Individual Tax Preparation
Individual tax preparation covers your federal return plus every state and city return you are required to file. Blue Sage prepares returns for employees, self-employed people, landlords, and households with equity compensation or income in more than one state, and reviews the prior year at the same time for anything worth amending.
What's included
- Federal, state, and New York City returns
- Self-employment and Schedule C income
- Rental property, depreciation, and passive loss tracking
- Investment income, capital gains, and cost basis reconstruction
- RSUs, stock options, and employee stock purchase plans
- Multi-state and part-year residency filings
- Review of the prior year return for missed items
- Electronic filing with confirmation, and a copy that is yours to keep
Who this is for
People whose return has outgrown consumer software. That usually happens at a specific moment — the first year with self-employment income, the first rental property, the first RSU vest, the first move between states, or the first year the numbers got large enough that a mistake is expensive.
It is also for people who are simply tired of doing it themselves and would rather hand it to someone who does this all year.
Deadlines and rules worth knowing
| Item | What applies |
|---|---|
| Income documents | W-2s, 1099s of every kind, K-1s, and brokerage statements |
| Prior year return | The single most useful document. It tells us what to look for and what was missed. |
| Rental property | Closing statement for the year of purchase, plus income and expenses for the year |
| Equity compensation | Broker statements plus the plan documents showing grant and vest dates |
| Self-employment | Income and expense totals, or access to your books |
| Moved states | The date of the move and documentation supporting it |
| Turnaround | Most returns are completed within a defined window agreed at the start of the engagement |
How we work
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Review what exists
We read last year’s return and whatever records you have. Most of what needs fixing is visible quickly.
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Fixed quote in writing
Scope and price before anything starts, counting entities, states, and any cleanup needed.
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File and maintain
Returns prepared and filed, notices answered, and a projection before year end.
Questions
How much does individual tax preparation cost?
Personal returns start at $349 for complete preparation and filing of a U.S. personal return. The final quote depends on the number of states, whether there is rental or self-employment income, and the complexity of any investment or equity compensation activity. You get the fixed price before work begins.
Can you amend a return someone else prepared?
Yes. Amended returns can generally be filed within a statutory window from the original filing date or payment date, whichever is later. It is worth reviewing prior years when there was a missed deduction, an incorrect cost basis, or an unclaimed credit for taxes paid to another state.
What do you need from me to get started?
Your prior year return first u2014 it is the most informative document you have u2014 plus your income documents for the year, any closing statements for property bought or sold, and broker statements if you hold investments or equity compensation. Everything is exchanged through a secure portal.
Last reviewed 11 September 2026 by Fahadun Nabi, Founder, Blue Sage Tax and Accounting Inc.. General information, not advice for your specific situation.
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Talk it through before the deadline, not after.
A free consultation call, no obligation, and a fixed quote if you want to go further.