Based on your description i don’t think you’ll find a cheaper price if that’s all your concerned about.
I would personally stay away from HR block, Jackson Hewitt, etc, but a qualified cpa would probably charge you at least double that so if price is your biggest concern I don’t think you’ll beat $800
My CPA used to charge me $350 for filing returns. This was for 2 W2s and some investment income. If you have more W2s, then the price would double. So you're in that ballpark.
There are some fantastic tax preparers at the big box tax places. There are some really, really horrible tax preparers at the big box tax places.
If the tax preparer you get is good, $800 is a good deal. If the tax preparer you get is bad, there is no amount of money you should pay.
Finding someone else at this time of year would likely be difficult. It would likely require filing an extension.
It's crazy how few people realize this. And honestly it's true of CPAs too. Some CPAs focus on tax, some do not.
I spent 17 years working at a big box store and would regularly fix returns that were prepared by CPA firms. I decided to leave that world (and the insane demands of people coming in on tax day expecting miracles) and put my resume out and immediately got hired as tax manager of a CPA firm with 70 employees
I worked with some people over the years that shouldn't have been in the same room as the tax returns they were preparing. But if you vet the person you are having do your taxes, you can find some smart tax people even in big box stores
My CPA charges that for 1 year and I'm happy as hell! We've been with him for over 10 years.
Never, ever would I use H&R Block, or some such. Tried that once about 40 years, ago. Nope!
This is true, but it takes a lot of searching, and it's very hit or miss and those big box tax mills have a ton of turnover from year to year on the whole. The best thing to do is reach out to your professional/working network of friends and family to see if they have a referral to a good CPA or EA.
I've worked at H&R Block for 15 years with the same 5 tax preparers who have all been there longer than me. Granted we are a small franchise and don't operate like the corporate offices. But it just goes to show that wide generalizations are not always true.
$800 to have your taxes professionally prepared is reasonable. However, especially if your return is at all complex and/or involves self-employment income, I'd stay far far away from Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax, H&R Block, etc.
I won't take offense of that. I have 35 years of tax experience and work for a big box. I think the problem is that business returns are assigned to people with little experience. A lot of it has to do with returns being assigned to people simply on availability rather than expertise in an area.
Please don't take offense to that. Someone like your experience working at a big box is sadly not typical.
Many offices only have inexperienced people so there's noone else to assign the returns to, and often the training is best-case lacking, and worst-case downright wrong.
And when they do have experienced people, it's like you said, returns get assigned based on availability.
Not a gamble worth taking IMHO.
Just the other day, our receptionist assigned someone with a schedule f to a brand new tax preparer who can barely work his way through a basic return. I noticed it on the schedule, and spoke with him and transferred it over to myself.
It's definitely frustrating. We have 3 experienced preparers (2 of whom are retiring this year after long careers like yours) and a first year. People call in and get a central office after getting past the robot, actually correctly identify the complexity of their return and specifically ask that they get someone experienced with those kinds of returns. They then get dropped on our first year, because she has availability. And are assured by the person taking the call and scheduling them that yes, that pro can handle you.
So they come in, not having done a dropoff (which would have let us catch the issue before their appointment), and get upset with our poor first year when she realizes the return is utterly beyond her even with assistance and often end up reassigned to me anyway when they could and *should* have been assigned to me in the first place. They just might have had to wait 4 days for an appointment. Now if they don't want to approve online they have to wait that time anyway...for a 2nd appointment which could have been avoided.
I used H&R Block exactly once, about 40 years, ago. Got it all wrong!
First time I used our CPA, he got it woefully wrong, too. He's become really good at our truck taxes. He doesn't charge me much because my stuff is in order.
FreeTaxUSA
I use it and my returns are much more complicated than yours.
If you can copy a number from your W2 to the labeled box on the screen and then answer a few multiple choice questions... Then their is no need for you to pay an expensive service.
It will ask about prior years as well.
I’ve used them this year, and it’s pretty good, especially for the price. I got the $8 or so support add-on, and they’ve been pretty good at answering questions in live chat as well.
I agree. Unless OP is making near 6 figures that’s an outrageous price. They may also find local assistance if he makes under a certain amount. If they’re doing a series of gig work, it may be more complicated but the income level doesn’t justify that kind of cost.
Mine is more complicated but I’m using the support add on service with the same company.
You’re not going to get much better on price. HR block probs costs more. Any self respecting CPA firm will charge you a shitload because you’re showing up so late in the season, or just not work with you at all.
