Going Rate to Get Your Taxes Done

[cycloner29]

We have been paying around $400 to get our taxes done the last couple of years. We used to pay over $500 as we used Schedule A for years for an in home daycare. We live in Ames and is this the norm for having someone do your taxes anymore? My mom' lawyer used to do hers for around $150, but here lawyer decided to drop doing taxes. She now pays over $300 and she lives in rural Iowa. Just thought I would see what going rate around the Ames/Boone/Nevada area is.

 

[JEFF420]

15.99$ taxhawk.com

 

[Gonzo]

Not in Ames but DSM area and I pay my guy around $300, that includes both of our W2s along with a bunch of Schedule C stuff for me every year.

 

[throwittoblythe]

We pay $375 in a small town just outside the DSM metro. We've paid as much as $800 before we found our guy. We have personal taxes and my wife owns her own small business.

 

[MeanDean]

I pay around $350-400. I have lots of investment and 401k/retirement stuff and IRA rollovers that confuse the living crap out of me. I use a guy in Davenport - been going there for probably 20-25 years.

Edit: Since I'm a Florida resident, I don't have state income tax - so that is for just the IRS/Fed.

 

[isufbcurt]

We have been paying around $400 to get our taxes done the last couple of years. We used to pay over $500 as we used Schedule A for years for an in home daycare. We live in Ames and is this the norm for having someone do your taxes anymore? My mom' lawyer used to do hers for around $150, but here lawyer decided to drop doing taxes. She now pays over $300 and she lives in rural Iowa. Just thought I would see what going rate around the Ames/Boone/Nevada area is.

Yes that is probably the going rate but I am lower than that as some on this board can attest to.

I don't have the overhead a lot of CPA firms do and HR block is a flat out ripoff.

DM me.

 

[mcclellandclone]

Have always done my own using TurboTax for over 25 years. I'm not happy with their filing fees and overall cost of software. Any suggestions or recommendations on some of the free online tax prep sites (1040.com, FileYourTaxes.com, 1040Now.net, etc.)? I also do returns for other family members with retirement income, RMD's, medical deductions, etc.

 

[ackatch]

Waukee here, we pay about $300 for a lady in WDM. She saved me a few years back when we lived in MN and I got farm income from a family LLC and had to dual file.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Also wanted to add in my small town there is a lady who charges people $50 to enter their taxes into turbotax for them. She's not a CPA by any stretch of the imagination. You give her your numbers, she puts them into TT in your name. I feel like this is illegal...thankfully she's never done mine.

 

[JM4CY]

$140

 

[FarmerCy1]

Central Iowa- $300 for Feds, State and Schedule F to a lady in DSM

 

[8bitnes]

Have always done my own using TurboTax for over 25 years. I'm not happy with their filing fees and overall cost of software. Any suggestions or recommendations on some of the free online tax prep sites (1040.com, FileYourTaxes.com, 1040Now.net, etc.)? I also do returns for other family members with retirement income, RMD's, medical deductions, etc.

I use OLT.com and no complaints. Combination of W2s, 1099s, and LLC stuff

 

[brianhos]

Mine is about $400, and it's the best money I spend all year.

 

[Clonehomer]

Have always done my own using TurboTax for over 25 years. I'm not happy with their filing fees and overall cost of software. Any suggestions or recommendations on some of the free online tax prep sites (1040.com, FileYourTaxes.com, 1040Now.net, etc.)? I also do returns for other family members with retirement income, RMD's, medical deductions, etc.

Used tax act last year after years of TurboTax. Seemed to do fine, but our taxes aren’t too complex. Real test will be how well it works with pulling in last years info into this year.

 

[IcSyU]

Expect prices to rise and continue to rise. Demand for significantly outweighs supply of tax preparers. I also wouldn't be surprised if you call a place right now and they don't call you back or strongly encourage you to call them back after the deadline. Clients are telling us they're calling 5+ places and not getting calls back or just flat out being told we aren't accepting new clients right now.

I have returns anywhere from $250ish to thousands.

 

[JP4CY]

$110 for my guy. Don't meet in person, all thru the mail/email.

 

[KidSilverhair]

Have always done my own using TurboTax for over 25 years. I'm not happy with their filing fees and overall cost of software. Any suggestions or recommendations on some of the free online tax prep sites (1040.com, FileYourTaxes.com, 1040Now.net, etc.)? I also do returns for other family members with retirement income, RMD's, medical deductions, etc.

I’ve used FreeTaxUSA the past several years. It’s really simple, as far as I’m concerned. I have absolutely no complaints and I’d recommend it to anyone.

The federal return is so easy, I willingly pony up the $14.99 or whatever it is to let them file my state taxes, too.

This from a guy who had always done his own taxes, filling out and mailing paper returns, for decades until I found FreeTaxUSA maybe 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[JM4CY]

$110 for my guy. Don't meet in person, all thru the mail/email.

How do you know he’s a guy then?

 

[KidSilverhair]

Also wanted to add in my small town there is a lady who charges people $50 to enter their taxes into turbotax for them. She's not a CPA by any stretch of the imagination. You give her your numbers, she puts them into TT in your name. I feel like this is illegal...thankfully she's never done mine.

I don’t know why that’d be illegal. If she can convince people to pay her to put their info into TurboTax, more power to her. As long as she fills the return out properly and lists herself as the preparer …

 

[JP4CY]

How do you know he’s a guy then?

I mail them to dad. Unless mom is doing them .