What does NEPA CPA charge for tax preparation?

NEPA CPA publishes flat starting fees for most return types so clients know what to expect before work begins. As of April 15, 2026, new clients are placed on updated pricing: individual returns start at $900, S Corporation returns start at $1,500, C Corporation returns start at $1,700, and Partnership returns start at $2,100. A $1,500 minimum relationship floor applies to all new engagements. Returns with additional schedules or business activity typically fall higher than the base starting fee, and the exact amount is confirmed before any work begins. Fees for specialized returns - trusts, nonprofits, amended returns - are quoted after an initial consultation.

Current pricing (new clients onboarding after April 15, 2026)

The pricing below applies to all clients onboarding after April 15, 2026. These are starting fees - actual fees depend on complexity, number of owners, and the scope of work involved. The exact fee is always confirmed before any work begins.

Minimum relationship floor

A $1,500 minimum relationship floor applies to all new client engagements. Here is how that floor works in practice:

1040 only: minimum $1,500 (the $900 starting fee is below the floor, so the floor applies)
1040 + 1120-S: $900 + $1,500 = $2,400 (combined starting fees exceed the floor, so both starting fees apply)
1040 + 1065 (partner in a partnership): $900 + $2,100 = $3,000 (combined fees exceed the floor)

Why is there a minimum relationship floor?

Every client relationship carries a baseline level of overhead regardless of how straightforward the return is - onboarding, secure file management, year-round availability, portal access, and the time spent reviewing your situation before work even begins. The $1,500 floor ensures that overhead is covered and that the firm can continue delivering the same level of service to every client.

The floor also keeps the math reasonable for clients who are already above it. If you are an S corp owner whose business return alone starts at $1,500, adding your personal 1040 costs the $900 starting fee - not another $1,500 - because the relationship floor is already satisfied by the business engagement. The floor is a per-relationship threshold, not a per-return charge.

Individual tax returns

The starting fee for an individual return (Form 1040) is $900. That covers preparation and electronic filing of:

Federal return
One state return (if applicable)
One local return (if applicable)

The $900 starting fee applies to standard situations such as W-2 income, Social Security, and retirement distributions. Returns that require additional schedules will be higher - some common examples:

1040 with Schedule C (self-employment income): higher than the base starting fee, depending on the volume of transactions and complexity of the business activity
1040 with Schedule E (rental property): quoted individually after an initial consultation. Fee depends primarily on record-keeping quality - a client providing clean, reconciled books is a materially different engagement than one requiring bookkeeping reconstruction before the return can be prepared. The starting fee framework does not capture that range reliably.
1040 with both Schedule C and Schedule E: reflects the combined complexity of both schedules

These are starting ranges, not fixed quotes. The exact fee is confirmed before any work begins.

Business tax returns

NEPA CPA specializes in small business compliance and advisory services. The fees below are starting fees under the current pricing model.

Entity type	Form	Starting fee
S Corporation	1120-S	$1,500
C Corporation	1120	$1,700
Partnership	1065	$2,100

Every business return includes federal and state preparation, K-1s for all owners or partners, depreciation schedules for fixed assets, and basic tax planning recommendations.

Why do partnership returns start higher?

Form 1065 filings tend to involve greater complexity than corporate returns. Common factors that drive the higher starting fee include:

Multiple partners with varying ownership percentages
Custom profit and loss allocations
Real estate holdings or syndication structures
Increased compliance and reporting requirements

How individual and business returns combine

Many small business owners need both a business return and a personal return. Here are a few examples of how starting fees stack under the current pricing model:

1040 only (W-2, retirement income): minimum $1,500 (floor applies)
1040 with Schedule C (sole proprietor, no separate business entity): starting at $900 plus additional complexity; floor applies if combined total is below $1,500
1040 + 1120-S (S corp owner with personal return): starting at $900 + $1,500 = $2,400
1040 + 1065 (partner in a partnership): starting at $900 + $2,100 = $3,000

These are starting-point illustrations. Complexity, additional schedules, and the number of partners or properties will affect the final fee, which is always confirmed before work begins.

Specialized and other return types

NEPA CPA also prepares the following, priced individually after an initial consultation:

Trusts and estates (Form 1041)
Nonprofit organizations (Form 990)
Multi-state and out-of-state filings
Amended or prior-year returns

A setup fee may apply for returns requiring significant onboarding - for example, partnerships with a large number of partners (such as real estate syndications) or returns involving extensive fixed asset holdings across multiple properties. Any such fee is communicated clearly before work begins.

What's included with every engagement

Direct access to a licensed CPA
Personalized review and support - year-round for monthly clients
A secure portal for uploading documents and tracking your return
Proactive communication with no surprise invoices

Note for existing clients

Clients who were onboarded on or before April 15, 2026 remain on their prior pricing tier with routine cost-of-living adjustments only. If you have questions about your specific pricing, please contact the firm directly.