How do you charge for tax preparation and tax planning?
Personal tax return preparation starts at $325. That covers a federal return and state return for a straightforward situation. The final price depends on the complexity of what needs to be filed.
A W-2 employee with one or two income sources and standard deductions will be at the lower end. A business owner with Schedule C income, rental properties, investments, or multiple state filings will pay more because the return takes more time and expertise to prepare correctly. We quote based on what’s actually involved in your situation.
Tax planning is priced differently because it’s a different kind of work. Preparing a return is looking backward at what happened last year. Planning is looking forward at how to reduce what you’ll owe next year and beyond.
For some clients, tax planning happens as part of an ongoing monthly relationship. When we’re working with your books throughout the year, we see opportunities to time income and expenses, adjust estimated payments, and make decisions before December 31st rather than scrambling after. Simona is a CPA and Enrolled Agent, so the planning is grounded in real tax expertise rather than generic advice.
For clients who just need planning as a standalone engagement, we scope it to the work involved. A straightforward review of entity structure options or retirement contribution strategies is a smaller project. A comprehensive plan covering multiple income sources, investment timing, and multi-year projections takes more time.
Either way, we tell you the scope and price before the work starts. No surprises.
One note on what we prepare. The firm handles bookkeeping and tax services for owner-operated service businesses, including personal returns with Schedule C income for sole proprietors and single-member LLCs. We don’t file separate business entity returns like S-corp, partnership, or C-corp returns. If you need those, we can work alongside the preparer who handles them.
If you want a quote for your situation, reach out and we’ll give you a clear number based on what’s actually involved.
New England's CPA-Led Bookkeeping Partner
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More Questions
How do I keep cash flow healthy when I pay workers before clients pay me?
The timing gap in staffing and IT services means payroll goes out weekly while client payments come in 30 to 60 days later. Surviving this requires tight receivables tracking, a cash buffer covering four to six weeks of payroll, and often a line of credit or factoring relationship.
Read answerHow do I handle 1099s for the freelancers I subcontract?
Collect a W-9 from each freelancer before the first payment, track payments per person throughout the year, and file 1099-NEC forms by January 31 for those over the threshold.
Read answerWhat is the difference between cash and accrual accounting, and which should I use?
Cash basis records income when money arrives and expenses when paid. Accrual records them when earned or incurred. Most small service businesses use cash basis for simplicity, but accrual gives a clearer picture as you grow.
Read answerWhat makes a CPA and Enrolled Agent different from a regular bookkeeper?
A CPA is a state-licensed accountant, and an Enrolled Agent is a federally licensed tax specialist with IRS representation rights. Here, the same person who keeps your books also handles tax planning and personal returns, so nothing gets lost between providers.
Read answerWill you work with my current CPA or tax preparer?
Yes. We keep clean, tax-ready books throughout the year and coordinate directly with your outside tax preparer at year-end. Many clients also choose to consolidate bookkeeping and personal tax returns with us, but either arrangement works well.
Read answerYou are based in Massachusetts. Can you work with my business if I am in another state?
Yes. The firm works remotely with clients across New England and nationwide, all in QuickBooks Online. Massachusetts is home base, but bookkeeping, payroll, and federal tax work travel anywhere.
Read answer