Hello,
Just checking to see if someone can give me some advice as to what might be an average charge for an accountant to charge me to file my taxes for my S Corp. for 2010, and we are in PA. We're just in business 14 months, not a big business with sales of about $400K.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

“what might be an average charge for an accountant to charge me to file my taxes for my S Corp. for 2010, and we are in PA.”---->In general, as you know, tax professionals use a variety of methods for setting prices for tax preparation services. The price you will pay for tax preparation services depends upon one thing: how complex your S corp.tax return is. The more complicated your return, the higher the price will be. This is true whether your accountant charges a flat-rate, an hourly rate, or has a price for each tax form.As a result, finding out what's a fair price to pay often proves difficult. The only general conclusion, probably, is that the price for tax preparation services increases depending upon the complexity of your S-corp. tax return.I guess fees for S corp tax rreturn vary considerably based on geographical location and the tax professional you use. Those with higher levels of education or specialization in specific industries can be more expensive. Probably, you could be lucky and pay as little as $250-$350, or as high as $1,000-$1,500 depending on just how "easy" the return is.However,
the Internal Revenue Service allows taxpayer to deduct the cost to prepare taxes for filing.

Thank you for that info Wnhough. So I guess it would be safe to say that the $2700 that my accountant is charging me, is a bit of a rip off. Our returns are not that involved at all. I guess we live and learn huh? Needless to say, he won't be my accountant after this filing!

Actually, your accountant may be charging you for the accounting work or bookkeeping along with the tax return. Also, if there were any unusual items on the tax return, he may have included that on the tax return. In addition, there may have been a charge for payroll tax returns as well as any 1099-Misc & 1096 Annual Transmittal as well.

If your accountant has filed the tax return prior to March 15, 2011, then clearly he or she must have worked hard to get the tax return done by the due date.

I would not characterize the $2,700 as a rip off without reviewing all the necessary facts and circumstances. But, for PA state perhaps $2,700 sounds a little too high if he has not done the books and the payroll tax returns.

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Ask TaxGuru Please refer to the legal disclaimer.

Actually, he filed for an extension, so they won't be filed on time, and I do pay him additional fees for my personal taxes as well as payroll and bookkeeping fees. That $2,700 is just for filing my S Corp taxes.

I have been paying my accountant more than $14,000 per year for the past 20 years. He gives me NO ADVICE.

Do I ask for a refund???????

“I have been paying my accountant more than $14,000 per year for the past 20 years. He gives me NO ADVICE. “--->I do NOT understand what you mean.
“Do I ask for a refund???????”--->I guess you may contact the IRS; needless to say, your tax return preparer is expected to be knowledgeable in tax law and to prepare accurate returns. As a tax return preparer, he must take all necessary steps to prepare accurate Federal tax returns on behalf of his clients. Tax return preparer is required to exercise due diligence in preparing or assisting in the preparation of tax returns. You can report abusive tax preparers and suspected tax fraud to the IRS on Form 3949-A, Information Referral or by sending a letter to:
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888
Please visit the IRS Website here:Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer