I met with the accountant yesterday. She is going to charge me $300 for the LLC taxes and $125 for the personal taxes. I have always done my own personal taxes with TaxCut in the past. It's a $10 program. For personal, in finding all the numbers to plug in, like capital gains, child care tax ID numbers, etc., I feel like I'll still be doing my own taxes. Entering the numbers into my PC is acutally easier than getting those numbers to the accountant. Is this a fair price for tax preparation? Has anyone used the TaxCut for business software package? Feedback please. Thanks, DFW Area Landscaper
The LLC return price sounds about right. I would suggest Turbo Tax deluxe $39.99 for you personal taxes. Great software that "asks" all the right questions to maximize you tax savings. You also receive the state software free if needed and a coupon for a free electronic filing. I'm not a software salesman just use it for my personal return and its good. Trust me very few individual tax returns require $125.00 worth of work with todays software. This coming from a former tax manager of an accounting firm. Charlie
The rate is probable being built off of the releationship with your business. Just remember, that accountant has overhead too. It is a bit high, but that seems to be the going rate for 1040 prep in my area. Believe me, I knwo because I am a tax accountant for a very, very, very large public accounting firm. Your post is exactly why I do not do personal taxes, but instead have a lawn business. People just don't want to pay me for doing taxes any more. I make more green cutting the green!!!
Those prices are in line with other firms. You can probably do the returns yourself....even if by hand to save money, but one thing you need to consider is if you know all the new tax laws and changes that could possible relieve some of your tax burden. Just be careful...if you feel comfortable doing your returns then go for it...just keep up to date on the new tax law changes (depreciation allowances, self employed insurance premiums, etc.)
we used H&R block online filing. Has 3 different levels you can choose, but with the copmany being the size it is, it was very simple, just fill in the amounts, and it is done. Cost us $40 for both federal and state. Filed using the Scedule C for the business. Program is worht looking at seeing the cost savings. Good records make this time go a lot easier.