Old topic was very [old].

Normally I do my own taxes but this year my taxes are a giant clusterfuck so I'm thinking about paying an accountant. Anyone have recommendations on a good one? What does an accountant generally cost in the first place?

11/3/2010 2:11:26 PM

Susan Aldrich

http://www.aldrichcpa.com

She does my personal and both of my corporations.

11/3/2010 4:03:14 PM

Is it just for your personal taxes? Do you have a business or in what way are they complicated? I'm sure a lot of accountants can do most any taxes, but some specialize in certain areas.

11/3/2010 4:33:48 PM

Just personal taxes. It's complicated because most of my income for this tax year is from working overseas.

11/3/2010 4:43:10 PM

My brother in law does international corp taxes as a CPA at GT - and he does individuals on the side during tax season - I can give you his email if you want it.

11/3/2010 4:55:38 PM

Yeah that'd be sweet thanks

11/4/2010 9:10:15 AM

we charge about $150-200 for most tax returns, I'd say

just don't go somewhere like H&R Block

11/4/2010 12:02:57 PM

Damn really? Well, I guess that's kind of what I was expecting but it's a bummer since I'll be getting nothing back from the gubnet. At least that $200 will get it done correctly. I'm likely to screw it up

11/4/2010 12:07:59 PM

I'm sure you'd be able to find cheaper accountants, it just depends on the quality. I was just throwing that number out there so you know what a really good firm like mine would cost


Our prices also go up the more money you make - we bill on hours but our billing statements also say "prepared schedules ___, ____, ____" even though it doesn't take all that much time to prepare each additional schedule. So a client with 10 rental houses, 5 partnerships, a bunch of capital gains, etc., that'll obviously be a lot of time and they're billed higher accordingly. But a doctor who makes 800k+ may just have 1 W-2 and a few investments... they typically get charged higher than a teacher with 1 W-2 and checking account interest. This isn't an official billing practice or anything (which I have no knowledge of because I am a staff accountant peon, it's just something I've noticed in my experience of a few tax seasons)


[Edited on November 4, 2010 at 12:21 PM. Reason : .]

11/4/2010 12:17:32 PM

Honestly I don't mind paying for better quality so I don't end up like my friend that was in the same situation as me last year and he got audited because his accountant didn't do the filing correctly.

Is your firm based in the Triangle?

11/4/2010 1:23:32 PM

nah, I would have pm'ed you already

11/4/2010 1:32:38 PM

I'm gonna be screwed if/when my aunt gets rid of her tax business and I actually have to pay to have them done. Granted I don't really have anything overly complicated so I could just do it myself but tax shit gives me a headache.

[Edited on November 4, 2010 at 1:40 PM. Reason : ]

11/4/2010 1:39:47 PM