I’m willing to bet your tax code is a great dealer simpler
Tax preparation cost shock
- Thread starter Bailey28
- Start date
Do you have a business or are you just doing it for yourself?
Patman
Staff member
It’s possible, although I have already seen one American in this topic who posted that their cost for their return to be prepared was only $85
Maybe I need to start doing this for folks.
I've been doing my own taxes for 25+ years.
I have roughly over 3000 transactions a year for my business that I categorize and, as a former financial analyst, I actually consider the process very relaxing and research focused.
I've been doing my own taxes for 25+ years.
I have roughly over 3000 transactions a year for my business that I categorize and, as a former financial analyst, I actually consider the process very relaxing and research focused.
Our guy charges $495 . Expensive , but it's a large accounting firm so I expect to pay up . We've used him for a number of years , He's good at looking forward and giving us answers to " what if " situations , if that makes any sense . And we can call him any time and get answers to any questions . Every year we say we are going to find someone cheaper next time but we are comfortable with him and and the money savings won't be lifechanging . I had a 9 am appointment Monday morning and by that evening I got an email from them saying that the return had been received by the IRS and logged in to their system . Several changes to the code that benefitted us this year ,,, 
I am of the DIY mindset.
When my late wife worked for a local CPA office, preparing our taxes free of charge was a nice perk.
Before and since I have always done the taxes with commercial tax prep software.
Our tax situation has never been complex.
If you have good reading comprehension and can operate a computer, taxes are not tough.
If you have not done your own taxes with software, give it a try.
When my late wife worked for a local CPA office, preparing our taxes free of charge was a nice perk.
Before and since I have always done the taxes with commercial tax prep software.
Our tax situation has never been complex.
If you have good reading comprehension and can operate a computer, taxes are not tough.
If you have not done your own taxes with software, give it a try.
It depends on the nature of that person‘s financial position.
If it is simple, then it is a simple filing. One page.
In my case, the filing is over 70 pages. The US tax code is extraordinarily complex.
The statutes are over 6,000 pages. The rules, guidance, and filing regulations are over 70,000 pages.
Last year I did my parents taxes at HRblock, and about $125. $40 extra for audit defence
Check out AARP Tax Aide, it’s a free service, typically at a local library or community center. Locations can be found Googling “AARP Tax Aide locator”. It’s open to all ages not just AARP members. Personal taxes only, they won’t do a businesses taxes but do include self employment such as door dashers and freelance work.
I volunteer for them and can safely say you won’t find a more stringent tax preparation service. Each return is prepared and then reviewed by a different IRS certified tax counselor. It’s completely fee free and will also e-file both your federal and state returns. Also at no charge.
I volunteer for them and can safely say you won’t find a more stringent tax preparation service. Each return is prepared and then reviewed by a different IRS certified tax counselor. It’s completely fee free and will also e-file both your federal and state returns. Also at no charge.
Patman
Staff member
And still we have someone here commenting to do it yourself because it’s simple. Definitely doesn’t sound like it for a lot of people. Some things are best left to the professionals, especially when it comes to money and the potential of having the IRS come knocking one day.
Agree. My CPA does my personal taxes and my business (car shop) and it only costs around 300 and she is GOOD.
USA - it's just........boring...........and long (sorta). But really really not particularly difficult. Trust me, I get why people off load the work, but when you do, you can't gripe too much about the cost. People who do, probably just hired the wrong outfit.
It is ODD at times though, exact same numbers, three different people can make some routes come out with three different sets of final numbers.
I used to have an accounting firm do my ONE business accounting and taxes with the output being K-1's for my partner and me. They were NOT crazy expensive but they were not aggressive either. I hired them because my mind made it seem bigger than it should be. I would check them and find odd things, mainly in the CGS category (maybe being called a CDB expense, for example. Nothing huge. Then I was audited by the state (we have a B&O tax). The accountants were of no help during that torture, and the state auditor found a few things. I had to pay up and a very small fine. Took like six months under the microscope.
The year after that I started doing my own. Simple! Well, totaling up took a decent long time, and I still had to do my personal (with pesky wife and here passive income) income tax (and Amsoil under that umbrella - I have a lot of 1099 and still a couple K-1's) - because in the USA if sole proprietor can be within your 1040.
Anyway, now I just tell my wife, stay home I need you today, and I just plug and chug through all the numbers and try NOT to forget anything - yes I have forgotten income here or there accidentally - IRS never forgets ahahahahaha.
My biggest burn ever? When we both were taking advantage of the lower health insurance rates before Medicare. Well the delta has to count - graduated by income. We easily crossed the income threshold. Got body slammed for that.
H&R Block was $300.00
How about that overtime funds tax refund, pretty sweet.
How about that overtime funds tax refund, pretty sweet.
If they mostly do business taxes, then there is an opportunity cost to them for doing your personal return. You are going to pay business rates, because that is what they are foregoing to do your return.
Probably best to find a tax accountant that mostly does personal returns.
Tom NJ
$100 Site Donor 2026
Using this simplified form is cheap!
freetaxusa was recommended to me many years ago by a friend. Her bestie was a CPA. It's such a site and I love how they help you along the way with any questions. Highly recommend. In fact, I don't quite understand how TurboTax can compete with them. $16 to file you taxes. Amazing.
First of all, credentials; I have been a certified public accountant since 1980.
It has been a pretty long time since I would prepare a tax return for $85. I generally start at $180. After the basics, it depends on how long I spend on the return, then it is $160 per hour. I do not charge by the form. My fees are low compared to many CPAs, but I make more than I spend, so what more do I need?
As far as the time spent on a more basic return goes, I spent a lot of time and money each year keeping up with the tax laws. I also have to spend time and a lot of money on tax software and sometimes new hardware. Also, once the client leaves, I still have to send the return, receive acknowledgements, send the state return(s), etc. Then time has to be spent by staff on filing, telephone answering, etc. Fees are earned, even if you do not think your preparer spent enough time with you.
There is a lot of confusion about CPAs. Not everyone preparing returns is a CPA. In fact,most are not. An enrolled agent is also a tax return expert but that does not make them a CPA. Still, you can usually trust an enrolled agent to know their stuff. So quit using the term carelessly. I worked long and hard to get my certification and license.
It is a huge mistake to trust your tax return to Jackson Hewitt or Liberty Tax Service (both founded by Hewitt). On the other hand, although I think H & R Block charge too much, their tax preparers do get annual training. That is something you can never say about JH and Liberty.
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