Tax Preparation Pricing

“Typical cost” is what many clients in that category usually pay based on the preparation time those returns commonly take. It’s not a guaranteed price for every situation.

Your final price is based on time:
Base fee (includes a set amount of preparation time) + additional time only if your return requires it.

Before we file, we send an invoice with your final total so you can review it and know exactly what you’re paying.

Because pricing is time-based, being prepared saves you money. The more complete and accurate your organizer and documents are, the less time it takes us to prepare your return.

You’ll typically pay less when you:

• Complete the organizer carefully (accurate answers, no blanks if possible)

• Upload all tax forms up front (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, mortgage interest, etc.)

• Label documents clearly (or upload them to the right category)

• Provide clean totals for business income/expenses (instead of raw screenshots or mixed transactions)

Some situations take longer because they require more review, reconciliation, documentation, or follow-up. Common examples:

• Missing, incomplete, or late documents
  Example: a 1099 or K-1 arrives after we’ve started, or a form is missing pages.

• Multiple income sources
  Example: several W-2s, multiple 1099s, retirement distributions, unemployment, or a mix of wages and side income.

• Self-employment or gig work with expenses
  Example: expenses spread across accounts that need sorting and categorizing.

• Investment reporting complexity
  Example: many trades, multiple brokerage statements, cost basis issues, or wash sales.

• Rental properties
  Example: depreciation, improvements vs. repairs, partial-year rental use, or multiple properties.

• K-1s and entity-related details
  Example: multiple K-1s or supporting statements that require review and clarification.

• Multi-state situations
  Example: living in one state and working in another, moving mid-year, or income sourced across states.

• Records that need cleanup
  Example: unlabeled uploads, duplicates, unclear totals, or missing documentation.

Yes—state filing(s) are included when a state return is required for your situation. If your situation involves multiple states, that can increase preparation time (and therefore cost), but there are no surprise “state add-on” fees.

Missing or late documents usually add time because we may need follow-up, re-check calculations, or revise the return. To keep your cost as low as possible, upload all forms you expect to receive before we begin (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, brokerage statements, etc.) and complete your organizer carefully. We’ll let you know what’s missing and what we still need to finalize your return.

No. We don’t charge per form or per schedule. Your price is based on time: a base fee that includes a set amount of preparation time, plus additional time only if your return requires it. All necessary forms and schedules to complete your filing are included—no hidden “form fees.”

You’ll receive an invoice with the final total before we file. Once payment is completed, we finalize and e-file your return.

We prepare the state return(s) required based on where you lived, worked, or earned income. Multi-state situations often take additional time because each state has different rules, forms, and allocation requirements—so the final price may be higher due to added preparation time.

Yes—we can absolutely help. Many clients come to us with documents that are incomplete, unsorted, or spread across multiple places, and we’ll guide you through what’s needed to get everything into good shape for filing.