Simple return
W-2 income, the standard deduction, no dependents or a straightforward one.
from$245
- Federal 1040
- PA-40
- Local earned income tax return
- Rent or property tax rebate application if eligible
- LST refund request if owed
Published prices · Illustrative
What tax preparation costs, with the local return included.
Three prices for a whole household's filing: federal, Pennsylvania and local in every one. You get your tier in writing at the end of the sit-down, before any work starts. Illustrative prices for a concept site.
Return prices
Most households
Family or itemized
Dependents, child care, education credits, a home, or itemized deductions.
from$395
- Everything in Simple
- Dependent and child care credits
- PA Tax Forgiveness checked
- Education credits and 529s
- Itemized deductions
Self-employed
A business or side income on Schedule C, 1099-NEC or 1099-K.
from$575
- Everything in Family
- One Schedule C (each extra $125)
- PA Schedule C and local business income
- Quarterly estimates set up for next year
- Mileage and home office worked out
Priced separately
Back years, letters and a second business.
- Amended or prior-year return
Per year, federal, PA and local together.$225 - Notice response
Per letter: read, explained and a reply drafted.$165 - Extra Schedule C
Each additional business on a self-employed return.$125
Catching up on several years? See amended and prior-year returns. Retired and eligible for the rent or property tax rebate? It is included; see retiree returns.
What moves the price
Moving parts, not your income.
We price by how much is on the return, never as a percentage of a refund.
- Dependents and creditsChildren, child care and college credits move a return to the Family price. See family returns.
- A business or side incomeA Schedule C, 1099-NEC or 1099-K moves you to Self-employed; each extra business is $125.
- Back yearsEach amended or unfiled year is $225, with federal, PA and local done together.
- The state of the paperworkSorted folders are quick. A shoebox takes longer, and we tell you at the sit-down if that changes anything.
Before you book
Questions about the price
Something else? Call (412) 555-0163 and a preparer will answer.
Is the local return really included?
Yes. Every price on this page covers your federal 1040, your PA-40 and your local earned income tax return. If you live in the City, that local return goes to Jordan Tax Service; if you live in a suburb, it goes to your own municipality's collector, and we file it there. See local tax returns.
When do I find out my price?
At the end of the 30-minute sit-down, in writing. We look at last year's return and what has changed, tell you which tier you fall into, and nothing starts until you say yes.
What makes a return cost more?
More moving parts: dependents and credits move you to Family, a business or side income moves you to Self-employed, and each extra business adds $125. A shoebox of unsorted receipts takes longer, and we say so before we start.
Do you charge for an IRS or PA letter?
A notice response is $165 per letter: we read it, explain it, and draft the reply. If the letter is about a return we prepared and the mistake was ours, the response costs nothing. See notice help.
Are these real prices?
They are illustrative prices for a concept site. Fairhaven Ledger Co. is a fictional firm created for portfolio purposes.
Next step
Know your price before anything starts.
Book a 30-minute sit-down online or call. A preparer looks at last year's return with you, tells you what to gather and gives you the price before any work starts.