“How much does an accountant cost?” is one of the first questions every business owner asks — and the honest answer is: it depends. Fees vary widely with your business structure, the services you need and the firm you choose. This guide gives you indicative 2026 price ranges for the common services, explains what drives the price, the two ways accountants bill, whether the fees are tax-deductible, and how to compare quotes.
When you’re ready to compare, our directory of RosterElf-partner accountants lists accredited practices you can ask for a quote.
Typical accountant costs at a glance
- Simple individual return:
around $100–$180
- Sole trader return:
around $150–$300
- Company or trust return:
from around $300 to $1,000s with complexity
- Hourly rates:
bookkeeper ~$40–$90; accountant ~$100–$400+
- Monthly packages:
commonly a few hundred to $1,500+ per month
How we sourced these figures
How much do accountants charge? (2026 ranges)
For a straightforward tax return, Airtasker’s 2026 cost guide puts a basic individual return at roughly $100–$180, a sole trader return around $150–$300, and a company or trust return around $300–$700. More complex work costs more: Sleek reports GST-registered trading companies commonly running $1,500–$2,500, and returns with payroll, assets or capital gains reaching $2,500–$4,000+.
Indicative accountant fees by service (AUD, 2026)
| Service | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Simple individual tax return | $100–$180 |
| Sole trader tax return | $150–$300 |
| Company or trust tax return | $300–$700+ |
| Complex company return (payroll, assets, CGT) | $1,500–$4,000+ |
| Monthly / annual fixed-fee package | ~$250–$1,500+ /mo |
Ranges are indicative (Airtasker, Sleek, Advancr, 2026) and vary by complexity, location and firm. BAS is usually bundled into a package or priced separately.
Why your business structure changes the price
The single biggest driver of cost is how complex your affairs are, and structure is the clearest proxy for that. A sole trader has one set of books and one return; a company or trust adds financial statements, separate tax obligations and more compliance — so it costs materially more. If you employ staff, payroll and BAS add ongoing work (and are where mistakes are most expensive).
Business structure
A sole trader return is far simpler — and cheaper — than a company or trust with financial statements and multiple obligations.
Employees & payroll
Running payroll, super and award compliance adds work. It’s also where mistakes are most costly, so it’s worth paying for.
Scope of work
A one-off tax return costs less than ongoing bookkeeping, BAS, payroll and advisory bundled together.
How tidy your records are
Clean, reconciled data is quick to work with. Messy books cost more — disorganised records can push a return from ~$100 to $400+.
Fixed-fee vs hourly billing
Accountants generally charge one of two ways:
Fixed-fee or monthly packages bundle an agreed scope (say, bookkeeping + BAS + payroll + a return) into a predictable price. This is the easiest way to budget and compare, and it’s increasingly the norm for small business — packages commonly run from a few hundred dollars to $2,000+ a month depending on scope.
Hourly billing charges for time spent. It can suit one-off or unpredictable work, but it’s harder to forecast — a complex month can cost more than you expect. If you go hourly, ask for an estimate and a cap. Indicative hourly rates:
Indicative hourly rates (AUD, 2026)
| Role | Indicative hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | ~$40–$90 |
| BAS agent | ~$90–$110 (upper end of bookkeeping rates) |
| Accountant / CPA | ~$100–$400+ |
Bookkeeper rate: Advancr (2026); accountant rate: Sleek (2026); BAS agent rate is indicative. Rates vary by experience and location.
Are accountant fees tax-deductible?
Yes — for most businesses and individuals, the cost of managing your tax affairs is tax-deductible. That includes fees paid to a registered tax agent or BAS agent for preparing and lodging your tax return and activity statements, and for obtaining tax advice. Individuals claim it at label D10 “Cost of managing tax affairs”. Always confirm your situation with your accountant or the ATO’s cost of managing tax affairs page. In practice this softens the real cost of good advice.
Bookkeeper vs BAS agent vs accountant: what each costs
These roles do different jobs at different price points. A bookkeeper handles day-to-day records and payroll (lowest hourly rate); a BAS agent is a registered bookkeeper who can charge to lodge your BAS; an accountant handles tax returns, structure and strategy (highest rate). Many businesses use a bookkeeper through the year and an accountant at tax time — often the cheapest combination overall, because clean books cut the accountant’s hours. See accountant vs bookkeeper for the full comparison.
How to keep your accounting costs down
The cheapest lever is clean data. The tidier the information your accountant receives, the less time they spend fixing it — and the less you pay (disorganised records can double the cost of a simple return). For businesses with staff, that starts with accurate hours and pay: award-interpreted timesheets that flow straight into Xero or MYOB mean far less rework at pay run and BAS time. Read cleaning payroll data before it reaches Xero or MYOB for the detail.
Cut accounting costs by
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Keeping your bookkeeping reconciled and up to date
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Using connected software so data flows automatically, not by re-keying
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Capturing accurate staff hours with time and attendance
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Agreeing a fixed-fee scope so there are no billing surprises
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Bundling services with one provider rather than piecing them together
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Claiming the fees — the cost of managing tax affairs is deductible
Is an accountant worth the cost?
For most businesses, yes. A good accountant typically pays for themselves through tax saved, penalties avoided and time given back — especially around payroll compliance, where a single award mistake can cost more than a year of fees. The goal isn’t the cheapest accountant; it’s the one who delivers the most value for a fair, predictable price. Our guide on how to choose an accountant covers how to judge that.
Give your accountant clean, award-compliant payroll data and spend less at pay run — start a free RosterElf trial.
Accountant costs — FAQs
How much does an accountant cost in Australia?
It depends on your business structure and the services you need, and it varies by firm. As an indicative 2026 guide, a simple individual return is around $100–$180, a sole trader return $150–$300, and a company or trust return from $300 to several thousand with complexity (Airtasker, Sleek). Rather than a single rate, ask two or three accountants for a written quote and compare what’s included.
How much does a tax return cost?
Indicatively (2026): a basic individual return around $100–$180, a sole trader return around $150–$300, and a company or trust return from around $300 — rising to $1,500–$4,000+ for complex returns with payroll, assets or capital gains. Complexity and how organised your records are drive the price.
Are accountant fees tax-deductible in Australia?
Yes. The cost of managing your tax affairs — including fees to a registered tax agent or BAS agent for returns, activity statements and tax advice — is generally deductible, claimed by individuals at label D10. See the ATO cost of managing tax affairs page.
How much does a bookkeeper cost compared to an accountant?
A bookkeeper typically charges around $40–$90 an hour (Advancr, 2026), while an accountant runs around $100–$400+ an hour (Sleek, 2026). Many businesses use a bookkeeper for day-to-day work and an accountant for tax — often the cheapest combination overall because clean books cut the accountant’s time.
How much does BAS lodgement cost?
Is it cheaper to pay an accountant a fixed fee or hourly?
Fixed-fee or monthly packages make your costs predictable and easy to compare, which suits most small businesses. Hourly billing can work for one-off or unpredictable jobs but is harder to budget — ask for an estimate and a cap if you go that way.
How can I reduce my accounting fees?
Keep your records clean and reconciled, use connected software so data flows automatically, capture accurate staff hours, agree a fixed-fee scope, and claim the deduction for managing your tax affairs. Clean data is the biggest lever — messy books cost more because someone has to fix them first.
Is an accountant worth the money for a small business?
For most businesses, yes. A good accountant usually pays for themselves through tax saved, penalties avoided and time returned — particularly around payroll and award compliance, where mistakes are expensive.
