How Much Does an Accountant Cost in Australia? A Transparent Pricing Guide for Firm Owners

A simple individual tax return typically costs $100–$180, bookkeeping runs $30–$120 an hour or $125–$5,000+ a month depending on transaction volume, and a company or trust return starts around $300–$700, climbing to $1,500–$4,000+ for more complex work. This guide breaks down current fee ranges by service type, what actually drives the cost up or down, and how offshore accounting support compares to hiring locally.

Key Takeaways

• Core Pricing Benchmarks: Simple individual tax returns range from $100-$180, company/trust returns start at $300-$700 (reaching $1,500-$4,000+ for complex setups), and standalone BAS lodgements cost $150-$250 per quarter.

• Hourly vs. Fixed Rates: Accountants charge $100-$400+ per hour, while bookkeepers charge $30-$120 per hour based on registration level. Fixed monthly retainers are increasingly preferred for predictable practice revenue and client cash flow.

• Volume Drives Bookkeeping Costs: Transaction volume, not just business size, is the primary driver of bookkeeping costs, ranging from $125-$250/month for micro-businesses up to $2,500-$5,000+/month for high-volume enterprises (500+ transactions).

• True Loaded Cost of Local Hires: Base salary represents only a portion of local employment costs. Superannuation, payroll tax, leave entitlements, and overheads add 25% to 35% on top, bringing a $90,000 local accountant to a total loaded cost of $115,000-$130,000 annually.

• 50% to 65% Offshore Cost Savings: Integrating tertiary-qualified offshore accounting support removes local infrastructure, recruitment, and statutory overheads, saving practices 50% to 65% in loaded labor expenses while protecting fixed-fee margins.

How Much Does an Accountant Cost in Australia?

Accountant fees in Australia generally start around $100 for a simple individual tax return and scale up with complexity, with hourly rates typically running from $100 to $400 or more. Below are the market fee ranges by service type:

Service Type	Typical Fee Range (AUD, ex GST)	Standard Pricing Structure	Key Pricing Factors
Simple Individual Tax Return	$100 – $180	Fixed fee	Basic salary income, simple deductions
Sole Trader Tax Return	$150 – $300	Fixed fee	Schedule C schedules, vehicle logs, simple expenses
Company or Trust Tax Return	$300 – $700+	Fixed fee / Annual package	Entity structure, financial statements, Division 7A
Complex Company Return	$1,500 – $4,000+	Fixed fee or hourly rate	Payroll compliance, capital gains, multi-entity setups
Micro Monthly Bookkeeping (0–25 trans)	$125 – $250 / month	Fixed monthly retainer	Bank reconciliation, basic ledger entries
Small Monthly Bookkeeping (25–100 trans)	$300 – $800 / month	Fixed monthly retainer	Accounts payable/receivable, quarterly BAS
Medium Monthly Bookkeeping (100–500 trans)	$800 – $2,500 / month	Fixed monthly retainer	Active payroll, inventory tracking, management reporting
Large Monthly Bookkeeping (500+ trans)	$2,500 – $5,000+ / month	Fixed monthly retainer	Multi-currency, complex inventory, high transaction volume
BAS Lodgement (Standalone)	$150 – $250 per lodgement	Fixed fee per quarter	Data cleanliness, payroll reconciliation

How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost in Australia?

Bookkeeping in Australia typically costs $30 to $120 an hour, with the exact rate depending heavily on experience and task complexity.

• Entry-level bookkeepers handling basic data entry and bank reconciliation generally charge $30 to $50 an hour.

• Experienced bookkeepers handling GST coding and BAS preparation sit around $50 to $80 an hour.

• Registered BAS agents handling more complex compliance, payroll and lodgement work charge $80 to $150 an hour.

For most small businesses, though, fixed monthly packages tend to be a more useful way to budget than hourly billing, since the price scales with your actual transaction volume rather than fluctuating month to month.

What Affects Accountant Fees and Bookkeeper Costs?

Understanding what affects accountant fees and what affects bookkeeper cost allows practice owners to quote accurately and manage client expectations.

1. Transaction Volume and Business Size

Transaction count is the single biggest driver of bookkeeping and accounting costs. A micro-business processing under 25 monthly transactions requires minimal time, keeping monthly costs low. In contrast, an e-commerce retailer or manufacturer generating over 500 transactions per month requires extensive bank reconciliation, inventory management, and multi-currency tracking.

2. Business Entity and Structural Complexity

Operating as a sole trader requires simple schedules attached to an individual tax return. On top of that, operating through a trust, partnership, or company requires separate financial statements, tax reconciliations, and Division 7A loan management. Complex entity structures naturally demand higher accounting fees for sole trader Australia vs company setups.

