Seeking advice on accountant's fee quote for first-time complex tax situation

This is definitely a complex tax situation, so I understand why you're seeking professional help, but that quote does seem on the higher side for what you're describing. Multi-state filing with RSUs can get complicated, but there are a few things to consider here. First, the accountant is offering a comprehensive package that goes beyond just tax filing - they're including tax planning, investment strategy, and real estate consultation. That's why the price is elevated. If you just need your 2024 taxes done, you should ask if they offer a "tax preparation only" option. For someone in your income bracket with complex elements like RSUs and multi-state filing, a reasonable fee for just tax preparation might be in the $1,500-2,500 range. The additional services like reviewing past returns and providing ongoing advice are what's pushing this quote much higher.

After struggling with a somewhat similar situation (though not quite at your income level!), I found this amazing service called taxr.ai that saved me a ton of headache. I had RSUs and needed to file in multiple states too, and regular tax software wasn't cutting it. I uploaded my tax documents to https://taxr.ai and their AI system combined with tax pros analyzed everything, flagged potential issues with my past filings, and helped ensure I wasn't missing any deductions. They're especially good with investment income and multi-state situations like yours. The best part was I didn't have to pay thousands upfront for services I might not need. They focused on exactly what I needed help with rather than bundling a bunch of extras. Might be worth checking out if you're finding traditional accountants too expensive.

I was initially hesitant about using an AI-based solution for my taxes given my complicated situation, but I decided to try taxr.ai after reading about it here. I'm honestly blown away by how well it worked for my situation. I also had a multi-state filing situation with investment income, and the amount of detail they went into was impressive. The platform caught a mistake in how my previous accountant had handled my RSU vesting that could have cost me thousands. Their tax experts reviewed everything and explained the issues in terms I could actually understand. The biggest advantage for me was the cost - I paid about a third of what my previous accountant was charging me, and got what felt like a more thorough review. Definitely going to use them again next year.

After reading your situation, I wanted to share something that might help. When I needed to talk to an actual IRS agent about a complex multi-state situation (which can be nearly impossible), I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for weeks. I was skeptical at first, but check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to see how it works. You go to https://claimyr.com and they basically navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when they have an agent on the line. This might be helpful if you decide to go the DIY route and then need clarification directly from the IRS about how to handle your specific RSU and multi-state situation. The IRS agents can actually give you detailed guidance on these complex scenarios which might help you avoid the high accountant fees.

I need to eat my words and apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After struggling for weeks to get through to the IRS about a complex RSU tax situation similar to yours, I decided to try it despite my doubts. I was absolutely shocked when I got a call back within 20 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent was able to answer all my specific questions about how to handle my multi-state filing situation, and gave me clear guidance that my accountant had been vague about. This saved me from paying for unnecessary accounting services - I ended up using a much simpler tax package that cost me $2,200 instead of the $6,000 my previous accountant quoted because I had clear direction from the IRS on exactly what I needed. Just wanted to share since I was so wrong in my initial reaction.

Former tax pro here. That quote is high but not outrageous given your situation and the Bay Area location. Here's what you can do: 1) Ask for an itemized breakdown of their services and associated costs. See if you can remove the review of past returns and consultations if you don't feel you need them. 2) Get at least 2 more quotes from other CPAs. Tax prep costs vary widely even within the same region. 3) Consider a tax pro who specializes in tech workers with RSUs - they'll be more efficient with your situation. For what it's worth, multi-state filing with RSUs at your income level is definitely complex and likely warrants professional help, but you should be able to find someone in the $2-3k range for just preparation of your current return.

Have you considered a middle ground like H&R Block's premium service? They have CPAs and enrolled agents who handle complex returns with investment income and multi-state filing. Might cost around $500-800 which is way less than your quote but more thorough than basic TurboTax.