Industry GuidesJuly 22, 2025·4 min read
Last updated April 25, 2026

Accounting Firms: The Tax Season Processing Fee Problem (And How to Solve It)

Tax season creates a surge in card payments — and processing fees. Network Offset Pricing eliminates the cost year-round.

By David C.

Key Takeaway

Tax season creates a surge in card payments — and processing fees. Network Offset Pricing eliminates the cost year-round.

For accounting firms, tax season isn't just busy — it's when the majority of annual client payments flow through your system. Hundreds of tax preparation fees, advisory retainers, and quarterly estimated payments — most paid by card — compress into a few months.

A firm processing $30,000/month in card payments during tax season and $15,000/month during off-season is paying **$8,100 to $18,900 per year** in processing fees, depending on the rate.

The Tax Season Spike

High-Value Invoices

Business tax preparation, audit support, and advisory services generate $1,000–$10,000+ invoices. Each card payment carries significant processing costs.

Client Billing Platforms Charge Premium Rates

QuickBooks Payments, Bill.com, and other accounting-integrated platforms charge 2.9%–3.5% for card payments. The integration is convenient, but expensive.

Network Offset Pricing for Accounting Firms

Client invoice example:

Why Accounting Clients Respond Well

  • Accountants' clients understand numbers. Your clients are financially literate. They see the math immediately.
  • ACH adoption is high. Accounting clients who pay recurring monthly fees often prefer ACH when given a price incentive.
  • Tax season payments are expected and planned. Clients paying $400+ for tax preparation aren't going to switch firms over $16.

The Savings

$231,000

| $6,930 |

Get Started

The first step to reducing your processing costs is understanding exactly what you are paying today. Request a free statement analysis and we will show you a side-by-side comparison of your current costs versus what you could save with Network Offset Pricing.

Share this article

David C.

David C.

B2B Payments Writer

David C. writes about payment processing for professional and B2B service firms. With a background in accounting and business advisory, he helps law firms, consultants, and accounting practices understand how processing costs affect their per-engagement profitability.

Related Articles

Ready to Save on Processing?

Apply in minutes, get approved in 48 hours.