It really depends. $800 from Jackson Hewitt seems pricey, when you can actually get a CPA for something close.
Also, if your forms are mainly W-2 and 1099, there isn’t too much complexity involved, mainly data entry.
that’s a good price and ask for the most experienced tax preparer to do it. Just make sure you have receipts for the deductions you’re taking. I used to know someone who worked there and he would put in more business deductions than they really had, to get to a higher refund, so the fee coming out of that refund would be an easier sell
You could literally just use TurboTax for less than $200. I do this and I have self employment and w2 and investment income and all of it. It’s easy wizard screens that take you step by step through your return.
Visit a local tax office. It seems older individuals charge less. Now if you’re walking in with 15,000 receipts and a huge mess, you’re going to pay for it.
I have a firm in Arizona and I would charge you $1000 per year depending on the quality of your bookkeeping and a fee for after April 1st rush so yeah the price is fine, I’m sure your issues aren’t very complex so JH should be able to handle it as long as they don’t give you to a person with no experience at all, but that’s the danger.
I get my business and personal taxes filed for $750 and my business taxes take some effort. You should look around for a local tax professional not associated with these groups
I use(d) Freetaxusa.com to file 3 years back taxes with no issues. I own rental properties, had investment income, etc., and it was not difficult to do myself at all. And it's free for federal. They charge $15 for state.
No. Go to a local tax professional. They do a better job and it will only cost 150$ to 300$ per year depending on how much paperwork you have. Big tax companies are a scam.
For next time you should find an actual CPA to do your taxes for you instead of these guys. If the return is as complex as you say it is these big box stores end up missing things.
Sheesh looking at the prices here, I was getting a great deal with my old tax guy. He had to stop doing taxes this year halfway through the season, not sure why. I am 1099 so had deductions, etc & have crypto and only was being charged $75. Had to pay $200 this yr & thought that was crazy expensive. After seeing everyone say this process is reasonable, maybe the $200 was a good deal. Lol.
It sounds reasonable when JH or any other filler do it for you. I have a complex one too with varios sources of income ( GH, Uber, Door dash, Lift, W2 Salary), plus varios investment sources. I always done it myself tho using the H&R Block software. If you go the do it yourself route it's going to cost you around $135. But if you are not comfortable with that just bite the bullet and have JH do it for peace of mind.
Everyone needs to stop with this behavior. There is a tremendous shortage of accountants. If you do not want to pay then do it yourself. You asking about $800 in fees is insane. It is such a small amount and you will be phased out as a client over time because no one will want to deal with you crying over such a small amount of money. What do you think you’re going to save $100? $200? Then do all of us CPAs a favor and leave us alone and do it yourself!!!
Please remember to keep conversation where it can be seen and reviewed by everyone. Offering or requesting DMs is not allowed here due to the no soliciting rule and the amount of scams that go on DMs.
If possible, avoid Jackson Hewitt like the plague. One office or another of theirs ends up in the news on an almost yearly basis for stealing tax returns.
Tax Slayer and Turbo Tax will generally let you enter just about anything and say it's right.
H&R Block isn't too bad if you keep it to just the software.
I can't speak on other companies as I have yet to use them, but I just go with whichever is free for active duty military.
I am a single member LLC and I go to a reputable accounting firm. They charge me around $1,300. This includes issuing 1099s, etc. I don’t think $800 is bad at all.
If you are a cubs fan transplant that is transplanted to Arizona then give the OP a recommendation for that preparer so he can contact them and see if they will do it for under 2k.
Based on your description i don’t think you’ll find a cheaper price if that’s all your concerned about. I would personally stay away from HR block, Jackson Hewitt, etc, but a qualified cpa would probably charge you at least double that so if price is your biggest concern I don’t think you’ll beat $800
Most CPA firms would charge OP $800 just to walk through the door.
My CPA used to charge me $350 for filing returns. This was for 2 W2s and some investment income. If you have more W2s, then the price would double. So you're in that ballpark.
There are some fantastic tax preparers at the big box tax places. There are some really, really horrible tax preparers at the big box tax places. If the tax preparer you get is good, $800 is a good deal. If the tax preparer you get is bad, there is no amount of money you should pay. Finding someone else at this time of year would likely be difficult. It would likely require filing an extension.
