How Much Do You Pay your CPA for Tax Preparation?

[Ori Skloot]

Hi Folks,

How much did YOU pay your CPA for tax preparation and filing 2016 taxes?

I just got my bill from my CPA for preparing my 2016 taxes - $4,200.   Feels steep to me.   I am filing in California and I bought one new property in 2016.  I have a portfolio of under 10 properties.

In their services performed, my CPA wrote: "Preparation of 2016 federal and state individual income tax returns, including organization and analysis of transactions.  Accounting for additional properties, set up of depreciation schedules and reconciliation between management company cash flow statements and cost workbook and maximizing deductions for expensing loan costs."

Am I getting ripped off?  Or is this the fair cost of having a good CPA?

Your input is much appreciated!

[Paul Allen]

There's tax preparation and then there's getting the books organized so that tax preparation is possible.  When preparing tax returns, my fee difference between landlords who bring me a spreadsheet and landlords who bring me a shoebox full of receipts is significant.