Full Disclosure- You may have Free Options

If you have a simple tax return and feel comfortable filing online, both the IRS (FreeFile) and most major tax software companies offer free filing options. They are not difficult to use for straightforward situations.

If you choose that route, just be very careful to input your information accurately. Social Security numbers, bank routing/account numbers, and W-2 data must be exact for your return to be processed successfully.

Baseline Services & Minimum Preparation Fees

The fees below represent the minimum charge to prepare, evaluate, and file a standard, single-year tax return bundle:

• Federal Form 1040 (Simple): $125.00

  • Covers up to 3 standard W-2 forms.

• Federal Form 1040 (Family with Dependents): $180.00

  • Includes Schedule EIC and the Child Tax Credit.

• New York State Form IT-201: $60.00

  • Covers full state resident return preparation.

• Electronic Filing (E-File): $0.00

  • Included in the base fee with no separate transmission charges.

Non-Standard Forms: The following forms incur a separate charge between $35.00 and $60.00 each:

• Form 8863 (Education Credits)

• Schedule A (Itemized Deductions)

• Form 2441 (Dependent Care Credits)

• Form 8962 (Health Insurance Marketplace)

(Note: This list is not all-inclusive. Please contact me if you need a complete quote for your specific situation.)

Refund Transfers (RACs)

Do you need your tax preparation fee deducted from your anticipated refund?

Whenever a Refund Anticipation Check (RAC)—more commonly known as a refund transfer—is requested, a bank fee applies whether I am preparing your return or a big-box company is. That fee is always passed on to the taxpayer, though it is sometimes disguised as a "service fee."

I charge $42.00 for this, which is exactly what the bank charges me and is right in line with the large tax preparation companies.

Please note: I do not offer Refund Anticipation Loans for a variety of reasons. Visit my blog to learn more about why.