Virginia · Tax Preparers
Find a Tax Preparer in Virginia
Match with vetted tax preparers — CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and credentialed PTIN holders — for personal and small-business returns. Compare experience, pricing, and turnaround time before you commit. Serving businesses across Virginia — Virginia CPAs support federal contractors in Northern Virginia, data centers, and the tobacco-to-tech economy anchored by Richmond and the DC suburbs.
Why Virginia clients hire tax prep
Local context for tax preparers in Virginia
Dominant industries statewide
- Federal contracting & GovCon
- Data centers & cloud
- Defense & cybersecurity
- Tobacco & manufacturing
- Healthcare & life sciences
Virginia tax climate
Virginia has a graduated personal income tax topping at 5.75% and a flat 6% corporate income tax. The state offers an elective pass-through entity tax (PTET) for SALT-cap planning. Sales tax is 5.3% state (with 0.7%–1.7% local add-ons), and the BPOL gross-receipts license tax applies in most localities and is a recurring compliance item.
When to hire
- Your return goes beyond a W-2 and a standard deduction
- You have 1099 income, rental property, or investment gains
- You sold a home, exercised stock options, or received K-1s
- You moved states or worked remotely across state lines
- You'd rather pay a few hundred dollars than spend a weekend in tax software
What they do
- Prepare and e-file federal, state, and local returns
- Identify deductions and credits often missed in DIY software
- Handle amended returns and prior-year filings
- Walk you through quarterly estimates and W-4 adjustments
- Provide a digital copy and audit-ready documentation
Typical fees
What it costs
Low end
$150
per return
High end
$800
per return
Notes
Simple 1040: $150–$300. 1040 with Schedule C or rental: $400–$800. Multi-state or expat returns: $600–$1,500.
Compare
Credentialed Tax Preparer vs DIY Tax Software
| Factor | Credentialed Tax Preparer | DIY Tax Software |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Multi-state, business, K-1, complex events | Single W-2, standard deduction |
| Audit support | Preparer represents you | Self-represented; software offers add-on |
| Planning advice | Year-round strategy possible | None |
| Cost | $150–$1,500 | $0–$200 |
| Risk of missed deductions | Low — eyes-on review | Higher for complex situations |
Questions to ask
- What credential do you hold (CPA, EA, AFSP, PTIN-only)?
- Do you e-file and provide IRS acceptance confirmation?
- What's your flat fee for a return like mine, and what triggers extra cost?
- If I'm audited on a return you prepared, what's the process?
- How quickly will you turn around my return once I send documents?
- Do you sign the return as the paid preparer?
Red flags
- Refuses to sign the return as the paid preparer
- Promises a guaranteed refund before seeing your documents
- Bases fees on the size of your refund
- Has no PTIN (every paid preparer must have one)
- Asks you to deposit your refund into their account
Documents to prepare
- Prior-year federal and state return
- All W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, SSA-1099, 1098s
- Closing statements for any home sale or refinance
- Brokerage 1099-B with cost basis, crypto transaction history
- Records of charitable giving, child care, and medical expenses
By city
Tax Preparers in Virginia in major U.S. cities
Related
Other specialties you might need
Verified directory
Tax Preparers serving Virginia
As tax prep in Virginia claim profiles, they will appear here. Be among the first listed.
FAQ
Tax Preparers in Virginia — common questions
How much does tax preparers cost in Virginia?+
Virginia tax preparers typically charge $150–$800 per return. Simple 1040: $150–$300. 1040 with Schedule C or rental: $400–$800. Multi-state or expat returns: $600–$1,500.
Do I need a Virginia-licensed CPA?+
For Virginia state filings, your preparer should hold a CPA license from the Virginia Board of Accountancy or be an Enrolled Agent. Out-of-state pros can prepare your federal return but should not sign as a CPA on Virginia returns. Virginia has a graduated personal income tax topping at 5.75% and a flat 6% corporate income tax.
Do I need a CPA or can a tax preparer file my return?+
Any preparer with a PTIN can file your return. CPAs and EAs add unlimited IRS representation rights and deeper planning. For a typical individual return, a credentialed preparer is plenty.
When should I file?+
The federal deadline is April 15 (or the next business day). Self-employed individuals also have quarterly estimated deadlines on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.
How long does it take to prepare a return?+
With organized documents, most preparers turn around a personal return in 1–2 weeks during off-peak periods. Expect 2–4 weeks in March and early April.
What if I'm missing a 1099?+
Your preparer can file using bank records and substitute forms (Form 4852 for missing W-2). Don't delay filing — missing forms can usually be reconstructed.
Can I deduct the preparer fee?+
For most individual filers since the 2017 TCJA, no. Self-employed filers can deduct the portion related to their business return on Schedule C.
Tax Prep by city in Virginia
Get matched
Get 3 quotes from tax prep in Virginia
Free, no obligation. We'll route your request to up to 3 vetted tax preparers serving Virginia.
Take the next step
Move forward with a local CPA
Free matching
Get 3 free CPA quotes
Tell us what you need. Up to 3 verified CPAs reply within 1 business day. No fees, no pressure.
Request 3 quotesSide-by-side
Compare CPAs
Stack verified pros next to each other on pricing, specialties, and experience before you reach out.
Compare CPAsFree PDF
2026 CPA Pricing Guide
Real fee benchmarks for tax prep, bookkeeping, payroll, and advisory — by service and business type.
Download free guideAdvisor-grade guides
Downloadable ebooks & templates
CPA-ready playbooks and templates you can use today — instant downloads, no signup required.
The Small Business Tax & Profit Playbook
A CPA-ready guide to deductions, quarterly taxes, S-Corp strategy, owner pay, cash flow, and year-round tax planning.
Business Tax Deduction Checklist
A CPA-curated checklist of 80+ business deductions most owners miss — organized by category so you can sweep it before filing.
The Definitive Bookkeeping Cleanup & Recovery Guide
The CPA's step-by-step playbook for diagnosing messy books, reconstructing missing history, and restoring a clean, audit-ready ledger.
The Freelancer Tax Guide
The practical tax playbook for freelancers, contractors, and solo creatives — deductions, quarterly estimates, and self-employment strategies.
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.