How Much Does a Tax Agent Cost in Australia?

How Much Does a Tax Agent Cost in Australia?

Short answer: as a rough market guide, a simple individual return often sits somewhere around the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars, while returns with rental properties, investments or a business cost more because there is more to get right. These are indicative figures only - the real number depends on your situation. And here is the part people miss: the fee you pay a registered tax agent is itself tax-deductible.

It is one of the most common questions we hear from clients walking into our Mortdale office, and a completely reasonable one: "What will it cost to have my tax done?" The honest answer is that it varies - a simple individual return is a very different job to a small business with a trust and a rental property. This guide explains the ranges you will see around the market, what actually drives the price, and why a good agent usually pays for itself.

So what does it cost?

Fees vary widely between providers, locations and the complexity of your affairs, so treat any number you see online as indicative only. As a very general guide to the market:

• A straightforward individual return (salary, a bit of bank interest, standard work deductions) usually sits at the lower end.
• Add a rental property, share portfolio or capital gains and the fee steps up because there is more to get right.
• A sole trader, partnership, company, trust or SMSF sits higher again, since these involve financial statements, business schedules and more compliance.

We are happy to give you a clear quote for your situation before we start - no surprises. The point of these ranges is simply that price tracks complexity, not that one number fits everyone.

What it costs at MJE

To make this real, here is where our own work starts. These are indicative "from" prices for a simple, tidy job - your final fee depends on your situation, and we always confirm it in a free quote before we begin.

Most businesses choose a monthly package that bundles the books, BAS and the return into one predictable fee; one-off company or trust returns are quoted up-front. SMSF work is quoted for your fund, and the independent audit is a separate, third-party cost (a legal requirement). You can see the full list on our packages page.

If you are an individual, a few common add-ons give you a feel for how the work builds up - these are a guide only and are confirmed in your quote:

• Capital gains (CGT) work - from $242
• Each rental property - from $149
• Self-education claim - from $66
• Medicare levy refund - from $69
• Extra deductions (over $1000, or 10+ items) - from $28
• Fee from refund option - from $28

These are starting prices only. We give every client a free, fixed quote up-front so there are no surprises - one clear number, no obligation. Many ongoing and advisory engagements are billed on a time (hourly) basis, so your exact fee depends on the work involved.

What drives the cost

When an agent prices a job, they are really pricing time and risk. The big factors:

• Complexity - more income types, entities and schedules mean more work.
• Record quality - tidy, complete records are quick to work with; a shoebox of receipts takes longer.
• Number of entities - a family with a trust, a company and personal returns is several jobs in one.
• Special events - selling a property, restructuring a business, or catching up on overdue years all add work.
• Advice, not just lodgment - if you want planning and guidance rather than a data-entry exercise, that is a more valuable (and more involved) service.

If your records are the main cost driver, sorting your books first can genuinely lower your fee - clean records make tax time faster and cheaper. Our individual tax returns service covers exactly this kind of work.

Why a tax agent is worth it

Cost is only half the equation. A registered tax agent brings real value:

• More deductions, done correctly - we know what your occupation or business can legitimately claim, and we make sure it is supported.
• Fewer mistakes and audit risk - errors can cost far more than a fee in penalties and stress.
• More time to lodge - clients of a registered agent generally get later lodgment dates than the standard 31 October deadline for self-lodgers.
• A real person to ask - someone who knows your situation across the year, not just at tax time.

For business owners, that value compounds. Our business advisory and tax planning services are about getting ahead of the bill, not just reporting it after the fact. If deductions are your main concern, our guide to work-related deductions walks through what you can legitimately claim.

The fee is tax-deductible

Here is the part many people miss: what you pay a registered tax agent is itself tax-deductible. The ATO lets you claim the cost of managing your tax affairs - including the fee for preparing and lodging your return. For individuals, this goes at item D10 on your return.

A couple of things to know. You can only claim it where the adviser is a tax agent registered with the Tax Practitioners Board. And from 1 July 2025, ATO interest charges (the General Interest Charge and Shortfall Interest Charge) are no longer deductible, even though the agent fee itself still is. We cover this in detail in our companion article on whether your accountant's fee is tax-deductible.

FAQ

Is using a tax agent more expensive than doing it myself? There is a fee, but it is deductible, and a good agent often finds deductions or avoids errors that more than cover the cost - plus you get later lodgment dates and someone to ask.

Why can two agents quote different prices for "the same" return? Rarely is it truly the same. Differences in your record quality, the depth of advice included, and how many income types or entities are involved all change the work required.

Is it cheaper to just use myTax myself? myTax is free, so for a very simple return it can be the cheapest option. But it puts the responsibility for getting it right entirely on you, the agent fee is deductible, and an agent often finds claims or avoids errors worth more than the fee. For anything beyond salary and a bit of interest, an agent usually pays off.

Can I claim last year's tax agent fee? Yes - you claim it in the year you paid it, under the cost of managing your tax affairs (item D10 for individuals).

Get a clear quote

The best way to answer "how much will it cost?" is to tell us about your situation and let us give you a straight number. There is no obligation, the quote is fixed up-front, and there are no surprises - you know the price before any work begins. Whether you are in Mortdale, Oatley, Kogarah or anywhere across Sydney's south, contact us or call (02) 9580 1167 and we will explain exactly what is involved and what it will cost - before you commit.

Written by the team at MJE Business Services, a registered tax agent (No. 26313222) serving the St George area since 2000.

This is general information, not personal advice. Tax rules and dates change - please check your situation with us or at ato.gov.au.

Sources (ATO)

• Cost of managing tax affairs: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/deductions-you-can-claim/cost-of-managing-tax-affairs
• D10 Cost of managing tax affairs 2025: https://www.ato.gov.au/forms-and-instructions/individual-tax-return-2025-instructions/deduction-questions-d1-d10-individual-tax-return-2025/d10-cost-of-managing-tax-affairs-2025
• Lodging with a registered tax agent / due dates: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/your-tax-return/how-to-lodge-your-tax-return