According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for tax return preparation and other accounting fees are 172.31% higher in 2026 versus 2004 (a $34.46 difference in value).
Between 2004 and 2026:Tax return preparation and other accounting fees experienced an average inflation rate of 4.66% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, tax return preparation and other accounting fees costing $20 in the year 2004 would cost $54.46 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.48% during this same period, inflation for tax return preparation and other accounting fees was higher.
In the year 2004: Pricing changed by 4.23%, which is below the average yearly change for tax return preparation and other accounting fees during the 2004-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2004 (2.68%), 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 2004. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | $20.00 | 4.23% |
| 2005 | $20.89 | 4.46% |
| 2006 | $22.31 | 6.76% |
| 2007 | $23.21 | 4.03% |
| 2008 | $24.38 | 5.08% |
| 2009 | $25.01 | 2.57% |
| 2010 | $25.71 | 2.79% |
| 2011 | $26.45 | 2.89% |
| 2012 | $27.79 | 5.08% |
| 2013 | $28.40 | 2.18% |
| 2014 | $29.68 | 4.49% |
| 2015 | $31.34 | 5.61% |
| 2016 | $32.63 | 4.10% |
| 2017 | $34.22 | 4.88% |
| 2018 | $35.97 | 5.11% |
| 2019 | $36.59 | 1.74% |
| 2020 | $37.64 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $38.49 | 2.27% |
| 2022 | $41.65 | 8.22% |
| 2023 | $46.71 | 12.16% |
| 2024 | $49.08 | 5.07% |
| 2025 | $50.71 | 3.31% |
| 2026 | $54.46 | 7.41%* |
* 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 | 351.283 | 377.309 |