What is a reasonable cost to have taxes done?

[Schema Thing]

I always do my own, so I'm clueless as to what a fair charge is.

A friend is going to need help this year. She doesn't have any real money, but it's still going to be complicated: she got divorced, has psych issues that make it difficult for her to work, quit a job and took a settlement and her 401k, sold her house and got some nice equity from it, used up all of the above monies, and then got student loans to re-entered college and is now on state financial aid. She also runs a legitimate small business (photography), but that business really did very little work in 2008.

Somehow I think she's going to need a little more personal attention than H&R Block?

[dembotoz]

1. yep, not the time for H and R

Jesus and its not even june yet.

[no name no slogan]

2. I would guess a couple hundred bucks, minimum

The few times I've taken mine to a tax preparer (when I was married, and had very simple taxes for the year) it cost me $125 per person. And that was for two people, no kids, with the same jobs, owning one house, with no other deductions besides mortgage interest.

However, she may be able to get some help from the IRS. Depending on her financial situation, they may be able to set her up with somebody to prepare her taxes for free or for a nominal fee. I'd check with them first to see if they can help.

[Schema Thing]

3. Now that's a good idea. I'll pass it on.

[Schema Thing]

4. keeek