According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for tax return preparation and other accounting fees are 197.78% higher in 2026 versus 1998 (a $39.56 difference in value).
Between 1998 and 2026:Tax return preparation and other accounting fees experienced an average inflation rate of 3.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, tax return preparation and other accounting fees costing $20 in the year 1998 would cost $59.56 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% during this same period, inflation for tax return preparation and other accounting fees was higher.
In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 4.25%, which is above the average yearly change for tax return preparation and other accounting fees during the 1998-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for tax return preparation and other accounting fees was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Tax return preparation and other accounting fees, over time, for $20 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | $20.00 | 4.25% |
| 1999 | $21.04 | 5.18% |
| 2000 | $22.23 | 5.66% |
| 2001 | $23.25 | 4.60% |
| 2002 | $24.46 | 5.22% |
| 2003 | $25.50 | 4.25% |
| 2004 | $26.58 | 4.23% |
| 2005 | $27.77 | 4.46% |
| 2006 | $29.65 | 6.76% |
| 2007 | $30.84 | 4.03% |
| 2008 | $32.41 | 5.08% |
| 2009 | $33.24 | 2.57% |
| 2010 | $34.17 | 2.79% |
| 2011 | $35.15 | 2.89% |
| 2012 | $36.94 | 5.08% |
| 2013 | $37.75 | 2.18% |
| 2014 | $39.44 | 4.49% |
| 2015 | $41.66 | 5.61% |
| 2016 | $43.36 | 4.10% |
| 2017 | $45.48 | 4.88% |
| 2018 | $47.80 | 5.11% |
| 2019 | $48.64 | 1.74% |
| 2020 | $50.02 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $51.15 | 2.27% |
| 2022 | $55.36 | 8.22% |
| 2023 | $62.09 | 12.16% |
| 2024 | $65.24 | 5.07% |
| 2025 | $67.53 | 3.51% |
| 2026 | $59.56 | -11.80%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Tax return preparation and other accounting fees:
| Year | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 104.250 | 109.650 | 115.858 | 121.183 | 127.508 | 132.933 | 138.558 | 144.742 | 154.533 | 160.764 | 168.924 | 173.259 | 178.097 | 183.242 | 192.557 | 196.764 | 205.602 | 217.128 | 226.026 | 237.062 | 249.172 | 253.516 | 260.734 | 266.641 | 288.554 | 323.631 | 340.044 | 351.976 | 310.439 |