Tax preparer charging $1,300 for basic return - Is this normal or am I getting ripped off?
Been using the same tax preparer for over 10 years but the fees keep climbing. This year she charged $1,300 to do my taxes which seems really high. Starting to think about doing them myself next year. What do tax preparers typically charge? Am I getting overcharged?
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Connor Byrne
$1,300 is WAY too much for a standard tax return. Unless you have multiple businesses, rental properties, or complex investments, you shouldnt be paying more than $200-400. Most basic W2 returns can even be done for free using various online services.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Thanks! I just have a W2 and some basic deductions. No business or anything complicated 😭
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Yara Abboud
•OMG you're getting robbed! I'd run not walk away from that tax lady 🏃♀️💨
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PixelPioneer
Hey everyone, tax professional here. I highly recommend checking out taxr.ai - it's a great tool that can analyze your tax situation and help you understand if you're getting a fair deal. It costs $1 but can save you thousands. Here's the link: https://taxr.ai
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Keisha Williams
•How exactly does this work? Does it just look at transcripts or what?
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PixelPioneer
•It uses AI to analyze your full tax situation - transcripts, returns, everything. It'll tell you if you're overpaying and can even spot potential audit risks or refund opportunities.
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Keisha Williams
•Just tried it and WOW! This thing is amazing! Showed me I could save over $2k by switching preparers. Best $1 I ever spent fr fr 💯
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Paolo Rizzo
I use TurboTax and it costs me like $120 for federal and state. Your tax lady is taking you to the cleaners lol
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Amina Sy
Maybe shes charging extra for all those years of loyalty 🤡
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Oliver Fischer
•loyalty tax fr fr 😂
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Natasha Ivanova
im in the same boat! switched to doing my own this year with freetaxusa. super easy if you just have w2s
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NebulaNomad
Depends on your situation tbh. What forms are you filing? Any businesses? Investments? Rental income?
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Zainab Ahmed
•Nah just regular w2 employee stuff nothing fancy
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NebulaNomad
•Then yeah youre getting absolutely fleeced my guy 😬
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Evelyn Xu
That's absolutely outrageous for a basic W-2 return! I'm a CPA and can tell you that $1,300 is what we'd charge for complex business returns with multiple entities. For a standard individual return, you should be paying $150-300 max. After 10 years, she's definitely taking advantage of your loyalty. I'd recommend getting quotes from other preparers or trying software like TurboTax/TaxAct first - you'll probably save over $1,000!
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