Frederick, MD CPA · Est. 1971 · Honest Pricing
We believe you should know what things cost before you commit. Here's exactly what we charge — and what goes into the price.
Every individual return is prepared and reviewed by a CPA — never offshored, never rushed. Pricing is based on the complexity of your situation and the time required to prepare your return accurately. Learn more about our individual tax preparation services or see why a local CPA outperforms national chains.
W-2 income, some investment accounts, itemized deductions. A personal return with no business income or complex situations.
Multiple income sources, one rental property, significant investments, self-employment income, or a home sale. Priced based on complexity and time needed on return.
Multiple rental properties, multiple investment accounts, complicated Schedule C business, multistate filings, stock options, RSUs, K-1s, sale of business or property, and unique situations. Priced based on complexity and time needed on return.
We handle catch-up filings regularly. Multiple years filed together are typically priced lower per return than single-year filings. Call us to discuss your situation — we'll give you a straight answer on what it will cost. See our guide on how to file back taxes in Maryland.
Business return pricing depends on entity type, complexity, number of states, and the condition of your books. Every return is prepared and reviewed by a CPA in-house — no offshore preparation. Considering an S-Corp election? See our S-Corp vs. LLC guide and our Maryland PTE tax election article to understand how structure affects your tax bill.
Single-entity S-Corp or partnership, clean and organized books, one state filing, and straightforward business activity. A great starting point for newer or smaller businesses.
More complex entity structure, multiple K-1s, depreciation schedules, multiple states, or books that require some cleanup before filing. Priced based on complexity and time needed on return.
Multi-entity structures, high transaction volume, inventory, multiple states, or books that require significant cleanup. Priced based on complexity and time needed on return.
Fees increase with more complicated business activities — large transaction volumes, managing inventory, or having multiple employees all add time and complexity.
Clean, tax-ready books pay lower fees. Messy or incomplete financial records cost more to sort, reconcile, and organize. See our QuickBooks support services if your books need cleanup.
Higher revenue and more assets lead to more complex returns, which increases the time and risk for the preparer. Larger businesses typically fall in the moderate to complex range.
Charges are added for extra forms — Schedule K-1s for each partner, Schedule E for rental properties, and other supplemental schedules each add to preparation time.
Each state tax return adds to the total cost. Some states have more complex reporting requirements. See our multistate filing guide for more.
Business return pricing covers the tax return filing only. It does not include bookkeeping, journal entries, reconciliations, payroll processing, or Personal Property Tax returns. If your business needs these services, our monthly accounting packages below bundle everything together at one predictable monthly rate — and typically result in a lower total cost than paying for each service separately. Also see our Maryland Tax Guide for a full overview of your annual filing obligations.
For businesses that need more than just a tax return — these packages bundle bookkeeping, payroll, quarterly tax planning, and year-end tax preparation into one predictable monthly fee. No surprises, no separate invoices for every service. Learn more about our small business tax and bookkeeping services and Fractional CFO services.
All monthly packages include bookkeeping, journal entries, reconciliations, payroll coordination, Maryland SDAT Annual Report, and Personal Property Tax return filing — the Maryland-specific obligations that standalone tax return clients handle separately. Monthly packages are the most cost-effective way to stay fully compliant year-round.
Every return at Mercer Flanagan is prepared in-house and reviewed by a licensed CPA — not a seasonal employee, not an offshore preparer in another country. You also get year-round access, Maryland-specific expertise, and a CPA who knows your situation personally. Many national chains offshore preparation and use seasonal staff with minimal credentials. The difference in price reflects a fundamentally different level of service. Read our full comparison: CPA vs Tax Chains vs Software and Is Your Tax Return Being Prepared in Another Country?
Call us or book a free consultation and we'll tell you honestly. If you have a W-2, some investments, and itemized deductions, you're likely in the simple range. If you have a rental property, self-employment income, or significant investment activity, you're probably in the moderate range. If you have multiple rentals, a complex business, multistate filings, or stock options, you're in the complex range. Most of our individual clients land in the moderate tier at $550 to $750.
Business return pricing covers the tax return preparation and filing only. It does not include bookkeeping, journal entries, reconciliations, payroll processing, or the Maryland Personal Property Tax return. If you need those services, our monthly accounting packages bundle everything together. Also see our SDAT Annual Report guide for more on Maryland's annual compliance filings.
If your net business profit is consistently above $80,000 per year, an S-Corp election may save you $7,500 to $20,000 or more annually in self-employment taxes. Maryland business owners also need to consider the Maryland PTE tax election alongside the S-Corp decision. See our full S-Corp vs. LLC analysis — and book a free consultation to run your actual numbers.
No — our initial consultation is free. We'll review your situation, give you an honest assessment of where your return falls in our pricing tiers, and tell you clearly what it would cost to work with us. No obligation, no pressure.
Yes — and filing multiple years together is typically less expensive per return than filing them one at a time. We handle catch-up filings regularly. See our guide on how to file back taxes in Maryland and call us for a straightforward estimate.
"I highly refer Mercer Flanagan and Roy Cogliandolo. They go above and beyond for their clients. I have used them for many years. They give me peace of mind when dealing with the headaches of business and personal taxes."
BJ Borden
Frederick, MD · Business & Personal Taxes · Long-Term Client · Verified Google Review
Book a free 20-minute consultation. We'll review your situation and give you a straight answer — no obligation, no pressure.