What do you pay for tax preparation?

Last year my average fees came to about $445 per client for Federal and State returns. And there were a couple of Fiduciary Returns included.

Mike (CPA Retired)
 
So I am not paying too far off as this does include one state filing for personal and one state filing for corporate as well.
 
We paid $225 for a personal return done by our accountant. He did both Federal and State returns.
 

I did it on Turbo Tax myself (very easy and yes I itemize) and had both efiled for $66. They walk you through everything and even go back and check for mistakes
 
We had a CPA who did our taxes for 10+ years for just $25. He passed away this year so I made some calls to get an idea of what it was really going to cost us this year. Called a local accounting firm and they quoted me $325. Yikes! Our accountant, who passed, has a couple CPA friends who are taking on his clients and he is charging us $85. We do itemize and do all the deductions and different forms.
 
We use a CPA and he does everything for $60 or $65. It's gone up a few times in the last 10 years we've used him. :)
 
We usually end up around $800 or $850. That includes w-2s to all of our employees, 1099's to all of our cash employees, we also file separately because we aren't married and each have our own business plus personal taxes to file. The accountant figures out who takes the kids, daycare and various expenses to maximize our returns. Then he makes all the changes in our books for the next year and enters our carryovers. It feels fair.
 
$24 for fed & state... my mom does them and we get a "friends and family" rate through her company.
 
I use a CPA and pay $65

Yup, this is what I pay too. I will say I get a small break because he is a friend. My taxes are not that complicated. It is cheaper to use him than buy Turbo Tax for me.
 
I did my federal return using Turbo Tax Free edition, so cost was $0. Also did my partners return, including itemized deductions, for free. And lastly, live in Florida, so no state return! :banana:
 
Normally, we do our own.
However, this year, we have some different circumstances and will need to find someone to do them for us. So, I'm reading this thread mainly to see around how much it is going to cost me. :rotfl:
 
I pay $14.99 for Turbo Tax. Its so easy with these programs. They walk you through it holding your hand. You can't go wrong. My husband however, has different circumstances (he is his own business), so he pays a friend who was a CPA, to do his taxes - I think he pays him with a bottle of scotch or a nice lunch....one of the two!
 
I charge between $125 and $800. I am surprised anyone can find a professional that will charge under $100. My low paying clients are basically financially unable to pay regular retail.

In NYC H&R Block will charge $250 for a simple 1120 w 1 W2, a couple 1099s, a EIC form and one state.
 
I charge between $125 and $800. I am surprised anyone can find a professional that will charge under $100. My low paying clients are basically financially unable to pay regular retail.

In NYC H&R Block will charge $250 for a simple 1120 w 1 W2, a couple 1099s, a EIC form and one state.

Things are a bit different in Westchester County, NY than in the rest of the country. :laughing:
 
Things are a bit different in Westchester County, NY than in the rest of the country. :laughing:

I live about 10 miles out of Boston (middle-class, no wall street stockbrokers) and see the same prices. I can't believe a CPA would charge anyone but a close friend under $100. I used to pay around $225 till I played around with some tax software and saw that it wasn't overly complicated.
 














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