Hi all, My husband and I need to get our tax returns done by someone who will look after our best interests and assist where possible in getting the best possible claims/returns. My husband works for himself which can often mean a complex, not so straightforward return but I don't believe our previous Accountant actually did us any favours (and still charged us an arm and a leg!).
What does everyone consider a reasonable amount to pay for a Tax Agent/Accountant.
Thanks in advance
I'm a big believer in "you get what you pay for". Prices will always vary between firms, the smaller firms tend to be cheap while the huge firms (Ernst & Young, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, etc) will charge you thousands. Prices will also vary depending on how tidy your work is, do have a reconciled accounting file (ie MYOB)? Or is it a shoebox of receipts?
Without knowing much about your situation I'd estimate at a mid-sized firm you'd be paying between $500-$1000 for 2 returns including a business schedule. Could be more depending on the complexity of your issues.
At a small firm you might pay less but they may lack the experience needed to provide you with advice (particularly single person firms).
Disclaimer: I'm an accountant working for a mid-sized accounting firm