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Lambo Tax Preparation Academy crestLambo Tax Academy
Tax paperwork, calculator and laptop in a professional office

Free practice software

Practice on the real programs, for free

Every major professional tax program offers a free trial or demo. Use them to practice entering clients, W-2s, Schedule C, K-1s and reviewing diagnostics alongside your lessons. Trials are for practice only: none of them allow e-filing, and most block printing.

Practising alongside a module?

Open the software you're studying, then work the matching lab.

Create free trial accountOpen my courseSoftware Center

Seven programs, seven free trials

7 programs from the curriculum · practice only

ProSeries

Intuit

  • Windows desktop
  • Hosted online

How to get it

  1. 1Fill out Intuit's short trial form.
  2. 2You can choose a desktop download or online hosted access (tax year 2025 version).

Trial limits

  • Desktop trial can't e-file or print.
  • Hosted trial doesn't save your work between sessions — use the desktop download if you want to keep practice returns.
Get the free trial

Opens Intuit's site in a new tab

Lacerte

Intuit

  • Windows desktop
  • Hosted online

How to get it

  1. 1Complete Intuit's form to access the free interactive hosted demo or download the desktop evaluation copy.
  2. 2You can also call Intuit at 866-591-3268.

Trial limits

  • No e-filing.
  • Printed federal returns are watermarked; state and city returns can't be printed.
  • An "Eval" message appears if you try to e-file or receive acknowledgments.
Get the free trial

Opens Intuit's site in a new tab

ProConnect Tax

Intuit

  • Online (any browser)

How to get it

  1. 1Sign up on Intuit's ProConnect trial page; access is immediate, nothing to install.

Trial limits

  • No e-file or print.
  • Intuit advertises no time limit on the trial.
Get the free trial

Opens Intuit's site in a new tab

Drake Tax

Drake Software

  • Windows desktop
  • Online (Drake Tax Online)

How to get it

  1. 1On drakesoftware.com click "Try it Free" and submit the form; a download link is emailed to you.
  2. 2For the web version, use the "Try it Free" button on the Drake Tax Online page and open the access link emailed to you.

Trial limits

  • Returns can't be printed or e-filed.
  • Sign-up requires agreeing to receive marketing messages.
Get the free trial

Opens Drake Software's site in a new tab

Drake Tax Online trial

TaxSlayer Pro

TaxSlayer

  • Windows desktop
  • Online (ProWeb)

How to get it

  1. 1Request a demo on TaxSlayer Pro's demo page and choose Desktop (Premium) or Web.
  2. 2The web version gives you a demo user ID and you set your own password.

Trial limits

  • Desktop version is Windows-only (Mac users can use ProWeb in a browser).
Get the free trial

Opens TaxSlayer's site in a new tab

TaxAct Professional

TaxAct

  • Desktop download

How to get it

  1. 1On TaxAct's professional evaluation page, click "Get Your Free Eval" (or "Download Free") and install the evaluation copy.
  2. 2It's meant for trying the software before buying for the current tax season.

Trial limits

  • No e-filing.
  • Firm features like multiple users and cloud storage aren't included.
Get the free trial

Opens TaxAct's site in a new tab

TaxWise Online

Wolters Kluwer

  • Online (any browser)

How to get it

  1. 1Fill out Wolters Kluwer's free trial form; your account access is emailed to you.
  2. 2Use a normal (not incognito/private) browser window — the trial doesn't work in incognito.

Trial limits

  • Up to 5 practice returns.
  • No e-filing.
  • The trial account doesn't expire.
Get the free trial

Opens Wolters Kluwer's site in a new tab

Tips before you sign up

1

These are sales sign-ups: expect follow-up emails or calls from the vendor.

2

Some Intuit trials are limited to firms that aren't already Intuit customers.

3

Use only fictitious practice data — never enter real client information in a trial.

4

Trial terms and versions change each season; always check the vendor's page for current details.

Practice the way the course teaches it

Open a trial next to the module you're studying and work the same exercise twice: once on paper, once in the software. The Software Center lists the labs that walk through each program step by step.

Software CenterIRS forms library

Lambo Tax Preparation Academy is not affiliated with Intuit, Drake Software, TaxSlayer, TaxAct, or Wolters Kluwer. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Information current as of October 2026.

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