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outlook 2026: higher tax prices, rising strains, and a widening gap among firms

the 2026 filing season will have an increasingly uneven pricing structure.

busy season barometer: most tax practices remain clustered below $1,500 in typical annual client fees. a smaller, higher-priced tier is emerging, characterized by minimum fees, selective client retention, and a stronger willingness to raise rates. dig deeper, and the reality is even more nuanced.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

top-priced tax practices are driving typical annual client fees toward $3,000 and above this year, according to the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season barometer survey, underscoring how rising costs are pressuring most firms even as a smaller group gains pricing power through scale, selectivity, and tighter engagement control.

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one cpa respondent put it bluntly: “we are raising rates again this year. some clients will leave. that’s fine. we can’t keep doing $400 returns when staff wages keep rising.” another practitioner described a more selective approach: “we didn’t raise everyone equally. we raised prices where the work was painful and left simpler clients mostly alone.”