Fees

We feel that at Tom Umstattd, CPA, we should only charge by the hour for our services. Our billing rates currently vary from $75 per hour for degreed staff accountants, to $130 per hour for Tom Umstattd, CPA. Other accounting firms may receive outside commissions for financial products that they may suggest to their clients, but we feel this practice would compromise our mission: endeavoring conscientiously toward superior service. Our firm’s discipline to refuse commissions when advising for or against a particular financial strategy for our clients helps to insure the integrity of our unbiased professional advice and opinions.

Estimates: we will not give estimates over the phone for new clients. A free, no obligation, one-half hour initial interview is usually set up for new clients. For tax return preparation, the prospective client will typically bring in his financial data as is asked for in the income tax organizer questionnaire. After the initial interview, we can give an estimate of our bill, if requested, and then at that time, both parties will decide if our professional services will continue or not. If we agree to proceed, then one half of the estimated bill amount is paid at that time and the remainder is paid when the work is completed.