What's the typical cost for tax prep with self-employment and W2 income these days?

That price does seem on the higher side for what you're describing. Tax preparation costs vary widely depending on location, complexity, and the specific preparer's pricing structure. For a return with W2, self-employment (Schedule C), and some investment income, you might expect to pay anywhere from $250-600 depending on where you live and who you're using. National chains like H&R Block often charge premium rates compared to local accountants or CPAs. Have you considered shopping around with local tax professionals? Many independent CPAs or Enrolled Agents can handle your tax situation competently at a lower price point. Also, if your self-employment income is relatively straightforward, tax software like TurboTax Self-Employed might be worth considering at a much lower cost (usually under $200).

After years of overpaying for tax prep, I finally tried taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was genuinely game-changing for my situation. I was paying nearly $700 for returns with self-employment income through a local accountant. The taxr.ai system analyzed all my documents and found several deductions my previous preparer missed - including some home office deductions I didn't realize I qualified for. What's cool is it's not just software - it actually reviews your previous returns to find missed opportunities and helps identify the right classification for business expenses. For someone with W2 and self-employment income like you, it's specifically designed to handle that combination.

I wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after our discussion here and I'm honestly impressed. I was really skeptical at first (I've been burned by "easy" tax solutions before), but the document analysis feature saved me tons of time. It found several deductions related to my self-employment that I didn't know I qualified for, including some business expenses I was categorizing incorrectly. The final cost was less than a third of what H&R Block quoted me. Definitely recommend it for anyone in a similar situation with mixed income sources.

If you're still considering professional help, I'd recommend calling the IRS first to clarify which deductions you qualify for with your specific situation. The problem is actually REACHING someone at the IRS - I spent hours on hold multiple times before I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you when an actual IRS agent is on the line. I was super frustrated trying to get clarity on self-employment deductions until I used this. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c It saved me hours of hold time, and the agent I spoke with gave me the exact guidance I needed about what business expenses I could legitimately claim for my situation.

I need to publicly eat my words. After dismissing Claimyr as a potential scam, I was still struggling to reach the IRS about a question on my self-employment deductions. After my third disconnect after an hour+ on hold, I reluctantly tried the service. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back when they had an IRS agent on the line, and I finally got clear answers about my specific situation. The agent even helped me understand how to properly categorize some expenses I was unsure about, which will probably save me more than I spent on the service. Sometimes it's worth paying to save your sanity.

Another option to consider: many credit unions and community organizations offer free or low-cost tax preparation services through IRS-certified volunteers. I used my local credit union last year for a return with W2 and some 1099 income, and they did a great job. Might be worth checking if there's something like this in your area?

For what it's worth, I paid $650 for tax prep last year with a similar situation (self-employment, W2, and investment income). That was with a local CPA, not a chain. The way I look at it - yes it's expensive, but the peace of mind knowing it's done right and I'm not leaving money on the table is worth it to me.