Need recommendations for affordable accountant to file my yearly taxes - $1,100 seems steep

I've been using the same accountant for the past few years to handle both my business and personal tax returns, but I'm getting a bit of sticker shock at their fees. They're currently charging me $1,400 for the combined service, which feels pretty excessive for my relatively straightforward situation. My business is a single-member LLC with quarterly estimated payments, and my personal return isn't particularly complex (just a mortgage, some charitable donations, and standard retirement contributions). Does anyone have recommendations for accountants who can handle both business and personal tax filing at a more reasonable rate? I'm in the Kansas City area, but would be open to working with someone remotely if they're responsive over email. I don't need anything fancy - just someone reliable who won't charge me an arm and a leg. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

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19 comments

Mateo Gonzalez

•8M

As a tax preparer, I can tell you that $1,400 for both business and personal returns is actually on the higher end but not unreasonable depending on the complexity. That said, you definitely have options that could save you money. Consider looking into mid-tier tax preparation firms rather than individual CPAs - they often have more standardized pricing. Many offer combined business/personal packages starting around $800-900. Local enrolled agents (EAs) are another excellent option that people often overlook - they're certified by the IRS to prepare taxes and typically charge 30-40% less than CPAs while having the same filing privileges. If your LLC is truly straightforward, you might also want to explore tax software with business add-ons. Options like TaxAct, TaxSlayer, or even higher-end versions of TurboTax Business can handle single-member LLCs for a fraction of professional preparation costs.

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Mateo Gonzalez

•8M

Enrolled Agents absolutely provide representation protection during audits - that's actually one of their specialties. They're the only tax professionals directly credentialed by the IRS and have unlimited representation rights for any tax matter. Most EAs do offer year-round tax planning, though their availability and approach may differ from CPAs. I'd recommend interviewing a couple to find one whose communication style works for you. The best ones are proactive about scheduling mid-year check-ins to help with estimated payments and tax-saving strategies before year-end.

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Luca Ricci

•8M

After spending hours trying to find a reasonably priced accountant last year, I stumbled across this AI-powered tax service called taxr.ai that completely changed my approach. I was skeptical at first (aren't we all about tax AI?), but it was perfect for my situation with a small side business and regular W-2 income. What I found really helpful was that you can upload all your documents at https://taxr.ai and their system analyzes everything to prepare your return, but then they have actual tax pros who review it before filing. Saved me about 60% compared to my previous accountant, and they handled both my Schedule C business stuff and personal return without any issues. The interface is super straightforward too.

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Luca Ricci

•8M

They handle rental properties really well - there's a specific section for Schedule E that walks you through all the deductions including depreciation, repairs vs. improvements, travel expenses, and property management. Much more comprehensive than I expected. Regarding security, they use bank-level encryption (256-bit SSL), and they're IRS-authorized e-file providers which requires meeting strict security standards. They also include audit protection in their service and stand behind their work with a guarantee. Their privacy policy explicitly states they don't sell your data, which was important to me.

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Aisha Mohammed

•8M

Just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. It seriously exceeded my expectations for handling my rental properties! The section for tracking property expenses was way more detailed than TurboTax, and it automatically calculated depreciation correctly (which I always messed up before). The best part was uploading my previous year's return and having it pull all the historical data automatically. Ended up paying about $550 total for my Schedule C business, two rental properties, and personal return combined. Already planning to use it again next year.

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Yuki Watanabe

•8M

If you need to talk with the IRS about any tax issues (which I had to do multiple times this year), I highly recommend using Claimyr instead of wasting days trying to get through yourself. I had a problem with my business taxes where the IRS was saying I owed penalties for late estimated payments that I'd actually made on time. After sitting on hold for HOURS over multiple days and getting disconnected, I found https://claimyr.com and it completely changed the experience. They have this system that waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an actual agent is on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Literally saved me days of frustration and I finally got my issue resolved in one call once they connected me. Totally worth it if you need to deal with any IRS questions.

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Yuki Watanabe

•8M

There's no magic to getting through faster - they wait in the same queue as everyone else. The difference is THEY wait on hold instead of you, so you can go about your day until an agent is actually available. Regarding security, they don't record your conversation at all. The system just connects you directly to the IRS agent once they reach a human, then they drop off the call completely. You get a text when you're about to be connected so you can prepare. They're also BBB accredited and have been featured in major publications, so definitely not a scam.

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Andre Dupont

•8M

I need to apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr in my previous comment. After struggling with a business tax notice for weeks and spending THREE SEPARATE DAYS trying to reach the IRS myself (getting disconnected twice after 2+ hour holds), I was desperate enough to try it. The service actually works exactly as advertised. I went on their website, entered my number, and went back to work. About 90 minutes later I got a text that an agent was on the line, and then my phone rang with the IRS employee ready to help. Got my issue resolved in one 15-minute conversation after weeks of frustration. Not trying to sound like a commercial here, but when something actually works it's worth acknowledging. Definitely using this for any future IRS calls.

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Zoe Papadakis

•8M

That's a fair point about inconsistent quality. I've had good experiences by specifically requesting their senior tax pros who have experience with small businesses, but you definitely need to be proactive about it. One approach that works well is to call ahead and ask about their staff's experience with your specific business type before booking. The franchise locations (rather than corporate-owned) often have more experienced preparers who've been working with the local business community for years. But you're right that it can be hit or miss if you don't do your homework first.

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Jamal Edwards

•8M

I found mine through a business networking group in my area, which I highly recommend over random online searches. The best tax preparers often don't need to advertise much because they get most clients through referrals. When interviewing potential accountants, ask specifically about their approach to finding deductions and minimizing tax liability. A good one will immediately start asking you detailed questions about your business structure, expenses, and financial situation rather than just quoting you a price. Mine actually did a free review of my previous year's return during our consultation and pointed out several missed opportunities before I even hired him.

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