Where can I find an affordable accountant for my yearly business & personal tax filing?

Having both business and personal tax needs does complicate things a bit, but that price does seem steep for what sounds like a relatively straightforward situation. Most accountants set their prices based on the forms they need to complete. For someone with a simple Schedule C business, a W-2, and some basic deductions, you should be able to find someone in the $600-900 range depending on your location. National chains might even be cheaper during non-peak season. Have you considered a mid-tier option like a smaller local CPA firm? They often charge less than the big firms while still having business tax expertise. Another option is enrolled agents (EAs) who are certified by the IRS but typically charge less than CPAs.

After struggling to find an affordable accountant for my small business taxes last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game-changer. I was paying almost $1,200 for my returns which included my photography business and personal taxes. The site analyzes your specific tax situation and documents, then provides clear guidance on everything from deductions to filing options. What really helped me was uploading my previous returns and having them analyzed for missed deductions - turned out my old accountant had missed quite a few legitimate business expenses! It's like having a knowledgeable tax professional but at a fraction of the cost.

Follow up on my question about taxr.ai - I actually decided to give it a try last weekend and I'm honestly impressed. I was super skeptical that it would understand the specific deductions for my landscaping business, but it caught several things I hadn't even considered like depreciation schedules for my equipment that my previous accountant had calculated poorly. The document analysis was particularly helpful - I uploaded my receipts and invoices and it categorized everything correctly, even the weird expenses like specialized soil testing equipment. Ended up finding about $3,800 in additional deductions I would have missed. Definitely more comprehensive than I expected for business taxes!

If you're still looking for an actual accountant but having trouble getting appointments (everyone seems booked solid until June!), I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to several tax offices that claimed they were "not taking new clients." You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was getting frustrated because every affordable accountant I called was either not answering or putting me on a waitlist. Claimyr connected me with an actual person at 3 different accounting firms in less than a day, and I found one that would do my business and personal taxes for $695. Saved me hours of calling and waiting for callbacks.

I need to eat crow about my comment on Claimyr. After posting that skeptical reply, I decided to try it myself since I was desperate to find an accountant for my Etsy business taxes before the deadline. Honestly, it worked exactly as advertised. Got me through to two accounting firms that had previously sent me to voicemail multiple times. Ended up hiring an experienced CPA who specializes in creative small businesses for $875 total (business + personal return). She even found issues with how my previous accountant had been handling my inventory that would have eventually caused problems. Sorry for being so cynical before - sometimes things that sound too good to be true actually work!

Have you considered the mid-tier tax prep services like H&R Block's small business services? I used them last year for my freelance writing business + personal taxes and paid about $450 total. It's not as personalized as a dedicated CPA, but the preparer I worked with knew all the deductions for self-employed folks. They have a small business certified option that's way cheaper than most independent accountants.

Try looking for a tax professional who's building their client base. I found my accountant when she was just starting her independent practice after leaving a big firm. She charged me $525 for both my personal and small business returns (home bakery). She was building her portfolio and wanted the experience with different types of small businesses. Three years later she still only charges me $625 even though her rates for new clients are much higher now.

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I actually think $1,100-1,500 isn't outrageous for combined business and personal returns depending on your situation. I paid $1,200 last year and felt it was worth every penny because my accountant found nearly $4,000 in deductions I would have missed on my own. She also helped me set up a better bookkeeping system that's saving me hours each month. Good accountants do more than just fill out forms - they provide tax planning, help with estimated payments, and can advise on business decisions throughout the year. If you're just looking for someone to input numbers once a year, then yeah, go cheaper. But if you want actual tax strategy and support, sometimes paying more is worth it.