Tax Preparation Cost · Verified Directory
Don't overpay for tax prep — or underhire for complexity
Understand tax preparation pricing for individuals, self-employed filers, and small businesses. Compare CPAs, EAs, and chain preparers by scope and complexity.
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Tax Preparation Cost accepting new clients
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Vetting checklist
Questions to ask before hiring tax prep cost
- 1Are you a licensed CPA or EA, and in which states are you registered?
- 2What does engagement scope, pricing, and turnaround actually look like?
- 3Who on your team will do the work, and how do we communicate month to month?
- 4How do you handle deadlines, IRS or state notices, and audit support?
- 5Can you share two references from clients similar to my business?
Tax prep pricing
What tax preparation typically costs
Pricing varies by filer type, entity, and the number of states. Use these benchmarks before you shop quotes.
Individual
$200–$600
per return
W-2 filers with itemized deductions or basic investment income.
- Federal 1040 + one state
- Itemized deductions (Schedule A)
- Investment income (Schedule B/D)
- E-file and audit-letter support
Self-employed
$400–$1,200
per return
Freelancers, gig workers, and single-member LLCs filing Schedule C.
- Federal 1040 + Schedule C
- Home office, mileage, SE tax
- Quarterly estimate setup
- One state included
Small business
$1,000–$3,500
per return
S-Corps, partnerships, and C-Corps.
- Form 1120-S / 1065 / 1120
- K-1 issuance to owners
- Owner personal return coordination
- Multi-state add-ons available
By business size
What you'll likely pay
Ranges reflect typical U.S. market pricing. Your CPA or provider will scope a specific number.
| Business size | Monthly range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| W-2 employee, standard deduction | $150–$300 | One-time fee; simplest engagement |
| W-2 + investments / itemized | $300–$600 | Schedule A, B, D; brokerage 1099s |
| Self-employed / Schedule C | $400–$1,200 | SE tax, home office, mileage, QBI |
| LLC / partnership (1065) | $900–$2,200 | K-1s, capital account tracking |
| S-Corp (1120-S) | $1,000–$2,500 | Reasonable comp, owner W-2, distributions |
| C-Corp (1120) | $1,500–$3,500+ | Federal + state; M-1/M-3 reconciliation |
What drives the price
Software comparison
DIY tools vs. hiring a pro
Software is cheaper up front, but the right pro typically pays for themselves through error prevention and tax savings.
| Software | Price | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax | $0–$129 | Simple W-2 returns | Best DIY UX. Live CPA add-on $100–$400 more. |
| H&R Block | $0–$115 | Simple returns + in-person option | Hybrid software + retail locations. Audit support included. |
| TaxSlayer | $0–$70 | Self-employed on a budget | Schedule C support at lower price points than competitors. |
| FreeTaxUSA | $0–$8 | Confident DIY filers | Federal free; state $14.99. No hand-holding, but accurate. |
| CPA or EA | $200–$3,500 | Anyone with complexity or six-figure income | Real planning, audit representation, license-backed accuracy. |
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Hiring a verified tax prep cost vs. going it alone
| Factor | Verified Tax Prep Cost | DIY / generalist |
|---|---|---|
| Specialized expertise | Trained in tax preparation cost | General-purpose advice |
| Time investment | 1–2 hours to onboard | 10+ hours per filing cycle |
| Audit defense | Represents you to the IRS | You handle correspondence |
| Year-round planning | ||
| Typical cost | $200–$600 | $0 software + your hours |
| Risk of missed deductions | Low — proactive review | High — software only flags what you enter |
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By city
Find Tax Prep Cost by city
Houston, TX
Houston CPAs serve energy, healthcare, and the city's vast small-business community.
Dallas, TX
Dallas accounting firms anchor finance, real estate, and corporate headquarters across DFW.
Los Angeles, CA
LA's accountants specialize in entertainment, real estate, and creative-industry tax planning.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco CPAs serve startups, venture-backed companies, and complex equity-comp clients.
New York City, NY
NYC's accountants cover Wall Street, media, real estate, hospitality, and the small businesses of all five boroughs.
Miami, FL
Miami's CPAs specialize in international tax, real estate, hospitality, and Latin American business.
Chicago, IL
Chicago accountants serve professional services, manufacturing, logistics, and the Midwest's largest corporate base.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta's CPAs support film, fintech, logistics, and one of the country's most dynamic small-business scenes.
Boston, MA
Boston-area accountants serve life sciences, higher education, financial services, and innovation-economy startups.
Seattle, WA
Seattle CPAs serve tech, aerospace, and the Pacific Northwest's deep entrepreneurial bench.
Washington DC, DC
Washington DC accountants serve federal contractors, nonprofits, associations, and the law firms that anchor the capital's economy.
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore CPAs serve healthcare systems, port and logistics operators, biotech, and the city's deep nonprofit and higher-ed community.
Richmond, VA
Richmond CPAs serve Fortune 500 headquarters, banking and insurance, tobacco-to-tech manufacturers, and Virginia's state-capital legal and government economy.
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham CPAs serve banking, healthcare, steel, and the Magic City's small-business economy.
