If you are asking how much a CPA costs, the honest answer is that it depends on what you need done. A simple personal tax return costs a few hundred dollars, while year-round help for a growing business can run to several thousand a year. This guide gives you real, recent numbers from fee surveys, explains what pushes the price up or down, and shows where you can save without cutting corners.
The short answer
- Personal tax return by a CPA: about $280 on average for a Form 1040 with Schedules 1 to 3, with most CPAs charging between $200 and $425 (NATP 2025 Fee Study).
- Itemized deductions or investments: usually charged on top, about $65 for Schedule A and $75 for Schedule D on average (NATP 2025).
- Business tax return: the most common range firms reported was $1,000 to $1,499 a year (Ignition 2025 benchmark).
- Monthly bookkeeping and accounting: most commonly $250 to $499 a month (Ignition 2025).
- Hourly work: tax preparers who bill by the hour averaged $182 an hour in 2025, with half charging between $129 and $250 (NATP 2025).
The rest of this guide explains each of these and what changes them.
What a CPA is, and how it differs from other accountants
A CPA is a certified public accountant licensed by a state board of accountancy. To get the license, a candidate passes the Uniform CPA Exam and meets their state’s education and experience rules. Those rules are changing: under the updated model law described by NASBA in December 2025, states can offer more than one route to licensure, so the exact path depends on the state.
This matters for price because not every task needs a CPA:
- Bookkeeper: records transactions, reconciles bank accounts and keeps your books up to date. Usually the lowest cost.
- Accountant (not licensed as a CPA): prepares financial statements, handles payroll and month-end close, and can often prepare simpler returns.
- Enrolled agent (EA): a tax specialist licensed by the IRS who can prepare returns and represent clients before the IRS.
- CPA: can do all of the above, sign audited or reviewed financial statements, and handle complex tax and advisory work.
The NATP 2025 study shows the price gap clearly: for the same basic 1040, CPAs averaged $280, enrolled agents $228 and preparers with no designation $186.
How much a CPA charges to do taxes
For personal returns, most firms charge a base fee for the 1040 and add a charge for each extra schedule or state. Here is what the NATP 2025 Fee Study found for CPAs:
| Item | CPA average | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1040 with Schedules 1 to 3 | $280 | $200 to $425 |
| Schedule A (itemized deductions), added | $65 | $50 to $100 |
| Schedule D (investments), added | $75 | $50 to $145 |
Most preparers also charge separately for state returns, especially if you file in more than one state. Self-employment income, rental property, foreign income and stock compensation all add time and therefore cost. A different survey of firms using the Ignition pricing software found that the most common fee for an individual return at those firms was $400 to $599, which shows how much prices vary between firms and clients.
How much a CPA costs for a small business
Small businesses usually pay for three kinds of work, and it helps to price them separately.
Business tax returns
In the Ignition 2025 benchmark of 219 US firms, the most common annual fee for a business tax return was $1,000 to $1,499. Partnerships and S corporations with several owners, multiple states or messy records sit above that range.
Monthly bookkeeping and accounting
The same benchmark found monthly bookkeeping and accounting most commonly priced at $250 to $499 a month. The price grows with the number of transactions, bank and card accounts, payroll and how quickly you want the books closed each month.
Advisory and CFO work
Forecasts, budgets, cash flow planning and board reporting are usually billed as a monthly package. For CFO and controller services, the most common price cited in the Ignition survey was more than $2,500 a month.
Hourly or fixed fees?
Most firms now quote fixed fees for tax returns and monthly packages. Only 3% of the firms in the Ignition survey charge hourly for tax preparation, and only 7% of the preparers in the NATP study use a set hourly rate. Hourly billing still shows up for one-off advice, clean-up of old books and dealing with tax notices. Where it is used, the NATP 2025 average was $182 an hour.
A fixed fee is easier to budget, but read what it covers. Ask how many questions, meetings and amended returns are included, and what triggers an extra charge.
What drives the price up or down
- Complexity: more income types, schedules, states and entities mean more hours.
- State of your records: a shoebox of receipts costs more than clean, reconciled books.
- Entity type: a sole proprietor is cheaper than a multi-owner partnership or S corporation.
