs, including taxable amounts for (i) contributions to and distributions from traditional IRAs, (ii) conversions from traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs, and (iii) distributions from Roth IRAs.

Release 2026.01e differs from Release 2026.01d as follows:

•   Form 1040, line 4a, revised to ensure that your entry on our Form 1099-R Worksheet for Gross distributions (from box 1 of IRS Form 1099-R) is properly posted to line 4a of Form 1040 when you return from the worksheets. Formerly, no amount was posted to line 4a. (However, all other entries were properly posted, including taxable amount from box 2a.)
•   Form 2210 added for figuring the Unerpayment of Estimated Tax for Individuals, including its Schedule AI for those who can benefit from the Annualized Installment Method, as well as Form 2210-F for figuring the simpler and more favorable Underpayment of Estimated Tax for Farmers and Fishermen.
•   Form 8824 added (Premium Level only) for figuring the amount of gain deferred in Like-Kind Exchanges and to report other information about the exchange to the IRS.
•   Form 8839 added (Premium Level only) to claim a credit for Qualified Adoption Expenses. NEW this year is a refundable component of the credit (posted to line 30 of Form 1040), which provides a refundable credit for the first $5,000 of expenses per adopted child, with any credit for any remaining expenses treated traditionally as a nonrefundable credit (posted to Schedule 3).
•   Newly released or revised IRS publications, forms, and instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel, including IRS Publications 463, 523, 560, 561, 570, and 587, revised instructions for Form 1040 (including Schedules 1 through 3) and Form 8829, revised form and instructions for Form 8880, and a copy last year's IRS Form 172 and its instructions (the latest released version) to help you figure the amount of Net Operating Loss (NOL) you may be able to deduct.

Release 2026.01d differs from Release 2026.01c as follows:

•   Form 1040 revised as follows:
  •   Line 26 revised so that the printouts of Form no longer print DIV by line 26 when you enter an SSN for a former spouse with whom you made estimated tax payments. (The IRS expanded the text on the form to indicate the purpose of the SSN entry, so the printing of the DIV flag is now redundant.)
  •   Line 28 revised by automating the checkbox for electing not to claim the ACTC (the Additional Child Tax Credit claimed in Part II of Schedule 8812). For more information, see the following details for a new entry added to Schedule 8812.
•   Schedule 8812 revised by adding a question above line 15 (at the start of the ACTC part of the schedule) letting you elect NOT to claim the ACTC. When you make that election, all amounts in Part II are erased, and the corresponding checkbox at line 28 of Form 1040, page 2, is checked in the official printout.
•   Form 1116 added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for claiming the Foreign Tax Credit for certain taxes you paid to a foreign government, including taxes on investment income. TIP: You do NOT have to file Form 1116 if all your foreign taxes were tax on investment income, they were reported to you on a qualified statement like Form 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, or Schedule K-1, and the total amount of such taxes for the year does not exceed $300 ($600 if married filing jointly).
•   Form 6251 added to figure the additional tax created by the Alternative Minimum Tax.
•   Form 8801 added (Premium Level only) to claim a credit for deferred items on a prior Form 6251 that are now eligible for a Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax.
•   Newly released or revised IRS publications, forms, and instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel, including IRS Publications 515, 517, 525, 537, and 925, revised instructions for Form 2210, and Form 941 and its instructions.

Release 2026.01c differs from Release 2026.01b as follows:

•   Form 1040 revised as follows:
  •   The automatically calculated line Main home in US over 1/2 of 2025? is made visible on screen 4 of Form 1040, page 1. The automatic answer is based on your answers on screen 1 and 2 for You non-resident 6 mos. or more? and Spouse non-resident 6 mos. or more?. It is used for the new checkbox in the address block at the top-right of a printed Form 1040.
  •   The clarity of a draft printout or on-screen preview is improved in the address at the top-right area of printed Form 1040.
  •   The automatically calculated lines 27b (Clergy filing Schedule SE) and 27c (Do not want to claim EIC) are made visible on screen 3 of Form 1040, page 2. The answers are determined from your eligibility for the Earned Income Credit and your answers to the clergy questions of your Forms W-2.
•   Form 2106 added for claiming a deduction on Schedule 1 of Schedule A for Employee Business Expenses. See our words about Form 4562, below, for information on the newly available 100% bonus depreciation that applies to Form 2106 as well.
•   Form 4562 added for claiming a deduction for Depreciation and Amortization. Note that a 100% first-year special allowance (popularly called "bonus depreciation") is now available for property acquired after January 19, 2025 that would otherwise get only a 40% or 60% special allowance. However, you can opt out of the 100% allowance and claim only the 40% or 60% allowance instead. This is all handled in the software by your choices on the depreciation worksheets used on Forms 2106 and 4562, including ACRS and Listed Property Worksheets.
•   Newly released or revised IRS publications, forms, and instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel, including IRS Publications 3, 5, 502, 519, 908, and 914, a new IRS Form 1040-X (with no instructions yet released) and revised instructions for Form 2210-F.

