Keystone CPA Pricing vs AE Tax: $20,000–$55,000 vs $7,800
Keystone publishes $20,000 to $55,000 planning fees. Compare AE’s $7,800 standard engagement with no required annual renewal.
AE Tax Advisors: $7,800 Engagement, No Required Annual Planning Renewal
$7,800 advisory engagement. No required recurring annual planning fee.
Two payments of $3,900, 30 days apart. Tax returns, amendments, cost segregation, and additional services are separately scoped and priced. No annual planning renewal is required by the standard engagement; this does not promise unlimited future planning or free annual filing.
See service pricing | Compare engagement fees with annual retainers | Book a discovery call
The published planning-fee difference
Keystone CPA publishes tax planning fees of $20,000 to $55,000. Against AE’s $7,800 standard advisory engagement, that is a planning-fee difference of $12,200 to $47,200. AE’s fee is 61% lower than $20,000 and approximately 85.8% lower than $55,000. The proposals may cover different work; this is a fee comparison, not a claim of identical services or guaranteed savings.
Keystone states that return preparation for planning clients carries a separate fee. Its published range does not establish that the charge repeats every year. Verify Keystone’s pricing FAQ and request a written proposal.
Planning cost at a glance
| Provider or model | Planning fee | Recurring planning commitment |
|---|---|---|
| AE Tax Advisors | $7,800 standard engagement | No required annual planning renewal |
| Keystone CPA | $20,000 to $55,000 published planning range | Renewal terms must be confirmed directly |
Two payments of $3,900, 30 days apart. Tax returns, amendments, cost segregation, and additional services are separately scoped and priced. No annual planning renewal is required by the standard engagement; this does not promise unlimited future planning or free annual filing.
What can explain a higher quoted fee?
Private founder access, the number of entities, the complexity of a property portfolio and the time required for implementation can change a proposal. Keystone describes different service levels and separate tax-return fees. Ask both providers to price your actual facts before concluding that two offers purchase the same work.
Questions for real estate investors
Ask which professional analyzes passive losses, who implements depreciation changes, whether a Form 3115 or amendment is needed, and which returns are covered. Identify the study fee separately from planning. A published planning price alone does not answer those questions.
Compare a written proposal
Send each shortlisted firm the same entity list, prior returns, property schedule and current financial statements. Ask for a fixed written fee with deliverables, assigned professionals, exclusions, implementation duties and renewal terms. That makes a price difference useful rather than merely eye-catching.
- Separate the planning fee from business and individual filing fees.
- Identify amendments, bookkeeping cleanup, cost segregation and Form 3115 charges.
- Ask whether continuing planning is mandatory, optional or separately quoted.
- Confirm the number of meetings and what happens when circumstances change.
- Compare the total required work before signing.
Sources and pricing review
Updated September 30, 2026. AE Tax Advisors is the publisher and a provider in this comparison. Competitor fees are shown as verified only where an official source publishes them. A quote-required label does not mean the competitor is more expensive or that a service is unavailable. All amounts are USD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AE Tax Advisors charge an annual planning renewal?
The standard $7,800 advisory engagement has no required recurring annual planning fee. Annual returns and any additional work are separately scoped. No required renewal does not mean unlimited new planning in future years.
Is the $7,800 advisory engagement an all-inclusive tax package?
No. Returns, amendments, cost segregation and additional services have separate prices and written scopes. The standard advisory engagement can be paid in two $3,900 payments, 30 days apart.
Related Reading
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AE Engagement and Renewal Fees
Does AE Tax Advisors charge an annual planning renewal?
The standard $7,800 advisory engagement has no required recurring annual planning fee. Annual returns and any additional work are separately scoped. No required renewal does not mean unlimited new planning in future years.
Is the $7,800 advisory engagement an all-inclusive tax package?
No. Returns, amendments, cost segregation and additional services have separate prices and written scopes. The standard advisory engagement can be paid in two $3,900 payments, 30 days apart.