- Timing: work brought in close to a deadline may cost more or need an extension.
- Location and firm size: large-city firms and larger practices tend to charge more.
- Scope: a one-time return costs less than year-round planning and advice.
What a CPA earns compared with what you pay
It can help to see the other side of the price. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $83,680 for accountants and auditors in May 2025. PayScale’s data for October 2026 shows an average base salary of $85,474 for CPAs in the United States. A firm’s fee covers that salary plus software, insurance, training, office costs and profit, which is why an hour of CPA time costs a client much more than the hourly wage.
How to lower what you spend on a CPA
- Keep your books clean all year. Most of a CPA’s extra hours come from fixing records. Monthly bookkeeping usually pays for itself at tax time.
- Use the right person for each task. Let a bookkeeper or accountant handle routine work and save CPA time for tax decisions, reviews and advice.
- Bring everything at once. Missing forms mean back-and-forth emails, and some firms bill for that time.
- Agree the scope in writing. A clear engagement letter avoids surprise charges.
- Consider remote finance staff. A dedicated remote bookkeeper or accountant can take on daily work at a lower cost than a local hire, while your CPA reviews and signs where a US license is needed.
Do you need a CPA at all?
A CPA is worth it when your taxes are complex, when you face an IRS notice or audit, when lenders or investors need reviewed or audited statements, or when you want planning that saves more than it costs. For a simple return or routine bookkeeping, an enrolled agent, an experienced preparer or a bookkeeper may be enough. Many small businesses use a mix: a bookkeeper or remote accountant every month and a CPA for tax season and key decisions.
Where DigiWorks fits
DigiWorks places pre-vetted remote finance professionals, from bookkeepers and accountants to certified public accountants, as dedicated members of your team. You interview the candidates we put forward and choose who to hire, and we handle the contract and payments. Many clients start with outsourced bookkeeping and add senior help, such as a fractional CFO, as they grow. One thing to check either way: anyone signing a US tax return or attest report must hold the right US credential, so confirm licensing for that part of the work.
For more on how outsourced bookkeeping frees up founders’ time, read beyond cost savings: how outsourced bookkeeping lets founders focus on growth.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a CPA charge to do taxes?
For a personal return, the NATP 2025 Fee Study found CPAs charged about $280 on average for a Form 1040 with Schedules 1 to 3, with most between $200 and $425. Itemized deductions, investments, rental income and extra states add to that. Business returns cost more, most commonly $1,000 to $1,499 a year at the firms in the Ignition 2025 benchmark.
How much does a CPA cost for a small business per month?
Monthly bookkeeping and accounting packages were most commonly $250 to $499 a month in the Ignition 2025 benchmark. Adding payroll, sales tax filings or advisory work raises the price, and CFO-level support was most often quoted above $2,500 a month.
Is a CPA more expensive than a tax preparer?
Usually, yes. In the NATP 2025 study, the average fee for a basic 1040 was $280 for CPAs, $228 for enrolled agents and $186 for preparers without a designation. The higher fee buys a state license, broader training and the ability to handle complex or attest work.
Do CPAs charge for phone calls and questions?
Some do and some include them. Fixed-fee packages often cover a set number of questions or meetings, while hourly arrangements bill for the time. Ask before you sign the engagement letter so you know what is included.
Is hiring a CPA worth the cost?
It is worth it when the advice saves more than it costs or reduces real risk, for example with a multi-state business, an IRS notice, investor reporting or a big decision such as changing your business structure. For simple returns and day-to-day books, a lower-cost professional is often enough.
Sources
- National Association of Tax Professionals, 2025 NATP Fee Study, November 2025 (media highlights).
- Ignition, 2025 U.S. Accounting and Tax Pricing Benchmark, reported by CPA Practice Advisor, 21 August 2025 (survey of 219 US firms using Ignition).
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Accountants and Auditors, May 2025 pay data.
- NASBA, CPA licensure and new CPA licensure pathways, December 2025.
- PayScale, Certified Public Accountant salary, United States, October 2026.
Prices are survey averages and ranges, not quotes. Fees vary by firm, location and the work involved.
