Tax season is coming up again and how you file your taxes is a mixed bag. You can do them yourself, hire an accountant, or use your computer. Let’s explore the cost and benefits of each of these.

It’s possible to do your taxes without spending a dime, but most Americans do spend money. Either by filing online or by using software, a tax preparation service, or a local accountant.

Online filing is the least expensive choice. Depending upon the complexity of your return, you can find prices ranging from nothing up to $40. Any mistakes you make are your own mistakes and you can’t blame anybody else.

Buying software to help you file taxes is the next least expensive choice. You can find prices for buying this type of software ranging from $30 to $80. Before you buy, find out how much extra you are going to have to pay for filing your state returns.

If you want to sit across from a warm body this tax season, then be prepared to pay for that privilege. We call these tax preparation services such as H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt. Asking them to file a long-form 1040 form for you will usually cost you between $100 to $120, but every one of these are different and it may cost you more.

Further up the ladder, you could get your taxes done by a private accountant. The National Society of Accountants says that the average fee for an itemized 1040 with Schedule A plus state return is about $205. These are accountants and not necessarily CPA’s (Certified Public Accountants). CPA’s usually cost more.

Which one of these is right for you? That really depends upon you, your comfort level, and your situation. The more complicated your financial situation is, the more important it is to get a real professional.

But, before you pay anyone, if your family income was less than $54,000 there is usually some sort of free help out there. Either free-in-person preparation or free online filing. So, don’t write a check until you do a check.