3. Record Cleanliness and Software Integration

Clean, reconciled data speeds up preparation. Disorganised receipts and un-reconciled accounts increase manual labor hours, pushing a standard return from $100 to $400+. Connecting bank feeds directly to cloud platforms like Xero or MYOB reduces manual entry and keeps client fees predictable.

4. Regulatory Registration Requirements

Under Australian law, charging a fee for BAS or tax services requires registration with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). Registered agents carry professional indemnity insurance and maintain ongoing education. As a result, certified agents charge higher hourly rates than unregistered entry-level assistants.

Fixed Fee vs. Hourly Accountant Australia

Choosing between fixed-fee and hourly billing affects both client cash flow and practice margins. Hourly billing charges for exact time spent on a ledger.

This billing structure suits unpredictable cleanup work, one-off tax audits, or complex business restructures. Still, hourly billing makes accounting fees hard to forecast for small business clients, occasionally leading to fee disputes. Indicative hourly rates across Australia include:

• Entry-level Bookkeeper: $30 – $50 / hr

• Experienced Bookkeeper: $50 – $80 / hr

• Registered BAS Agent: $80 – $150 / hr

• Accountant / CPA: $100 – $400+ / hr

  
  

Fixed fee packages combine routine compliance, bookkeeping, BAS lodgement, and tax returns into a single monthly fee. Small businesses prefer this predictability, and accounting practices gain stable recurring revenue. However, firms must scope tasks accurately to protect profit margins against scope creep.

The True Loaded Cost of Hiring Locally

Hiring an in-house bookkeeper or accountant locally involves costs far beyond base salary. According to SEEK data, the average annual salary for accountant roles in Australia ranges from $80,000 to $95,000.

On top of base pay, statutory and operational on-costs add substantial overheads:

• Superannuation Guarantee: 11.5% (rising to 12%), adding $8,050 to $12,000 annually.

• Payroll Tax: State payroll taxes add roughly 4.85% to 5.45% above regional thresholds.

• Leave Entitlements: Annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays reduce billable hours by approximately 15%.

• Recruitment & Overheads: Recruitment fees (15–20% of salary), office space, hardware, and software licenses add another $10,000 to $15,000 per seat.

  
  

Consequently, an accountant earning $90,000 in base salary carries a total loaded employment cost of $115,000 to $130,000 per year.

How Offshoring Compares on Cost and Capacity

Partnering with an offshore accounting team in Indonesia gives Australian firms direct access to tertiary-qualified accountants. Offshore engagement models remove the burden of local overheads. Workstation infrastructure, recruitment, IT management, and local HR support are managed directly within the partnership structure.

Instead of paying high local loaded costs, firms achieve a 50% to 65% reduction in total employment expenses. These cost savings protect practice margins on fixed-fee packages, free up capacity during busy tax quarters, and allow local senior staff to concentrate on strategic client advice.

Read our full cost comparison between local hires and offshore accountants here.

Conclusion

Bookkeeping and accounting fees in Australia scale predictably once you understand the actual drivers: transaction volume for bookkeeping, complexity and structure for tax return preparation, and location for both.

The volume threshold worth remembering is roughly 500 transactions a month, below which outsourced bookkeeping generally beats an in-house hire on cost, and above which the comparison narrows considerably.

For businesses looking to manage the bookkeeping and processing side of that cost base more efficiently, offshore support offers a genuine alternative worth comparing against the full cost of local hiring, not just the headline hourly rate.

Want to See What Offshore Support Could Save Your Business?

If bookkeeping or processing costs are becoming a bigger line item than they should be, it's worth running the numbers on what offshore support could look like for your specific transaction volume.

With BOS Resources, you get skilled accountants and bookkeepers with a minimum of one year's experience working directly with Australian businesses.

Since we're based in Indonesia, our team works the same hours as yours, so there's no lag waiting on responses. And because our staff work from our office rather than remotely, your data stays secure throughout. Get in touch with BOS Resources today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a tax return cost to prepare?

Individual tax return preparation costs $100 to $180 for straightforward salary earners. Returns involving sole trader schedules or capital gains range from $150 to $900+. Company tax returns start at $300 to $700 for basic setups, reaching $1,500 to $4,000+ for complex operating groups.

How much does BAS lodgement typically cost?

BAS lodgement costs between $150 and $250 per quarterly lodgement as a standalone service from a registered BAS agent. Many practices include quarterly BAS lodgement within fixed monthly bookkeeping packages ($300 to $800 per month), avoiding surprise hourly bills.

How does the cost of offshoring compare to hiring locally?

Offshoring accounting work reduces total loaded labor costs by 50% to 65% compared to local hiring. Local employees incur superannuation, payroll tax, leave coverage, and office overheads. Offshore partnerships absorb facilities, recruitment, and management within a simplified operational structure.