A CPA costs $150 to $500 per hour in 2026
A CPA costs $150 to $500 per hour in 2026, and many charge a flat fee for tax returns. Bench lists $150 to more than $400 per hour. TaxDome lists $200 to $500 per hour and about $250 for a simple personal return. Your price depends on how hard your taxes are, where you live, and how senior the CPA is. Business returns cost more than personal ones. Ask for a flat fee in writing before work starts.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| Bench | Bench says an accountant's hourly rate can range from $150 to more than $400 per hour. |
| HouseCallPro | HouseCallPro lists $300 to $2,500 or more for small business CPA tax preparation and hourly rates of $150 to $400. |
| TaxDome | TaxDome lists $200 to $500 per hour for a CPA, around $250 for a simple personal return, and up to $1,000 for a complex one. |
CPA price by service
| Service | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CPA hourly rate | $150 to more than $400 per hour | Bench |
| CPA firm hourly rate | $200 to $500 per hour | TaxDome |
| Simple personal tax return | Around $250 | TaxDome |
| Complex personal tax return | Up to $1,000 | TaxDome |
| Sole proprietor business return | $300 to $1,500 or more | HouseCallPro |
| Single member LLC return | $500 to $2,000 | HouseCallPro |
| S corporation return | $1,000 to $3,500 or more | HouseCallPro |
| Payroll, fewer than 10 workers | $100 to $250 per month | TaxDome |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Type of work | Tax returns, bookkeeping, and advice are priced in different ways. TaxDome lists $250 to $500 per hour for advice and $200 to $400 per hour for bookkeeping. |
| Personal or business return | Business returns cost more. HouseCallPro lists $300 to $1,500 or more for a sole proprietor and $1,500 to $4,000 or more for a C corporation. |
| How tidy your records are | Messy books take more hours, and hours cost money. Clean records, sorted receipts, and a clear list of income cut the time a CPA needs. |
| Where you live and who you hire | Big city firms and senior CPAs charge more. Bench says accounting fees are not regulated, so prices differ a lot between firms. |
| Extra filings | State returns, payroll, and many income sources add time. HouseCallPro lists wider ranges for firms with payroll, many states, or complex deductions. |
What the price includes
A CPA fee for a tax return usually covers preparing and filing the federal return and answering basic questions. State returns, payroll, bookkeeping, planning calls, and help with an IRS letter or audit often cost extra. Hourly work is billed in small time blocks. A flat fee should list exactly what it covers, so ask for that in writing.
Who charges this and how it is billed
CPAs work alone, in small firms, or in large firms. Most bill in one of three ways. An hourly rate is used for advice, cleanup work, and IRS help. A flat fee is common for tax returns. A monthly fee is common for ongoing bookkeeping, payroll, and planning. Bench says accounting fees are not regulated, so each firm sets its own price. Many ask for part of the fee up front or bill at the end of each month. Ask for an engagement letter that lists the work, the price, and the due date.
When you need this
You may want a CPA if you own a business, have rental property, sell stock, or have income from many places. A CPA also helps when you get a letter from the IRS or want a plan to cut your taxes. A simple job with one paycheck may not need one. Match the pro to the job, and ask what the fee covers before you hire.
How to judge your quote
- Is the price a flat fee or hourly, and what does it cover?
- Does it include my state return and any extra forms?
- What happens if I get an IRS letter, and is that billed apart?
- Who does the work, a CPA or a junior staff member?
- Compare the total with the range above: $150 to $500 per hour for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for a flat fee. A set price for the return protects you from surprise hours, and you can compare it with other firms.
- Bring tidy records. Sort income, receipts, and tax forms before you meet, so the CPA spends less time organizing and more time on your return.
- Match the pro to the job. TaxDome lists about $250 for a simple personal return, so a basic return may not need a high hourly rate.
- Get two or three quotes. Bench says accounting fees are not regulated, so the same job can have very different prices at different firms.
- Keep books monthly. Small monthly work through the year is easier to manage than a large messy cleanup at tax time.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from Bench, HouseCallPro and TaxDome. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a CPA charge per hour?
Bench lists $150 to more than $400 per hour. TaxDome lists $200 to $500 per hour, with some special work up to $800. HouseCallPro lists $150 to $400.
How much does a CPA charge to do a personal tax return?
TaxDome lists around $250 for a simple personal return with no itemized deductions. It lists up to $1,000 for a more complex personal return.
How much does a CPA charge for a small business return?
HouseCallPro lists $300 to $2,500 or more for small business returns. A single member LLC is $500 to $2,000, and an S corporation is $1,000 to $3,500 or more.
How much does a CPA charge for bookkeeping or payroll?
TaxDome lists $200 to $400 per hour for bookkeeping. Payroll for fewer than 10 workers is $100 to $250 per month on the same page.
Is a flat fee better than an hourly rate?
Often yes for a tax return, because you know the price up front. Bench suggests fixed monthly fees for ongoing work because they are easier on a budget than hourly billing.