What $2,508 up front buys: 1-800Accountant vs a CPA vs tax software
Editorial research. This is editorial research, not personalized financial, tax, or investment advice.
Finder's Forge may earn a commission from links on this page. Our gates and the numbers below decide what we say, not the commission.
Every price checked on Oct 8, 2026. Sources below.
Quick verdict
- What $2,508 buys: a year of advice and planning on the Tax Advisory plan. Not a filed return.
- Filing starts at: $3,588 a year (Starter), paid up front.
- Cheapest real alternative: DIY software at $109.99–$139 federal, plus state.
- Bottom line: worth it only if the advice finds more tax savings than the fee. The tie-breaker below puts a number on that.
Check the live plan list first
Prices and plan contents change. Confirm the current tiers on 1-800Accountant's own site before you book a consult.
See 1-800Accountant plans & pricingThe annual cost of each option
Every fee below links to where it was published, with the date we read it.
| Option | Per year | Files your return? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TaxAct Self-Employed (DIY software)Software that walks you through Schedule C and SE tax. You do the work and own the mistakes. | $109.99$109.99 federal, state additional (tax year 2025 pricing) | No | TaxAct homepage pricingas of 2026-10-08 |
| TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium (DIY software)Intuit's self-employed tier with a year-round estimator. Same deal: you prepare the return yourself. | $139$139 federal, state additional; page says file by 3/31 to save (tax year 2025 pricing) | No | TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium pageas of 2026-10-08 |
| Local CPA or enrolled agent (one return)A professional prepares and files one return. Year-round advice is usually billed separately or hourly. | $300–$600(estimate)$300–$600 survey average for an itemized Form 1040; estimate, not a quote | Yes | National Society of Accountants, 2024 Profit and Practice Report Summaryas of 2026-10-08 |
| 1-800Accountant Tax AdvisoryDedicated accountant, year-round advice, proactive tax planning, quarterly reviews. No return filing is listed on this tier. | $2,508$209/mo, billed annually = $2,508 up front | No | 1-800Accountant pricing pageas of 2026-10-08 |
| 1-800Accountant StarterAdds filing of your personal return and one entity return (Schedule C, 1065, 1120 or 1120S), federal and state, plus ClientBooks software. | $3,588$299/mo, billed annually = $3,588 up front | Yes | 1-800Accountant pricing pageas of 2026-10-08 |
| 1-800Accountant Business CompleteEverything in Starter plus full-service bookkeeping (from 75 monthly transactions), owner payroll, and quarterly estimated taxes calculated and tracked. | $5,628$469/mo, billed annually = $5,628 up front | Yes | 1-800Accountant pricing pageas of 2026-10-08 |
The local-preparer range is an estimate, not a quote. It comes from the NSA 2024 survey summary of 183 small firms, about half of them enrolled agents and a third CPAs. It does not break out Schedule C returns, which usually cost more. Software prices are tax-year-2025 list prices; the 2026 season's may differ.
Tie-breaker: when paying a pro beats DIY
Using a 30.5% combined federal rate: a single filer with $60,000 in wages and $15,000 of side profit. Plug in your own numbers with the side hustle tax calculator.
- Tax Advisory vs. doing it yourself: $2,508 more per year
- Tax Advisory costs $2,508 on top of whatever you pay to file, because it does not file your return. It wins only if its advice cuts your federal tax by more than $2,508 a year. At a 30.5% combined rate, that is about $8,227 of deductions you would otherwise miss.
- Starter vs. TurboTax Premium: $3,449 more per year
- Starter files your return and costs $3,449 more than TurboTax Premium's federal price. It wins only if it saves more than that: about $11,313 of missed deductions at 30.5%, or hours of your own prep time you value above that.
- Starter vs. a local preparer: $2,988 more per year
- Against a $300–$600 local preparer, Starter costs at least $2,988 more. Year-round planning has to be worth at least that to you, or the local preparer wins.
Who should not buy it
If any of these describe you, 1-800Accountant is the wrong purchase.
- Your side income is small. If your whole side profit is under about $2,508, the plan costs more than the business earns.
- You only need one return filed. A local preparer or DIY software does that for a fraction of $3,588.
- You can't commit for a year. Plans are billed annually and refunds stop after day 30.
- You want someone in the room. This is a remote service. If in-person review matters, hire locally.
Who it can make sense for
- Side businesses big enough that planning moves real money, and an owner who will use the quarterly reviews.
- Owners who want bookkeeping, payroll and estimates handled in one place (Business Complete).
- People who will test fit inside the first 30 days, while the partial refund still applies.
The lock-in, in the vendor's own terms
The $2,508 is effectively spent once day 30 passes.
The terms of service say annual fees are up to 90% refundable only within 30 days of purchase, less services rendered. After that, fees paid are non-refundable. Services auto-renew at the then-current rates unless you cancel.
Questions people ask
How much does 1-800Accountant cost per year?
On Oct 8, 2026 its pricing page listed Tax Advisory at $209/mo, Starter at $299/mo and Business Complete at $469/mo, each billed annually: $2,508, $3,588 and $5,628 a year.
Does the $2,508 plan file my tax return?
Not as listed. Tax Advisory covers advice, planning and quarterly reviews. Return filing (personal plus one entity, federal and state) first appears on the $3,588 Starter plan.
Can I get a refund if it isn't a fit?
The terms say annual fees are up to 90% refundable only within 30 days of purchase, less services rendered. After that, fees paid are non-refundable, and plans auto-renew at then-current rates.
Is a local CPA cheaper than 1-800Accountant?
For one return, usually. A 2024 National Society of Accountants survey put the average itemized Form 1040 at $300–$600. Year-round advice from a local firm is usually extra.
Sources
- TaxAct homepage pricing (as of 2026-10-08).
- TurboTax Do It Yourself Premium page (as of 2026-10-08).
- National Society of Accountants, 2024 Profit and Practice Report Summary (as of 2026-10-08).
- 1-800Accountant pricing page (as of 2026-10-08).
- 1-800Accountant Terms of Service (last updated July 7, 2026) (as of 2026-10-08).
Not tax or legal advice. Estimates only, built from published IRS figures and vendor prices; confirm with the IRS instructions or a tax professional before you pay.
Bottom line
$2,508 buys advice, not a filed return. Buy it only when the tie-breaker says the advice will save more than it costs. Otherwise file with software or a local preparer.
Still a fit? Check the current plans
Confirm the tier, the annual total and the refund window on the vendor's site before you pay.
See 1-800Accountant plans & pricingMore: our full 1-800Accountant review.