How Long Does It Take a Tax Preparer to Do Your Taxes?

The time required for a professional to complete your tax return varies based on the complexity of your finances, the organization of your documents, and when you submit your information. These variables determine how long the process will take from start to finish. Key elements that influence the preparation time include the intricacy of your return, your own preparedness, and the steps involved in the filing process.

Key Factors Influencing the Timeline

The complexity of your tax return is the largest factor in how long a preparer needs. A return with a Form W-2 and the standard deduction takes less time than one with multiple forms. Complexity increases with schedules for itemized deductions (Schedule A), which require detailed records of medical costs, state and local taxes, and mortgage interest.

Self-employment or small business income, reported on Schedule C, adds another layer of intricacy. Preparers must account for business income and categorize expenses. Individuals with rental properties (Schedule E) or investment activities reporting capital gains and losses (Schedule D) also have more complex returns that take longer to prepare.

The time of year you provide your documents also impacts the turnaround. Submitting information in late January or early February places you at the front of the preparer’s queue. Waiting until late March or early April means your return joins a long line of clients, leading to delays as preparers work through their backlog before the filing deadline.

The Client’s Role in Preparation

Your preparedness affects how efficiently a tax professional can work. The first step is gathering all necessary income-reporting documents. These include:

• Form W-2 from employers
• Form 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation
• Form 1099-INT for interest income
• Form 1099-DIV for dividends
• Form 1099-B for brokerage transactions

Homeowners will also need Form 1098, which details mortgage interest paid.

Most tax preparers provide clients with a tax organizer, which is a questionnaire designed to capture all relevant information for the tax year. Completing this organizer thoroughly and accurately is important. An incomplete or inaccurate organizer often leads to follow-up questions and delays.

You should also have organized records for potential deductions, with receipts and totals ready for items like charitable contributions or medical expenses. For business owners, this includes well-kept records of all income and expenses. Presenting a preparer with a complete package of documents and a finished organizer minimizes back-and-forth communication and allows them to begin work promptly.

The Tax Preparation Process Step-by-Step

After gathering your documents and completing the tax organizer, you submit this package to your preparer. This can be done by uploading files to a secure online portal or through a physical drop-off. This intake step places your return into the preparer’s queue.

The preparer enters your financial data from your documents into their professional tax software, translating it onto the appropriate IRS forms. Many firms have an internal review process where a second person examines the return for accuracy and potential missed deductions before it is sent to you.

After the internal review, you will receive a draft of the tax return to check for accuracy. You must confirm that information like names, Social Security numbers, and income amounts is correct. If everything is accurate, you will sign Form 8879, the IRS e-file Signature Authorization, which allows the preparer to file the return electronically.

With the signed Form 8879, the preparer electronically transmits your tax return to the IRS and any state tax agencies. The taxing authorities then send an acceptance confirmation back to the preparer. You should receive a copy of this confirmation as proof that your return has been filed.

Typical Turnaround Times

It is important to distinguish between “active work time” and total “turnaround time.” Active time may only be a few hours, but the turnaround time is much longer because your return sits in a queue. This is especially true during peak season as the preparer works on client files that were received earlier.

For a simple return with W-2 income and the standard deduction, a well-organized client submitting documents outside of peak season can expect a turnaround of two to three business days. The actual hands-on time for the preparer might be less than two hours.

A moderately complex return involving itemized deductions or investment sales might have a turnaround time of three to seven business days. Highly complex returns for small business owners, or those with multiple rental properties or significant investment activity, can take one to three weeks. This timeline can extend depending on the quality of your records.