Prices can vary greatly for tax preparation services.u00a0 The cheapest option is usually going to be a seasonal tax preparation outfit which will typically charge from $25 up for a 1040EZ. If you qualify to file a 1040EZ or even a 1040A, you likely will not have any problem using one of those services.u00a0 If you use an EA or CPA, then you will probably pay more, because you are paying for the expertise of someone who actually knows what the numbers that are getting keyed into the computer mean.u00a0 You also pay for the fact that the same service provider is more likely to still be around during the year when you have questions or next year when you need to get your return prepared again.TurboTax ran an online service this year where you could have your return prepared by a CPA.u00a0 It was $89.95 for a 1040 with no state return and no additional schedules with the 1040.u00a0 Personally, I have a few clients that are in the $80-$150 range, mostly because I have a long term relationship with them, but for most people it makes more sense to use me if they own a business or investments or have some level of complexity to their tax situation.u00a0 My average fee for a tax return is about $300, my prices are probably towards the mid to low end of CPA firms as there are still a lot of what I call old school accounting firms out there who have to charge for you to come to their nice office and be greeted by a pretty receptionist.I don't necessarily mean that as a dig to CPA firms that still follow the brick and mortar business model either, because that still appeals to a lot of people.u00a0 The thing is all tax preparation service is not the same and a seasonal tax prep shot or my model of a virtual CPA firm does not work for some people, I know because I have had to fire a few clients over the past several years who needed to be able to go to the nice office, be greeted by the receptionist and sit across the desk from their accountant, but you do pay for that.u00a0 I have a good friend who runs just such a firm and a return that I charge $350 for he charges $650 for.In summary I guess the answer to what does a simple tax preparation service cost is there is no typical cost, because it is not a commodity service.u00a0 The price depends on what services you really need or want to pay for.