Individual tax returns
Federal and state individual returns, from a straightforward W-2 filing to self employment, investments, and rental property. Fixed fee agreed up front.
Who this is for
You have wages, and possibly interest, dividends, or a brokerage account.
You have self employment or freelance income and need a Schedule C.
You own a rental property, or sold one during the year.
You received a K-1 from a partnership or an S corporation.
If your situation is close to one of these but not quite the same, describe it and you will get a straight answer about whether it is a good fit.
What is included
- Your federal Form 1040 and the schedules your situation requires
- One state return, where the state has an income tax
- Electronic filing, with confirmation once the return is accepted
- A review of the return with you before anything is signed or filed
What it costs
Starting fees for this service, confirmed in writing before any work begins.
| Service | Forms | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Individual return, simpleWages, interest, and the standard deduction. One state included. | 1040 | from $150 |
| Individual return with schedulesSelf employment, investments, or rental property. One state included. | 1040, Schedule C, Schedule D, Schedule E | from $200 |
| Additional state returnPer state, beyond the one included with the federal return. | Varies by state | from $75 |
See the full table for every service and for what changes a price.
What is not included
Stated plainly, because an unclear scope is what turns a fixed fee into an argument. Anything below can usually still be done, and is quoted separately before it starts.
- Bookkeeping, or reconstructing records from bank statements, which is a separate service
- Returns for additional states, which are priced separately
- Prior year returns that are not yet filed, which are quoted separately
- Representation in an audit or an appeal
- Foreign account reporting where it applies, which is quoted separately
Common questions
When is my individual tax return due?
A calendar year individual return is due on April 15, or the next business day when the 15th falls on a weekend or a holiday. Filing Form 4868 extends the filing deadline by six months, to around October 15. An extension to file is not an extension to pay: tax owed is still due in April, and interest runs from that date.
Do I have to file if all I have is a W-2?
It depends on how much you earned, your filing status, and your age. The income threshold that triggers a filing requirement is adjusted every year and tracks the standard deduction closely. Even below the threshold it is often worth filing, because tax withheld from your pay is only refunded if you file a return to claim it.
What happens if I have income from more than one state?
You may need to file in each state where you lived or earned. The state you were resident in generally taxes all of your income and then gives you a credit for tax paid to the other state, so the same income is not taxed twice in full. Each additional state return is priced separately.
I already filed and something was wrong. Can it be corrected?
Yes, by filing an amended return on Form 1040-X. If the correction produces a refund, the claim generally has to be made within three years of the original filing or two years of paying the tax, whichever is later. Waiting past that window usually means the refund is lost.
How long should I keep my tax records?
Three years from the filing date covers most situations, because that is the usual period in which a return can be examined. Keep them six years if more than a quarter of your income was left off a return, and indefinitely for any year where no return was filed at all.
Start here
Describe your situation and you will have a fixed fee in writing within one business day. Do not send documents or identifying numbers until that fee is agreed.