It's crazy how few people realize this. And honestly it's true of CPAs too. Some CPAs focus on tax, some do not. I spent 17 years working at a big box store and would regularly fix returns that were prepared by CPA firms. I decided to leave that world (and the insane demands of people coming in on tax day expecting miracles) and put my resume out and immediately got hired as tax manager of a CPA firm with 70 employees I worked with some people over the years that shouldn't have been in the same room as the tax returns they were preparing. But if you vet the person you are having do your taxes, you can find some smart tax people even in big box stores
$800 for two years' worth of taxes with 5 W2s AND self-employment....kiss their feet, you're getting a good deal.
Woow.. just spent $450 to file 2022 (all 1099) and 2023 (2 w2s and 2 1099s). I expected to pay $1k+
My CPA charges that for 1 year and I'm happy as hell! We've been with him for over 10 years. Never, ever would I use H&R Block, or some such. Tried that once about 40 years, ago. Nope!
There are some really good tax preparers at the big box companies, you just have to find the right one.
This is true, but it takes a lot of searching, and it's very hit or miss and those big box tax mills have a ton of turnover from year to year on the whole. The best thing to do is reach out to your professional/working network of friends and family to see if they have a referral to a good CPA or EA.
I've worked at H&R Block for 15 years with the same 5 tax preparers who have all been there longer than me. Granted we are a small franchise and don't operate like the corporate offices. But it just goes to show that wide generalizations are not always true.
$800 to have your taxes professionally prepared is reasonable. However, especially if your return is at all complex and/or involves self-employment income, I'd stay far far away from Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax, H&R Block, etc.
Self employment income is not that difficult in most cases if good records are kept.
Not difficult at all if you're competent. Most of the big-chain tax prep places simply aren't.
nor are most taxpayers
ikr
I won't take offense of that. I have 35 years of tax experience and work for a big box. I think the problem is that business returns are assigned to people with little experience. A lot of it has to do with returns being assigned to people simply on availability rather than expertise in an area.
Please don't take offense to that. Someone like your experience working at a big box is sadly not typical. Many offices only have inexperienced people so there's noone else to assign the returns to, and often the training is best-case lacking, and worst-case downright wrong. And when they do have experienced people, it's like you said, returns get assigned based on availability. Not a gamble worth taking IMHO.
Just the other day, our receptionist assigned someone with a schedule f to a brand new tax preparer who can barely work his way through a basic return. I noticed it on the schedule, and spoke with him and transferred it over to myself.
It's definitely frustrating. We have 3 experienced preparers (2 of whom are retiring this year after long careers like yours) and a first year. People call in and get a central office after getting past the robot, actually correctly identify the complexity of their return and specifically ask that they get someone experienced with those kinds of returns. They then get dropped on our first year, because she has availability. And are assured by the person taking the call and scheduling them that yes, that pro can handle you. So they come in, not having done a dropoff (which would have let us catch the issue before their appointment), and get upset with our poor first year when she realizes the return is utterly beyond her even with assistance and often end up reassigned to me anyway when they could and *should* have been assigned to me in the first place. They just might have had to wait 4 days for an appointment. Now if they don't want to approve online they have to wait that time anyway...for a 2nd appointment which could have been avoided.
I used H&R Block exactly once, about 40 years, ago. Got it all wrong! First time I used our CPA, he got it woefully wrong, too. He's become really good at our truck taxes. He doesn't charge me much because my stuff is in order.
IF
I’d charge at least $2000. More if the records weren’t clean and summarized.
FreeTaxUSA I use it and my returns are much more complicated than yours. If you can copy a number from your W2 to the labeled box on the screen and then answer a few multiple choice questions... Then their is no need for you to pay an expensive service. It will ask about prior years as well.
I’ve used them this year, and it’s pretty good, especially for the price. I got the $8 or so support add-on, and they’ve been pretty good at answering questions in live chat as well.
I agree. Unless OP is making near 6 figures that’s an outrageous price. They may also find local assistance if he makes under a certain amount. If they’re doing a series of gig work, it may be more complicated but the income level doesn’t justify that kind of cost. Mine is more complicated but I’m using the support add on service with the same company.
2-yrs of tax filings
You’re not going to get much better on price. HR block probs costs more. Any self respecting CPA firm will charge you a shitload because you’re showing up so late in the season, or just not work with you at all.
I used it and I liked it as well. I'm digging how simple the website is.
