Tax Preparation Cost

Tax preparation cost depends on a number of factors, including where you live, what type of forms are used, how many different states you need to file in (according to income earned in each), whether you own rental property, sold stocks, own a house or are part of a partnership.

For a Form 1040EZ and a simple state return, you can anticipate to pay from $70 to $100. This is unless you are a dependent of someone who is also filing. If that is the case, you will get a discount on that fee.

The more you can tell a tax preparation expert about what forms you need to file, the more accurate an estimate you will receive on the cost of preparation.

If you feel that the fee is too high after having your tax forms filled out, you are not obligated to take the return and pay. However, by refusing to pay, you cannot take the return and file it; you must start again from scratch.

For business filings, charges vary. Taxes need to be filed quarterly and at the year-end. Business taxes vary depending on the intricacy, the size of the business and what kind of organization it is. Costs for preparing monthly, quarterly and annual payroll tax forms are usually included as part of a payroll service. Sole proprietorship with no employees income taxes are filed as part of an owner's personal income taxes.

Rates run from $100 to $400 hourly for enrolled agents or tax accountants. Accountants oftentimes charge more. A fairly simple income tax return for a partnership, corporation or a sole proprietorship with few or no employees runs about $250 to $500 and goes up to $1,500-$2,500 or more, depending on the situation. Many tax-preparing firms charge a minimum of $500 or more for corporate income tax preparation.

Be aware that some tax professionals will charge for phone calls or questions exceeding a certain minimum amount; make sure you've discussed whether they will charge you a full hourly rate for a five-minute phone call.

There are several computer applications available for business tax returns, including TurboTax Business software, which costs between $83 and $90. Tax software can help organize your business taxes, but it's a good idea to also hire a tax professional to ensure all your bases are covered.