Probably the most frequently asked question from prospective clients is, “How much would you charge to prepare my tax return?”

If you meet our criteria for basic Individual tax returns, we offer Simply Done limited-service tax prep for $300, with the option to add-on a Schedule C for $125. We can offer this flat-fee service because we can reliably predict the resources required to prepare, review and deliver your tax return by restricting the tax situations included in this service tier.

But most of our prospects and clients have more complex tax returns, and they’re looking for something more out of the tax prep process.

Full disclosure – for 2020, we offered flat-rate tax prep for all our clients based on 3 tiers of complexity. It was a failed experiment that ultimately proved unfair to some of my clients, my team members, and me.

We should have known. As The Waitresses warned us circa 1982, “One size does NOT fit all.”

Other factors are affecting our rates for 2021 as well. Our costs for compliance, technology, labor, coworking space, insurance and other business expenses have gone up. The cost of my professional tax software alone has more than doubled.

In addition, pandemic recovery measures such as Economic Impact (stimulus) Payments, Advance Child Tax Credit payments, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, 401(k) withdrawals under special rules, PPP loans, and taxable and nontaxable grants add some level of complexity to almost every return.

On top of all that, the IRS is a hot mess. Phone lines are jammed for tax pros as well as taxpayers. ACTC letters went out with the wrong amounts. There are about 6 million pieces of mail left unopened and unprocessed, yet the IRS collections machine continues to hum, irrespective of any responses to prior Notices that may be waiting for attention under all those piles of mail.

So what do we charge for more complex returns? 

We know it’s not the answer you want, but the most honest answer we can give is, “It depends.”  

Generally, the fee you pay will increase with the complexity of your return. If we find something wacky or unusual that will increase your fee significantly, we will contact you to explain. 

Below are listed the fees for the most commonly filed forms, along with a few of the situations that might increase your fees.