“How much will this cost me?” is usually the first question people ask before booking a tax agent, and it’s a fair one — fees vary widely across the industry, and it’s not always clear what you’re actually paying for. However, understanding what drives the price makes it much easier to compare agents properly instead of just picking the cheapest option.
A simple individual tax return with one employer and no investments takes far less time than a return involving rental properties, capital gains, or multiple income streams. Consequently, the fee reflects the complexity of your situation, not just a flat industry rate — which is why two people can pay very different amounts for what sounds like “the same” tax return.
The type of return. Individual returns are generally the least expensive, while business, trust, and company returns cost more due to the additional reporting requirements involved.
Number of income sources. Multiple employers, investment income, rental properties, or overseas income all add time to the return, and therefore add to the fee.
Deductions and work-related claims. A return with several deduction categories — vehicle use, home office, tools, uniforms — takes longer to prepare properly than one with no deductions at all.
Bookkeeping quality. If your records are well organised, your accountant spends less time sorting through receipts and reconciling figures, which often keeps the fee lower. Messy records, on the other hand, usually mean more time and a higher cost.
Ongoing vs one-off work. Businesses that use a tax agent for bookkeeping, BAS, and payroll throughout the year often pay a more predictable, bundled fee rather than a large one-off cost at tax time.
A very low-cost tax return can be a false economy if it means missed deductions, rushed preparation, or limited support if the ATO asks a question later. Therefore, it’s worth weighing the fee against what’s actually included — such as whether the agent reviews your full financial picture or simply processes the numbers you hand over.
EBATS has provided registered tax agent and accounting services to individuals and businesses across Australia since 2011. We’re upfront about fees before we start, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
📍 Suite 2.2/47 Queen St, Campbelltown NSW 2560, Australia 📞 0404 471 816 🌐 www.ebats.com.au 📧 [email protected]
Ethical Accounting & Taxation Services | Campbelltown NSW | Trusted Tax, Accounting & Business Support Since 2011