Effective date: March 2026 | Applies to: All calculators on cpalocator.com
This fee estimator is provided for informational and budgeting purposes only. It does not constitute a fee quote, a binding estimate, a representation of any specific CPA's fees, or professional advice of any kind.
Fee estimates are based on the National Society of Accountants 2020-21 Income and Fees Survey, adjusted for inflation. Actual fees depend on factors this calculator cannot capture, including the individual CPA's pricing, your geographic area's market conditions, the complexity of your specific documents, the CPA's experience and credentials, and current market demand. Actual fees may be significantly higher or lower.
THIS ESTIMATOR IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. CPA LOCATOR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM RELIANCE ON ESTIMATES PROVIDED HEREIN, INCLUDING DECISIONS TO HIRE OR NOT HIRE A CPA OR TO PAY A PARTICULAR FEE. ALWAYS OBTAIN A WRITTEN FEE PROPOSAL FROM YOUR CPA BEFORE ENGAGING SERVICES.
The NSA survey data underlying this estimator is from 2020-21, adjusted with a general inflation factor. CPA fees are not publicly reported in real-time. The geographic multipliers are approximations based on BLS wage data and may not reflect current local market conditions.
Before hiring any CPA, you should: (a) request a written fee proposal or engagement letter; (b) understand exactly what services are included and excluded; (c) verify the CPA's license and credentials with your state board; and (d) compare proposals from multiple CPAs.
Get a realistic fee range for your tax situation — based on actual survey data, adjusted for your location. Every number is sourced and explained.
Location is the single biggest variable in CPA pricing. A CPA in Manhattan typically charges 1.5× what one in Kansas City charges for the same return, based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics for accountants by metropolitan area.
Select the primary tax return you need prepared. If you need both individual and business returns, check both.
Each of these adds to the base return cost. Check everything that applies to your situation.
Primary source: National Society of Accountants (NSA) 2020-21 Income and Fees of Accountants and Tax Preparers in Public Practice Survey. This is the most comprehensive publicly available dataset on US CPA and tax preparer fees. It covers approximately 1,700 firms across all regions and firm sizes. The survey reports average and median fees by form type, firm size, and region.
Inflation adjustment: Survey data is from 2020-21. CPA fees have risen an estimated 15-20% since then, driven by accountant shortage (AICPA pipeline data) and general inflation. We apply a flat +15% adjustment as a conservative estimate. This may understate current fees in tight markets.
Geographic multipliers: Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for SOC code 13-2011 (Accountants and Auditors) by metropolitan area, relative to national median. Updated with 2023 OES data. These are approximations — local market dynamics vary.
Ranges: The low end of each range reflects the NSA survey's 25th percentile. The high end reflects the 75th percentile, adjusted for location. Very simple returns may fall below our low; complex returns with poor records or tight deadlines often exceed our high.