By The Job, Or By The Year

Two ways to work together.

Some people need one thing done. Some want a relationship that catches problems before they're problems. Both are legitimate. Here's how each works.

Based in Galena, Ohio  ·  Serving clients virtually across the US

Option 1

By the job.

One specific thing handled, professionally and completely. No ongoing commitment.

  • A tax return filed correctly
  • An IRS notice answered
  • A back-tax situation cleaned up
  • An amendment made right
See Pricing Below ↓
Option 2 · What We Recommend

By the year.

A subscription that means someone knows your situation, catches the problems before April, and runs the numbers before you make the decision — not after.

  • Everything in "by the job" — return done right
  • Plus advisory — year-round questions, planning conversations
  • Plus IRS support — notices handled without per-hour charges
  • Plus continuity — same person, same care, every year
See Subscription Tiers →

Honest framing

If your tax life is straightforward and you genuinely only need a return filed once a year — by the job is fine. We'll do good work, charge a fair price, and you'll know where to find us if something comes up.

If your life has moving parts — a side hustle, retirement income, a small business, kids in college, a recent move, a complicated year ahead — by the year saves money and surprises. The math usually works out in your favor before the second IRS letter arrives.

By The Job — Starting At Prices

What it actually costs.

Real prices, honestly listed. Final cost depends on document count, complexity, and what we find as we work. Schedule a free 15-minute call and we'll quote it before you commit.

Individual Returns

W-2 tax return

starting at $325

Federal, state, and local annual return for individuals, couples, and families with W-2 income. Includes standard deductions and credits.

Includes Federal + state + local return · standard W-2 deductions · child tax credit · earned income credit · electronic filing

Simpler situations (single 1099-R retiree, etc.) may price lower. Free quote on a call →

Self-Employment Returns

Schedule C or Schedule E

starting at $550

Individual return that includes a Schedule C (sole prop, side hustle, gig income) or Schedule E (rental property income). Covers self-employment tax calculations.

Includes Everything in W-2 return · one Schedule C or E · self-employment tax (Schedule SE) · home office deduction · vehicle expenses · depreciation

Multiple Sch C/E, complex K-1s, or foreign income quoted separately. Free quote on a call →

Business Entity Returns

1041 / 1120-S / 1065

starting at $400

Entity returns for trusts (1041), S-Corps (1120-S), and partnerships (1065). Pricing varies significantly with complexity — an empty 1041 differs from a multi-shareholder S-Corp.

Includes Entity return · Schedule K-1 generation · basis tracking · standard election review

Entity returns vary widely. Schedule a call and we'll quote the actual price. Free quote on a call →

IRS Representation

IRS notice response

starting at $75

Got a letter from the IRS? Most notices are routine. Send us the letter and we'll review it, respond on your behalf, and handle the correspondence as your Enrolled Agent.

Includes Notice review · response draft · IRS correspondence · explanation of what's actually being asked

Complex audits or appeals priced separately. Free quote on a call →

Catch-Up Filings

Back-tax catch-up

$275 / year

Behind on filing? We can prepare prior-year returns to get you current. Multi-year discount available — filing three or more years at once costs less per return.

Includes Prior-year tax return (federal + state + local) · transcript pull from IRS · penalty abatement request where appropriate

Returns involving self-employment or businesses priced as those return types. Free quote on a call →

Corrections

Amended return

starting at $200

Need to correct a return you've already filed? Whether you missed a deduction, received a corrected 1099, or made an error, we can file an amendment to fix it.

Includes Form 1040-X preparation · revised state return · explanation of changes · electronic filing where available

Final price depends on what's being corrected and which year. Free quote on a call →

About tax season pricing: The prices above apply from now through December 2026. During tax season (January 1 – April 15), pricing and availability may adjust to reflect demand. Existing clients always get priority pricing and scheduling.
Why "By The Year" Usually Wins

Advisory isn't a feature. It's the point.

A tax return is what you file in April. Advisory is what saves you money the other eleven months. Here's what year-round actually looks like in real client situations.

In October

The bonus conversation

Client gets a $15K year-end bonus offer. Calls to ask if she should take it as cash or defer to next year. Answer: defer — keeps her below a tax bracket bump. Savings: $1,800. Cost of subscription: $1,140. Math wins.

In June

The missed quarterly

Client forgot Q2 estimated taxes. We caught it at the monthly check-in, calculated the make-up payment, filed it before penalties accrued. Penalty avoided: $340. The annual subscription paid for itself in one phone call.

In March

The college question

Client's daughter starting college. Walked through 529 plan timing, education credits, and whether to claim her as a dependent. Three optimizations applied to the return. Net benefit: $2,400. Found because we asked the question.

In February

The IRS letter

Routine CP2000 notice arrives — IRS computer matched a 1099 differently. We responded the same week. No back-and-forth, no panic, no per-hour fee. Subscriber price: included. One-off equivalent: $200+.

In November

The S-Corp election

Sole prop client crossed $80K in net income. We modeled S-Corp election for next year. Tax savings projected: $4,800/year. Setup cost: included in Growth tier. Without the conversation, she would have filed another year as a sole prop.

In July

The major life event

Client emails: "We're moving to North Carolina in September." Twenty-minute call about state-tax residency, withholding adjustments, and selling-the-house implications. No surprise on next year's return. Just clarity, in real time.

The honest math

One conversation that catches one decision usually pays for the whole year. That's not a sales pitch — that's been the consistent pattern across decades of helping pastors, small business owners, and families with their taxes. The point of a subscription isn't the return. It's the conversations that surround it.