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Back to the home page and map, from TryOwning · Bookkeeping and tax practice · Lesson 3
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Bookkeeping and tax practice · 14 min

Credentials and rules

Anyone can keep a business's books. Prepare one tax return for pay and the IRS wants a number from you. Stand next to a client in an IRS appeal, or sign an audit, and you need a license. A few tickets on which is which, and what each costs.

Ticket 01 · The guess

What's a credential worth?

In a 2025 survey by NATP, a preparers' association, preparers with no credential charged $186natptax.com ·2025 on average for a basic Form 1040. What did CPAs charge for the same return?

$150
$100$500
Words to know

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Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page, the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

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Sources and every number (1)

Sources

  • What the 2025 NATP Fee Study tells you, at a glance (TAXPRO, November 2025): Form 1040 fees by pricing method, schedule, designation and practice focus · National Association of Tax Professionals, 2025

Every number

  • $280natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee CPAs in NATP's 2025 survey charged for a basic Form 1040.
  • $228natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee enrolled agents in NATP's 2025 survey charged for a basic Form 1040.
  • $184natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee preparers in the IRS's Annual Filing Season Program charged for a basic Form 1040 (NATP's 2025 survey).
  • $186natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee preparers with no credential charged for a basic Form 1040 (NATP's 2025 survey).
  1. Lessons›
  2. Industries›
  3. Bookkeeping and tax practice
  • ·Before this: Tax season
  • ·Next: Finding and keeping clients
  • ·Free guide: How bookkeepers and tax preparers make money
Skip to the lesson
Back to the home page and map, from TryOwning · Bookkeeping and tax practice · Lesson 3
Part 1 of 3Part 1 of 3, 0 done

Bookkeeping and tax practice · 14 min

Credentials and rules

Anyone can keep a business's books. Prepare one tax return for pay and the IRS wants a number from you. Stand next to a client in an IRS appeal, or sign an audit, and you need a license. A few tickets on which is which, and what each costs.

Ticket 01 · The guess

What's a credential worth?

In a 2025 survey by NATP, a preparers' association, preparers with no credential charged $186natptax.com ·2025 on average for a basic Form 1040. What did CPAs charge for the same return?

$150
$100$500
Words to know

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page, the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

·
Sources and every number (1)

Sources

  • What the 2025 NATP Fee Study tells you, at a glance (TAXPRO, November 2025): Form 1040 fees by pricing method, schedule, designation and practice focus · National Association of Tax Professionals, 2025

Every number

  • $280natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee CPAs in NATP's 2025 survey charged for a basic Form 1040.
  • $228natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee enrolled agents in NATP's 2025 survey charged for a basic Form 1040.
  • $184natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee preparers in the IRS's Annual Filing Season Program charged for a basic Form 1040 (NATP's 2025 survey).
  • $186natptax.com ·2025 · Average fee preparers with no credential charged for a basic Form 1040 (NATP's 2025 survey).
  1. Lessons›
  2. Industries›
  3. Bookkeeping and tax practice
  • ·Before this: Tax season
  • ·Next: Finding and keeping clients
  • ·Free guide: How bookkeepers and tax preparers make money