Anchorage, AK
Anchorage CPAs serve oil and gas, fisheries, federal contracting, and the state's tourism economy.
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix CPAs serve semiconductors, real estate, healthcare, and one of the country's fastest-growing small-business markets.
Little Rock, AR
Little Rock CPAs serve healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and the state's government and legal economy.
Denver, CO
Denver CPAs serve tech, aerospace, cannabis, and the Front Range's outdoor and energy economies.
Hartford, CT
Hartford CPAs serve insurance, reinsurance, manufacturing, and the broader Connecticut River Valley economy.
Wilmington, DE
Wilmington CPAs serve banking, corporate trust, pharma, and the Fortune 500 entity-formation economy.
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu CPAs serve tourism, military contracting, real estate, and the islands' small-business community.
Boise, ID
Boise CPAs serve tech, agriculture, manufacturing, and a fast-growing relocation-driven small-business economy.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis CPAs serve manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, and motorsports.
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines CPAs serve insurance, agribusiness, biofuels, and the state's growing tech economy.
Wichita, KS
Wichita CPAs serve aviation, aerospace, energy, and agriculture.
Louisville, KY
Louisville CPAs serve bourbon, equine, automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics (UPS Worldport).
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans CPAs serve maritime, tourism, oil and gas, and the city's film and hospitality economies.
Portland, ME
Portland CPAs serve tourism, fisheries, forestry, and the state's growing remote-work and craft economies.
Detroit, MI
Detroit CPAs serve automotive, mobility, healthcare, and the broader Southeast Michigan manufacturing base.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis CPAs serve Fortune 500 headquarters, medical devices, agribusiness, and finance.
Jackson, MS
Jackson CPAs serve manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and the state's government and legal economy.
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis CPAs serve agribusiness, defense, biosciences, financial services, and logistics.
Billings, MT
Billings CPAs serve agriculture, energy, healthcare, and Montana's tourism economy.
Omaha, NE
Omaha CPAs serve insurance, financial services, agribusiness, and the Berkshire Hathaway ecosystem.
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas CPAs serve gaming, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and a fast-growing logistics base.
Manchester, NH
Manchester CPAs serve advanced manufacturing, biotech, healthcare, and a thriving small-business community.
Newark, NJ
Newark CPAs serve pharma, financial services, logistics, ports, and the NYC-metro small-business economy.
Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque CPAs serve federal labs and defense, oil and gas, film, and tourism.
Fargo, ND
Fargo CPAs serve agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and the Red River Valley's tech and healthcare economy.
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City CPAs serve oil and gas, aerospace, agriculture, and the state's growing healthcare and bioscience industries.
Portland, OR
Portland CPAs serve tech, athletic apparel, forestry, and the Pacific Northwest's craft beverage and outdoor industries.
Providence, RI
Providence CPAs serve financial services, healthcare, defense manufacturing, and tourism.
Charleston, SC
Charleston CPAs serve ports, aerospace, automotive, hospitality, and a growing tech economy.
Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls CPAs serve financial services, credit card processing, trust administration, and healthcare.
Nashville, TN
Nashville CPAs serve healthcare, music and entertainment, hospitality, and the state's franchise and excise tax compliance.
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City CPAs serve the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, outdoor recreation, mining, and financial services.
Burlington, VT
Burlington CPAs serve craft food and beverage, tourism, healthcare, and outdoor brands.
Charleston, WV
Charleston CPAs serve coal and natural gas, chemicals, healthcare, and state government.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee CPAs serve manufacturing, insurance, healthcare, and the Lake Michigan industrial corridor.
Cheyenne, WY
Cheyenne CPAs serve energy, ranching, trust administration, and a growing data-center and tech economy.
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte CPAs serve the second-largest U.S. banking center, plus energy, healthcare, motorsports, and one of the fastest-growing relocation markets in the country.
Common questions
About tax preparation cost
How much should tax preparation cost for a W-2 employee?+
A straightforward W-2 return with itemized deductions typically runs $200–$400 with a CPA or EA. Chain preparers may charge $100–$250.
Why is self-employed tax prep more expensive?+
Schedule C requires profit/loss reconstruction, mileage and home-office calculations, and self-employment tax. More forms, more time, more expertise required.
What does a small business tax return cost?+
LLC/Schedule C: $400–$1,200. S-Corp (1120-S): $1,000–$2,500. C-Corp (1120): $1,500–$3,500+. Multi-state and franchise taxes add $100–$500 per state.
This information is general and does not constitute professional advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
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2026 CPA Pricing Guide
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The Small Business Tax & Profit Playbook
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The Definitive Bookkeeping Cleanup & Recovery Guide
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The Freelancer Tax Guide
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The Year-End Tax Planning Guide
The CPA's December playbook — practical strategies to reduce your tax bill before the year closes.
The Premium Bookkeeping Template Pack
Automated dashboards, multi-account reconciliations, and CPA-ready reporting workbooks for serious owners and bookkeepers.
Tax & Bookkeeping Resource Library
Our complete advisor-grade collection — every premium asset an owner needs to run clean books, lower taxes, and recover messy ledgers, in one bundle.