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CPA firms in Chicago
Licensed CPAs for tax, audit, advisory, and assurance.
BrowseTax preparers in Chicago
Individual and business tax filing for the upcoming season.
BrowseBookkeepers in Chicago
Monthly close, AP/AR, and reconciliation specialists.
BrowsePayroll providers in Chicago
Payroll, tax filings, and benefits administration.
BrowseFractional CFOs in Chicago
Senior finance leadership for growing companies.
BrowseIndustry specialists in Chicago
Restaurants, real estate, medical, construction, and more.
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Find a CPA in Chicago
Filter by service, industry, language, and free consultation.
Local hiring guide
Common CPA services in Chicago
The work Chicago residents and small businesses most often hire a CPA to handle.
- Annual business and individual tax preparation
- Tax planning and quarterly estimates
- Bookkeeping and monthly close
- Entity selection and formation (LLC, S-corp, C-corp)
- Payroll setup and filings
- IRS notice response and audit representation
- Financial statement preparation (compilation / review)
Average CPA pricing
What CPAs typically cost in Chicago
Typical fee ranges across common engagement types. Final pricing depends on complexity, deadlines, and any cleanup work required.
Hourly rate
Ad-hoc advisory, IRS notices, one-off planning conversations
$250 – $500 / hr
Individual return
W-2 households with K-1s, equity comp, or multi-state filings
$400 – $1,500
Small business return
LLC, S-corp, C-corp, or partnership filings (state + federal)
$1,500 – $6,000+
Monthly bookkeeping + tax
Growing SMBs needing monthly close, payroll, and IL PTET planning
$850 – $3,500 / mo
Illustrative ranges only — request quotes from listed CPAs for exact pricing.
Local business requirements
What Chicago businesses need to file and renew
State and local filings most often missed by out-of-state or newly formed businesses.
Chicago Lease Transaction Tax
9% Chicago tax on leased personal property and most SaaS/cloud software used by Chicago employees — self-assess if vendors do not collect.
Illinois PTET election
Annual entity-level 4.95% pass-through election made on IL-1065 / IL-1120-ST to work around the federal $10K SALT cap.
Cook County business filings
Cook County personal property and use-tax filings, plus the City of Chicago annual business license renewal.
Industries
Small-business industries shaping Chicago
The local economy your Chicago CPA should already know how to serve.
Manufacturing & industrial
Logistics & transportation
Professional services
Financial services & trading
Restaurants & hospitality
Decision guide
When to hire a CPA vs. a bookkeeper
A bookkeeper records the past. A CPA shapes the future — taxes, structure, strategy.
Hire a bookkeeper when…
- •You need day-to-day transaction categorization and bank reconciliations
- •You want monthly financials but no tax filings or planning
- •Revenue is under ~$500K and your structure is simple (sole prop / single-member LLC)
- •You already have a CPA for taxes and just need clean books
Hire a CPA when…
- •You're filing business taxes (S-corp, C-corp, partnership)
- •You need tax planning, entity restructuring, or multi-state filings
- •You received an IRS or state tax notice or are facing an audit
- •You're raising capital, selling a business, or doing equity comp planning
- •Your books are a mess and you need cleanup plus a long-term advisor
Before you sign
Questions to ask any Chicago CPA before hiring
Use this checklist on your first call. Strong CPAs welcome these questions.
- Are you a licensed CPA in this state? What's your license number?
- What industries do you specialize in, and how many clients like me do you serve?
- Who actually does the work — you, a staff accountant, or an offshore team?
- How do you bill — hourly, fixed-fee, or monthly retainer? What's typical for my size?
- What software do you use (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite), and do I get access to my files?
- How do you handle IRS notices or audits if they come up later?
- What's your response-time expectation during and outside of tax season?
- Can you provide references from clients in my industry?
Stay compliant
Tax deadlines and Illinois notes
Federal deadlines plus the state and local filings that catch most filers off guard.
IL pass-through entity tax (PTET) and partnership / S-corp (IL-1065 / IL-1120-ST) returns due.
Illinois personal (IL-1040) and corporate (IL-1120) returns due.
W-2s and 1099-NEC due to recipients and the IRS.
S-corp (1120-S) and partnership (1065) returns or 6-month extension.
Individual (1040) and C-corp (1120) returns; Q1 estimated taxes due.
Q2 estimated taxes due.
Q3 estimates; extended S-corp and partnership returns due.
Extended individual and C-corp returns due.
Chicago Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax (9%) on software/SaaS subscriptions used in Chicago and Chicago Restaurant Tax for hospitality clients.
Informational only — not tax advice. Confirm current deadlines with your CPA or the relevant authority.
Browse by specialty
Top specialties in Chicago
Certified Public Accountants
Licensed Certified Public Accountants for tax, audit, advisory, and assurance services across the United States.
ExploreSmall Business CPAs
Licensed CPAs specialized in small business taxes, S-Corp and LLC structuring, quarterly estimates, and year-round advisory for owner-operated companies.
ExploreFractional CFO Services
Part-time CFOs for growing companies. Strategic finance, board reporting, fundraising support, cash forecasting, and KPI dashboards — without a full-time executive hire.
ExploreBookkeepers
Professional bookkeepers for startups, small businesses, and growing companies. Day-to-day books, reconciliations, and clean financial records.
ExploreReal Estate Accountants
CPAs and accountants for real estate investors, syndicators, developers, and agents. Cost segregation, 1031 exchanges, REPS, depreciation strategy, and partnership returns.
ExploreNearby
Nearby cities to Chicago
Major metros our directory also serves.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about CPAs in Chicago
How much does a CPA cost in Chicago?
Chicago is roughly mid-tier among major metros: $250–$500/hour, $400–$1,500 for individual returns, $1,500–$6,000+ for business returns. Outsourced bookkeeping + tax retainers commonly run $850–$3,500/month.
What is the Chicago Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax?
Chicago imposes a 9% tax on the lease or use of personal property — including most cloud software and SaaS subscriptions used by Chicago employees. Businesses with Chicago operations should ask their CPA to confirm vendors collect it correctly and to self-assess if they don't.
Should my Illinois business elect PTET?
Generally yes if you have meaningful federal taxable income and are not already capped by other limitations. Illinois's PTET (4.95% on partnership / S-corp income) shifts state tax to the entity level so it's federally deductible — a real workaround to the $10K SALT cap. The election is annual and irrevocable for that year.
Compare your options
Hiring a verified Chicago CPA vs. DIY
| Factor | Verified Chicago CPA | DIY / generalist |
|---|---|---|
| Local tax knowledge | Chicago state + local filings | Federal only |
| Audit defense | Represents you to the IRS | You handle correspondence |
| Year-round planning | ||
| Typical fee | $200–$3,500 / engagement | $0 software + your hours |
| Specialty match | Industry-experienced | General-purpose |
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2026 CPA Pricing Guide
Real fee benchmarks for tax prep, bookkeeping, payroll, and advisory — by service and business type.
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