The national average for a basic individual tax return is around $220–$300. An S-corp return runs $800–$1,500. A franchise chain on Harper Ave charges similar rates but doesn't call you in October when a withholding change could save you $400. Here's what affordable tax preparation should actually look like — and what it costs at Stout Tax Strategies.
Pricing data based on 2026 industry surveys from Bark, Thervo, and the National Association of Tax Professionals. Ranges are national averages — Midwest rates typically run 20–25% below coastal markets.
Searching for "affordable" means you care about price — but you also want to know what you're giving up at each price point. Here's the real breakdown:
We quote a flat fee during your free consultation based on the scope of your return. Here's where most clients fall:
$150 – $350
W-2 income, standard or itemized deductions, retirement income, investment 1099s. Federal 1040 + Michigan MI-1040 filed together.
$300 – $600
Freelancers, contractors, gig workers. Includes expense categorization, home office deduction, quarterly estimated payment calculation.
$600 – $1,500
Form 1120-S or 1065 + K-1s + Michigan return. Includes FTE election evaluation, reasonable comp analysis for S-corps.
Quoted Separately
Bookkeeping cleanup, payroll setup, amended returns, IRS notice response, tax planning engagement — each scoped and quoted before work begins.
W-2 employees, retirees, families with dependents, and Michigan residents with investment or rental income. We file your federal Form 1040 and Michigan MI-1040, check for commonly missed credits (Michigan homestead property tax credit alone is worth up to $1,600 for qualifying homeowners), and ensure withholding is set correctly for next year.
Common deductions we check: mortgage interest, property taxes (Michigan homestead credit), charitable contributions, student loan interest, medical expenses above the 7.5% AGI floor, education credits (AOTC up to $2,500 per student).
Freelancers, 1099 contractors, gig workers, Realtors, and consultants. We prepare your Schedule C, calculate your quarterly estimated payments (Michigan follows federal schedule: Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, Jan 15), and make sure you're deducting everything you're entitled to — including the 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction that many self-employed filers miss.
Why this matters: a self-employed person earning $80,000 who doesn't claim QBI leaves roughly $3,400 in federal tax savings on the table. Add Michigan's 4.25% on the same unreduced income, and the total missed savings can exceed $4,000.
We prepare Form 1120-S (S-corps), Form 1065 (partnerships), and single-member LLC returns. For Michigan pass-through entities, we evaluate the flow-through entity (FTE) tax election — an annual choice that lets your business pay the 4.25% Michigan income tax at the entity level, generating a refundable credit for members and effectively bypassing the federal $10,000 SALT deduction cap.
S-corp owners: we also review your officer compensation ("reasonable comp") to ensure it's defensible in an audit while optimizing the split between salary and distributions.
Tax prep looks backward. Tax planning looks forward — and that's where the real savings happen. We project your full-year liability at mid-year, adjust estimated payments so you don't overpay or underpay (Michigan's penalty is 25% of the underpayment or 10% per quarter, plus interest at 1% above prime), and flag opportunities before December 31: retirement contributions, equipment purchases under Section 179, entity restructuring.
Received a CP2000, CP14, or Michigan Treasury assessment? For returns we prepared, notice review is included. For new clients, we offer flat-fee notice response — no hourly billing while we read the letter. We pull your IRS transcripts, identify the mismatch, draft the response, and file it before the 30-day deadline.
Our office is at 32008 Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores — between 12 Mile and Masonic, a few blocks south of the Nautical Mile. Walk-in, call, or email. Same team year-round.
We prepare returns for individuals and businesses across:
St. Clair Shores has no city income tax — one filing less than Detroit residents deal with. But if you live here and work in Detroit or one of Michigan's other 23 cities with a local income tax, you'll still owe the nonresident rate (1.2% for Detroit). We handle that split filing automatically.
For a basic individual W-2 return with standard deduction (federal + Michigan), expect $150–$350 at a local firm. Self-employed returns with Schedule C typically run $300–$600. S-corp and partnership returns range from $600–$1,500 depending on complexity. Franchise chains charge similar rates for individual returns but often bill business returns at a premium. DIY software costs $0–$130 but provides no human review, no planning, and no representation if you get an IRS notice.
If you have only W-2 income and take the standard deduction, free software can work. But if you have any self-employment income, rental property, investments, or multiple income sources, a professional typically identifies $3,000+ in additional deductions that software misses. For self-employed filers, the QBI deduction alone can be worth $2,000–$5,000+ depending on income — and many DIY filers skip it because they don't understand the eligibility rules.
Price is often similar for basic returns. The difference is continuity and planning. A local preparer knows your file, calls you proactively when something changes, and is available year-round. A franchise location staffs up seasonally — the person who did your return in March may not be there when the IRS sends a notice in August. Franchise offices also tend to upsell "audit protection" as a separate paid add-on; at a local firm, that support is typically included.
If you're self-employed, yes — the portion of your tax prep fee related to your business return (Schedule C, 1120-S, 1065) is deductible as an ordinary business expense. For W-2 employees filing only personal returns, the deduction for miscellaneous itemized expenses (including tax prep) was suspended under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Legislation in 2025 (the OBBBA) extended that suspension, so personal tax prep fees remain non-deductible for the 2026 tax year.
Yes — always together. We prepare your federal Form 1040 and Michigan MI-1040 as a pair. The Michigan return pulls from federal figures, so filing them separately increases the risk of mismatches. Our quoted fee covers both; we don't bill the state return as a separate line item.
We're happy to prepare simple returns. A single W-2 with standard deduction falls at the lower end of our pricing range ($150–$200 range). We still check for credits you may not know about — the Michigan homestead property tax credit, education credits, and energy efficiency credits are commonly missed even on "simple" returns.
No. We can handle everything remotely — secure document upload, phone or video consultation, e-signature, and e-filing. But if you prefer face-to-face, our office is at 32008 Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores, and you're welcome to walk in or schedule an appointment.
Call or book a free consultation. We'll tell you the price before we start. No surprises.
Schedule Free Consultation Call 586-757-6116