Release 2026.01b differs from Release 2026.01a as follows:

•   Forms added to all versions of Tax Preparer 1040:
  •   Schedule EIC added for claiming the Earned Income Credit. The schedule is automatically created and computed when deemed to give a credit, based on data from your Form 1040 and elsewhere in your tax data. For nearly all taxpayers, no manual entries are required.
  •   Form 4684 added for claiming a deduction for losses from Casualties and Thefts.
  •   Form 4868 added for filing an Application for Extension of Time to File your return, which provides an automatic 6-month extension.
•   Forms added to Premium Level software ONLY:
  •   Form 2120 added for filing a Multiple Support Declaration.
  •   Form 2350 added for filing an Application for Extension of Time to File for taxpayers abroad who need more time to qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion and/or foreign housing exclusion or deduction.
  •   Form 2555 added for claiming an exclusion or deduction for Foreign Earned Income, including a housing exclusion or deduction.
  •   Form 4972 added for figuring a favorable Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions for a total distribution from an employer's qualified plan.
  •   Form 6781 added for reporting Gains and Losses from Section 1256 Contracts and Straddles.
  •   Form 8332 added for the Release or Revocation of Release for Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent.
  •   Form 8396 added for claiming a Mortgage Interest Credit for taxpayers who were issued a Mortgage Interest Certificate by a state or local government unit or agency.
  •   Form 8815 added for claiming an Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989.
  •   Form 8853 added for figuring deductions for contributions, and taxable income and additional tax for distributions for Archer MSAs and Long-Term Care Contracts.
•   Newly released or revised IRS publications, forms, and instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel, including IRS Publications 334, 526, 721, and 969; a revised IRS Form 1040-ES with its instructions; and instructions for Form 4562.

Release 2026.01a differs from Release 2026.01 as follows:

•   Schedule 1-A added to all levels for figuring Additional Deductions introduced by the big 2025 tax bill, which are titled broadly No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Car Loan Interest, and Enhanced Deduction for Seniors. The titles are somewhat misleading because of the conditions that must be met and the limitations for each. For example, those who file with the Married Filing Separately status cannot claim any of these deductions except for the car loan deduction. And the only part of overtime pay that can be deducted is the part of the pay that is added to the regular pay, which can be no larger than 50% of the regular pay. And all of the deductions have dollar limits as well as phaseouts as income increases. This new schedule is automatically created and computed for seniors at least 65 years old with the required SSNs, with no entries required by the preparer. It is also automatically created and computed for taxpayers who file Form 4137 (for reporting unreported tip income), but additional entries can increase the deduction.
•   Form 1310 added (Premium Level only) for Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer.
•   Form 2848 added (Premium Level only) for reporting Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative.
•   Form 4137 added (Premium Level only) for computing Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income. As mentioned above, it can lead to an automatic deduction via Schedule 1-A as well.
•   Form 6198 added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for figuring At-Risk Limitations.
•   Form 8829 added to all levels for figuring Expenses for Business Use of Your Home in conjunction with Schedule C.
•   Translate omissions corrected. The translate feature for starting a return by translating a prior-year return did not perform all of its traditional features in release 2026.01. The most obvious symptom of the problem was the failure to advance the ages of taxpayers by one year when the prior-year return still had its tax year set to 2024 (as it would be the the proir-year return as filed with the IRS). There are more subtle symptoms as well, including retaining prior-year forms that would normally apply only for one year, such as Form 3903 for claiming a deduction for moving expenses. All of these problems are corrected in release 2026.01a, However, for a return already translated with release 2026.01, your must either (a) translate the return anew, or (b) advance the ages of taxpayer and spouse manually and remove (with our file manager) forms that are not applicable for tax year 2025.
•   Newly released IRS publications, forms, and instructions are added (Standard and Premium Levels only) for easy access from the floating Tax Preparer Control Panel, including IRS Publications 501, 510, 514, 530, 544, 547, 554, 559, 584, 939, and 970; IRS Form 1040-ES with its instructions; and instructions for Forms 6765 and 8960.