Delaware · DE
Find CPAs & accounting professionals in Wilmington
Wilmington CPAs serve banking, corporate trust, pharma, and the Fortune 500 entity-formation economy.
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Service providers in Wilmington
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Match the right kind of help to the work — CPA firms, tax preparers, bookkeepers, payroll providers, fractional CFOs, and industry specialists serving Wilmington.
CPA firms in Wilmington
Licensed CPAs for tax, audit, advisory, and assurance.
BrowseTax preparers in Wilmington
Individual and business tax filing for the upcoming season.
BrowseBookkeepers in Wilmington
Monthly close, AP/AR, and reconciliation specialists.
BrowsePayroll providers in Wilmington
Payroll, tax filings, and benefits administration.
BrowseFractional CFOs in Wilmington
Senior finance leadership for growing companies.
BrowseIndustry specialists in Wilmington
Restaurants, real estate, medical, construction, and more.
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Find a CPA in Wilmington
Filter by service, industry, language, and free consultation.
Local hiring guide
Common CPA services in Wilmington
The work Wilmington 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 Wilmington
Typical fee ranges across common engagement types. Final pricing depends on complexity, deadlines, and any cleanup work required.
Individual return
W-2 households, multi-state professionals
$300 – $900
Small business return
Holding LLCs, professional S-corps
$1,000 – $3,600
Delaware entity compliance
Out-of-state founders maintaining DE-incorporated entities
$500 – $2,500 / yr
Monthly bookkeeping + tax
Banking, pharma services, and professional firms
$700 – $2,800 / mo
Illustrative ranges only — request quotes from listed CPAs for exact pricing.
Local business requirements
What Wilmington businesses need to file and renew
State and local filings most often missed by out-of-state or newly formed businesses.
Delaware franchise tax
All Delaware-incorporated entities owe annual franchise tax — corporations minimum $175 (authorized-shares method) or higher under the assumed-par-value-capital method, LLCs flat $300.
Gross Receipts Tax
Delaware has no sales tax but levies a Gross Receipts Tax on most businesses (0.0945%–0.7468% depending on industry), filed monthly or quarterly with the Division of Revenue.
Wilmington business license
City of Wilmington requires a Mercantile License renewed annually plus city wage tax (1.25%) withheld from employees working in city limits.
Industries
Small-business industries shaping Wilmington
The local economy your Wilmington CPA should already know how to serve.
Corporate trust & entity formation
Banking & credit cards
Pharma & chemicals (DuPont legacy)
Legal services
Healthcare
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 Wilmington 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 Delaware notes
Federal deadlines plus the state and local filings that catch most filers off guard.
Delaware individual income tax due (April 30, not April 15) — graduated to 6.6% top rate.
Delaware Annual Franchise Tax and annual report due for corporations — minimum $175 or assumed-par-value-capital method.
Delaware LLC annual franchise tax due — flat $300 per LLC.
Delaware Gross Receipts Tax due (no sales tax, but most businesses owe GRT at 0.0945%–0.7468% by industry).
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.
Informational only — not tax advice. Confirm current deadlines with your CPA or the relevant authority.
Browse by specialty
Top specialties in Wilmington
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.
ExploreTax Preparers
Find tax preparers for individual returns, small business returns, multi-state filings, and amended returns.
ExploreBookkeepers
Professional bookkeepers for startups, small businesses, and growing companies. Day-to-day books, reconciliations, and clean financial records.
ExplorePayroll Services
Payroll specialists and providers covering payroll runs, tax filings, multi-state compliance, and contractor payments.
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.
ExploreNearby
Nearby cities to Wilmington
Major metros our directory also serves.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about CPAs in Wilmington
How much does a CPA cost in Wilmington, Delaware?
Wilmington CPAs charge $200–$425/hour, individual returns $300–$900, and small-business returns $1,000–$3,600. Many Wilmington firms specialize in Delaware-entity compliance for out-of-state founders — a fixed-fee service of $500–$2,500/yr.
Why do so many startups incorporate in Delaware?
Delaware offers a sophisticated Court of Chancery, well-developed corporate case law, and franchise tax that scales reasonably for early-stage companies. Most VC-backed startups incorporate as Delaware C-corps even when based elsewhere — Wilmington CPAs and registered agents handle the annual compliance.
Do I need to file Delaware income tax if I only formed an entity there?
Forming a Delaware entity does not by itself create Delaware income tax nexus — but you do owe annual franchise tax ($175–$300+ minimum) and annual report filings. If the entity has Delaware-source income or Delaware-based employees, an income tax return is required.
Compare your options
Hiring a verified Wilmington CPA vs. DIY
| Factor | Verified Wilmington CPA | DIY / generalist |
|---|---|---|
| Local tax knowledge | Wilmington 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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