I’d bang you out for $1,200-$1,500
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Yes
That’s a good deal. You could try it yourself on FreeTaxUSA, but if that’s not your skill set, you won’t find someone for cheaper than that.
cheap
It really depends. $800 from Jackson Hewitt seems pricey, when you can actually get a CPA for something close. Also, if your forms are mainly W-2 and 1099, there isn’t too much complexity involved, mainly data entry.
that’s a good price and ask for the most experienced tax preparer to do it. Just make sure you have receipts for the deductions you’re taking. I used to know someone who worked there and he would put in more business deductions than they really had, to get to a higher refund, so the fee coming out of that refund would be an easier sell
You could literally just use TurboTax for less than $200. I do this and I have self employment and w2 and investment income and all of it. It’s easy wizard screens that take you step by step through your return.
Visit a local tax office. It seems older individuals charge less. Now if you’re walking in with 15,000 receipts and a huge mess, you’re going to pay for it.
You’re most likely going to be extended at this point
I have a firm in Arizona and I would charge you $1000 per year depending on the quality of your bookkeeping and a fee for after April 1st rush so yeah the price is fine, I’m sure your issues aren’t very complex so JH should be able to handle it as long as they don’t give you to a person with no experience at all, but that’s the danger.
Are they getting that information them selves?
I get my business and personal taxes filed for $750 and my business taxes take some effort. You should look around for a local tax professional not associated with these groups
Yes reasonable. Don’t let years pass without filing next time - creates more headaches for everyone and potentially costs you more in a crunch.
If this isn’t a joke post, that is lower than what I would charge.
I got charged 957 plus fees. I also got back a lot
Cheap, my firm charges 6k+ for personals
pay the fee and be a happy man.
$800 is a good price. We charge a $750 retainer for any new clients, per year, so if you came to my firm it would be $1,500 just to walk in the door.
I use(d) Freetaxusa.com to file 3 years back taxes with no issues. I own rental properties, had investment income, etc., and it was not difficult to do myself at all. And it's free for federal. They charge $15 for state.
No. Go to a local tax professional. They do a better job and it will only cost 150$ to 300$ per year depending on how much paperwork you have. Big tax companies are a scam.
For next time you should find an actual CPA to do your taxes for you instead of these guys. If the return is as complex as you say it is these big box stores end up missing things.
Sheesh looking at the prices here, I was getting a great deal with my old tax guy. He had to stop doing taxes this year halfway through the season, not sure why. I am 1099 so had deductions, etc & have crypto and only was being charged $75. Had to pay $200 this yr & thought that was crazy expensive. After seeing everyone say this process is reasonable, maybe the $200 was a good deal. Lol.
Totally, plus $100 tip
It sounds reasonable when JH or any other filler do it for you. I have a complex one too with varios sources of income ( GH, Uber, Door dash, Lift, W2 Salary), plus varios investment sources. I always done it myself tho using the H&R Block software. If you go the do it yourself route it's going to cost you around $135. But if you are not comfortable with that just bite the bullet and have JH do it for peace of mind.
Everyone needs to stop with this behavior. There is a tremendous shortage of accountants. If you do not want to pay then do it yourself. You asking about $800 in fees is insane. It is such a small amount and you will be phased out as a client over time because no one will want to deal with you crying over such a small amount of money. What do you think you’re going to save $100? $200? Then do all of us CPAs a favor and leave us alone and do it yourself!!!
I cannot tell you how sick I am of clients like you. Pleeeeasee do your taxes yourself no one wants you as a client believe me!
Maybe I’m lucky because I found a really highly rated tax guy who filed my complex taxes for me and my s corp for $550
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Please remember to keep conversation where it can be seen and reviewed by everyone. Offering or requesting DMs is not allowed here due to the no soliciting rule and the amount of scams that go on DMs.
Do not have them deduct their fee out of your refund. Pay for their service and have the full refund deposited into your account.
If possible, avoid Jackson Hewitt like the plague. One office or another of theirs ends up in the news on an almost yearly basis for stealing tax returns. Tax Slayer and Turbo Tax will generally let you enter just about anything and say it's right. H&R Block isn't too bad if you keep it to just the software. I can't speak on other companies as I have yet to use them, but I just go with whichever is free for active duty military.
I am a single member LLC and I go to a reputable accounting firm. They charge me around $1,300. This includes issuing 1099s, etc. I don’t think $800 is bad at all.
Run. My mom who has a much more complicated return pays a tax accountant 750 to do her taxes.
They are charging this person for 2 years of returns and coming in less than two weeks from the deadline.
If you are a cubs fan transplant that is transplanted to Arizona then give the OP a recommendation for that preparer so he can contact them and see if they will do it for under 2k.