What would you charge for this combo 1040 & 1065

[AZ-Tax]

Form 1040 (MFJ) w/two W-2’s
Sch A with 12 entries
Sch B with 25 entries
Sch D with 12 entries
Form 8453 (mail in form for which you the tax preparer, supply envelope and address envelope)
Form 2441 w/4 entries
K-1, 5 entries (different P'ship then one below)

Same Client
Prepare their 2 (husband & wife) partner P’Ship form 1065.
Business is rental so 10 entries.

E-file form 1040 Fed and e-file St.
E-file form 1065 Fed, St needs to be mailed in for which tax preparer supplies addressed envelope.

The fees need to include any fees your software charges for filing a P’Ship return.

[dsi]

P/S Returns - $450-$550

Individual Returns - $500-$600

[Uncle]

Form 1040 (MFJ) w/two W-2’s
Sch A with 12 entries
Sch B with 25 entries
Sch D with 12 entries
Form 8453 (mail in form for which you the tax preparer, supply envelope and address envelope)
Form 2441 w/4 entries
K-1, 5 entries (different P'ship then one below)

Same Client
Prepare their 2 (husband & wife) partner P’Ship form 1065.
Business is rental so 10 entries.

E-file form 1040 Fed and e-file St.
E-file form 1065 Fed, St needs to be mailed in for which tax preparer supplies addressed envelope.

The fees need to include any fees your software charges for filing a P’Ship return.

Minimum $400 for both.

[MRPLOW]

Individual return
$300 - $400

Partnership
$500 - $700

[Gretel]

Min. $350 each, 1065 might go up a bit depending on how info is presented.

[Matt Sova]

Charges

1040 $550-$600
Partnership - starts at $600 and goes up from there.

[AJsTax]

My goodness,.

I do not know how you get those prices. I really dont.
that 1040 is worth a MAX of $200,
That simple 1065 will max out at $300.
there is no additional cost for software for any of it.

[Uncle Sam]

Charges

If you already had the answer calculated before you posted - why did you post?

Apparently AJ - from your posts - you're not a very experienced tax preparer - or really comprehend very much. You'll learn - the longer you're in this profession - you'll realize that clients should be paying you for your knowledge and skill - not merely menu price fees for form production or hourly fee.

[JoshinNC]

Aj

You really are shortchanging yourself. Maybe you have bought into the mentality of the Rust Belt consumer that the entire economy is in the sh*t hole and you can't earn an honest living by charging a fee comminsurate with your education and skill. Over the last few days you have been the lowest fee for every possibility discussed.

Our fee would be in line with those proposed by Mr. Sova, with additional charges for additional work.

[AJsTax]

Not very experienced???

If you already had the answer calculated before you posted - why did you post?

Apparently AJ - from your posts - you're not a very experienced tax preparer - or really comprehend very much. You'll learn - the longer you're in this profession - you'll realize that clients should be paying you for your knowledge and skill - not merely menu price fees for form production or hourly fee.

Very much the opposite, been in it for over 16 years. work at it full the past 6 years. do over 500 returns a year. have an accounting degree and EA. how much experience so you need?
we just dont believe in charging a price that is considered gouging...and in this area the prices are lower, no doubt. The market rules what we can charge. Even the big boxes in this area dont charge what some post.

I just share our ideas so some do not think that everyone charges like that. I had three people call in the past 2 weeks because their preparer retired and when I told them that I start at a min. of $80 (at home) they said , oh that is too much ..I will call someone else. do be it , I do have a cost of business to cover.

[AJsTax]

Joshin NC

You really are shortchanging yourself. Maybe you have bought into the mentality of the Rust Belt consumer that the entire economy is in the sh*t hole and you can't earn an honest living by charging a fee comminsurate with your education and skill. Over the last few days you have been the lowest fee for every possibility discussed.

Our fee would be in line with those proposed by Mr. Sova, with additional charges for additional work.

I do understand what you are saying. And I must disagree. We do make a good living. Our cost of living is lower here. no doubt. The main office I work in has 3 CPAs and an EA. All licensed. Our base is $80 an hour and we lose clients frequently to lower priced CPAs. We aim towards at least twice that amount during tax season.
One thing I must point out, The AVERAGE income in my county is just over $25,000 per year. yep. that is correct.
And in many of the situations of normal 1040 discussions there were others that were right with us in pricing. Yes there are many that are double or better, but I just can not get away with those kind of prices around here.

[DaveinTexas]

Very much the opposite, been in it for over 16 years. work at it full the past 6 years. do over 500 returns a year. have an accounting degree and EA. how much experience so you need?
we just dont believe in charging a price that is considered gouging...and in this area the prices are lower, no doubt. The market rules what we can charge. Even the big boxes in this area dont charge what some post.

I just share our ideas so some do not think that everyone charges like that. I had three people call in the past 2 weeks because their preparer retired and when I told them that I start at a min. of $80 (at home) they said , oh that is too much ..I will call someone else. do be it , I do have a cost of business to cover.

I can relate to both sides of the discussion. It's difficult to charge the high fees in a lower income area, especially in a terrible economy. However, it blows my mind that the same people that complain that my fees are too high and they will "have to try someone else" will end up coming back to me 1 year later after they tried the green box company and paid 2-3 times my quoted fee for less service and possibly a return with errors! Pardon the run-on sentence.

I have thought about charging a minimum fee next year; maybe $200 for all return types. Does anyone have any success with that strategy?

It just kills me to schedule an entire hour for a client that has a W2 for $15,000 and savings account interest of $25. That time would be better spent finishing up drop offs whilst eating lunch!

Yes, I said "whilst"!