Accountant Invoice Template
An accountant invoice bills engagement, lists services, labour and fees on separate lines and states the terms (Due on receipt). This template is pre-filled for year-end financial statements and federal and state returns for a small S corporation, plus a tax planning meeting: 8 lines totalling $5,700.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for an accountant: year-end financial statements and federal and state returns for a small s corporation, plus a tax planning meeting. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Granite Accounting Firm
305 Market Street
Georgetown, TX 78626
billing@example.com
(978) 555-0105
Invoice
Bill to
Dana Whitfield
52 Aspen Way
Springfield, IL 62704
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year-end adjusting entries and trial balance review | 6 hr | $150.00 | $900.00 |
| Compiled financial statementsBalance sheet, income statement and notes | 1 engagement | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| S corporation income tax return, Form 1120-SIncluding Schedules K-1 for two shareholders | 1 each | $1,600.00 | $1,600.00 |
| State business tax return | 1 each | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Form 1099-NEC preparation for contractors | 5 form | $25.00 | $125.00 |
| Tax planning meetingOwner compensation and estimated payments | 2 hr | $200.00 | $400.00 |
| Ledger cleanup before the return could startUnreconciled loan and owner draw accounts | 4 hr | $95.00 | $380.00 |
| Secure client portal and e-file fee | 1 each | $45.00 | $45.00 |
- Subtotal
- $5,700.00
- Balance due
- $5,700.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Granite Accounting Firm. Terms: Due on receipt.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
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Accountant invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Year-end financial statements and federal and state returns for a small S corporation, plus a tax planning meeting |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | engagement |
| Usual payment terms | Due on receipt |
| Deposit practice | Many firms collect a retainer or an advance billing before tax-season work starts and apply it to the final invoice. |
| Sample lines | 8 lines, $5,700.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Compiled financial statements: $1,800.00 (32%) |
| Labour hours billed | 12 h, $1,680.00 |
| Trade-specific fields | Engagement letter date, Entity name and EIN, Tax year / period end, Client ID, CPA license no. |
Sample accountant invoice line items
Year-end financial statements and federal and state returns for a small S corporation, plus a tax planning meeting: 8 lines adding up to $5,700.00, split into services $3,975.00 (70%), labour $1,680.00 (29%) and fees $45.00 (1%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year-end adjusting entries and trial balance review | 6 hr | $150.00 | $900.00 |
| Compiled financial statements (Balance sheet, income statement and notes) | 1 engagement | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| S corporation income tax return, Form 1120-S (Including Schedules K-1 for two shareholders) | 1 each | $1,600.00 | $1,600.00 |
| State business tax return | 1 each | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Form 1099-NEC preparation for contractors | 5 form | $25.00 | $125.00 |
| Tax planning meeting (Owner compensation and estimated payments) | 2 hr | $200.00 | $400.00 |
| Ledger cleanup before the return could start (Unreconciled loan and owner draw accounts) | 4 hr | $95.00 | $380.00 |
| Secure client portal and e-file fee | 1 each | $45.00 | $45.00 |
| Subtotal | $5,700.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $5,700.00 |
What an accountant invoice should include
- Your accounting firm name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Dana Whitfield in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-8511) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: Due on receipt
- Engagement letter date: for example 26 November 2026
- Entity name and EIN: for example 12-3456789
- Tax year / period end: for example 12 November 2026
- Client ID: for example CUST-239
- Line items in engagement or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How accountants bill
Accountants commonly price recurring work such as year-end statements and business tax returns as fixed engagement fees, and bill advisory or extra work by the hour under an engagement letter.
Accountants commonly use "Due on receipt", so the invoice is payable the day it is issued. Many firms collect a retainer or an advance billing before tax-season work starts and apply it to the final invoice.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Accountants and Auditors $39.27 (employees, not contractor rates). The sample's $150.00 per hour for "Year-end adjusting entries and trial balance review" is 3.8 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Accountant invoicing tips
- List each return and form by its number and tax year, such as Form 1120-S for tax year 2025, so the fee can be matched line by line to the engagement letter.
- Bill work caused by late or incomplete client records, such as reconciling neglected loan accounts before the return can start, as its own hourly line instead of quietly raising the return fee.
- When one owner has several companies, send one invoice per entity rather than a combined bill, so each company records its own accounting fees in its own books.
- Invoice an extension and the later return separately and name both on the invoices, because owners who see two bills months apart often assume they were charged twice.
Accountant billing disputes to head off
- Clients compare a business return fee with consumer tax software prices; itemizing statements, schedules, state returns and information forms shows the scope of what was filed.
- Advisory calls that start as quick questions add up over a year; logging them as dated hourly lines, or against a stated advisory allowance, avoids a pile of unbilled time.
Work an accountant can bill for
Core tasks of Accountants and Auditors (O*NET 13-2011.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
How to make an accountant invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Granite Accounting Firm (your business) and the customer, Dana Whitfield, then engagement letter date.
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-8511 and set the terms to Due on receipt.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Year-end adjusting entries and trial balance review" (6 hr) to "Secure client portal and e-file fee" (1 each).
-
Check the total
The 8 lines come to $5,700.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes accounting work.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the accounting work records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an accountant invoice?
Add your accounting firm details, the customer, engagement letter date, entity name and ein, tax year / period end and client id, then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 8 lines for year-end financial statements and federal and state returns for a small S corporation, plus a tax planning meeting totalling $5,700.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do accountants charge?
Mostly engagement. Accountants commonly price recurring work such as year-end statements and business tax returns as fixed engagement fees, and bill advisory or extra work by the hour under an engagement letter.
When should an accountant invoice be paid?
Due on receipt is the usual arrangement. Many firms collect a retainer or an advance billing before tax-season work starts and apply it to the final invoice. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do accountants earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Accountants and Auditors $39.27 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.