Tax Preparation · Grand Rapids, MI
Tax Preparation in Grand Rapids and West Michigan
Chris Villaire, CFP®, prepares your federal, Michigan and Grand Rapids city returns. Federal returns start at $150, and your Michigan and city returns together are $50. You see your estimate before you book, and the final price is confirmed before any work starts.
Who this fits
This service is for personal returns: W-2 jobs, a brokerage account, student loans, a mortgage, kids, a side hustle. It also fits anyone who moved to or from Michigan during the year and needs more than one state return.
Chris is based in downtown Grand Rapids and works with people across West Michigan, in person by appointment or online.
It is not for business entity returns. If you own an S corporation, C corporation or partnership, a CPA who focuses on business tax is the better fit, though your personal return is still welcome here.
How tax preparation works with Chris
The steps are the same whether you live in Grand Rapids, elsewhere in West Michigan, or out of state.
- 1
Step 1
Get your estimate and book
Use the estimator on this page, then send your name, email and phone number. Your selections and estimate come with it.
- 2
Step 2
Sign, pay and upload your documents
Chris emails you your tax prep agreement to sign through Docusign, a secure link to pay your fee, and an invite to your secure client portal to upload your documents. No office visit and nothing to print or mail.
- 3
Step 3
Review call with Chris
Before your return is prepared, you and Chris go over your questionnaire and documents together so nothing is missing. It happens on Google Meet, or in person at the downtown Grand Rapids office if you prefer, and it usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. If your documents show something your estimate did not include, he tells you before any work starts.
- 4
Step 4
Review your return
Chris prepares your federal, state and any city returns and sends them to you to look over before anything is filed.
- 5
Step 5
E-file and copies
Once you approve and sign the IRS e-file authorization (Form 8879), Chris e-files your returns and you get copies of everything for your records.
Tax preparation pricing in Grand Rapids
Federal returns start at $150 and each state is $50, with any city return included. A Grand Rapids resident with W-2 income pays $200 for all three.
Tap what applied to you in 2026, then book right from the price card.
Select everything that applied to you in 2026:
How many states do you need to file in?
Usually just the state you live in. Add one if you moved or worked in another state. City returns, like Grand Rapids, are included with the state.
Your estimated price
$200
- Federal return (Standard W-2)
- $150
- 1 state return, city included
- $50
This is an estimate. Chris confirms your price when he sends your agreement and payment link.
| Federal return | Who it fits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard W-2 | Your income comes from one or more jobs that send you a W-2. | $150 |
| W-2 + 1099 | You have W-2 income plus a brokerage account, savings interest, or a retirement account distribution. | $200 |
| W-2 + Side Hustle | You have a W-2 job and earn extra money on the side. | $300 |
| Add-on | Kids or other dependents, student loans or tuition, an HSA, or mortgage interest. Charged once, however many apply. | +$25 |
| Each state return | Any city return in that state is included, like Grand Rapids or Walker. | $50 |
Chris Villaire, CFP®
Chris Villaire is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and the founder of Villaire Financial in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He runs a financial advising practice for individuals and families across West Michigan, so personal returns are the kind of money he deals with every day. He earned his CFP® certification in November 2025.
When you hire him for tax prep, he is the one you talk to and the one who does the work. He prepares your return himself and goes through it with you before you sign.
He is not a CPA. He is registered with the IRS as a paid preparer, files in every state, and only does personal returns. If you want help beyond your taxes, see financial planning in Grand Rapids.
Meet ChrisWhat documents do you need to file your taxes?
Most forms arrive by mail or show up in your online accounts by mid-February. You only need the ones that apply to you. If you're not sure about something, upload it and Chris will sort it out.
About you
- Last year's federal and state returns, if you are new to Villaire Financial
- Photo ID for you and your spouse
- Social Security numbers and birth dates for everyone on the return
- Bank routing and account number for direct deposit
Income
- W-2s from every job
- 1099-INT and 1099-DIV for interest and dividends
- 1099-B or a consolidated 1099 from any brokerage account
- 1099-R for retirement account distributions or rollovers
- 1099-NEC, 1099-K and your own records for side income
- 1099-G for unemployment or a state tax refund
Deductions and credits
- 1098 for mortgage interest and property taxes
- 1098-E for student loan interest
- 1098-T for college tuition
- HSA forms (5498-SA and 1099-SA)
- Childcare costs, plus the name, address and tax ID of your provider
- Form 1095-A if you bought health insurance through the marketplace
- Side hustle expenses, like supplies, software and mileage
- Any estimated tax payments you made during the year
Grand Rapids and Michigan tax returns
If you live in Grand Rapids, you file a federal return, a Michigan return and a Grand Rapids city income tax return. Michigan's rate is 4.25% for 2026. The city taxes residents 1.5% and nonresidents who work in Grand Rapids 0.75%. Chris prepares all three for $200 if your income is W-2 only, or $350 if you also have a side hustle. Add $25 if you have kids, student loans, an HSA or mortgage interest.
| City | Residents | Nonresidents who work there |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | 1.5% | 0.75% |
| Walker | 1% | 0.5% |
Kentwood, Wyoming, Grandville, Holland, Zeeland, Grand Haven, Ada, Rockford and East Grand Rapids have no city income tax. If you live in one of them but work in Grand Rapids or Walker, you may still owe that city's nonresident tax. Muskegon, Ionia and Big Rapids have city income taxes too.
Chris works with clients across West Michigan. If you are near downtown, you can meet at his office at 2 Fulton St W, Suite 122, by appointment. Everyone else uploads documents to the secure portal and does the review call on Google Meet. See how Chris works with people in Walker, Holland and the other communities he serves.
Not sure whether you owe the city tax? Read who pays Grand Rapids city income tax and how to file.
Rates change, so confirm current figures with the City of Grand Rapids income tax office, the City of Walker or the Michigan Department of Treasury before relying on them.
Filing in another state
Live outside Michigan? Chris prepares and e-files returns for every state, and the whole process happens online. If you moved during the year or work in one state and live in another, you'll likely need more than one state return. Each state is $50, with any city return in that state included.
Tax Preparation FAQ
How much does tax preparation cost in Grand Rapids?
Federal returns are $150 for W-2 income, $200 with 1099 income like interest, dividends or stock sales, and $300 with side hustle income. Each state return is $50, and any city return in that state is included. If you have kids, student loans or tuition, an HSA, or mortgage interest, add $25 once, however many apply. A Grand Rapids resident with W-2 income pays $200 in total, or $225 with one of those. You see your price before any work starts.
Is there an extra charge for kids, student loans, an HSA or a mortgage?
Yes, $25, charged once. If any of these apply to you (kids or other dependents, student loans or tuition, an HSA, or mortgage interest), $25 is added to your federal return. It does not matter whether one applies or all four do. The estimator on this page adds it for you when you select any of them.
Do I have to file a Grand Rapids city income tax return?
Yes, if you live in Grand Rapids, no matter where you work. The city taxes residents 1.5% of their income. If you live outside the city but work inside it, you file a nonresident return and pay 0.75%. Chris prepares the city return along with your federal and Michigan returns, and it is covered by the $50 state fee.
Which West Michigan cities have a city income tax?
Grand Rapids and Walker do. Grand Rapids charges residents 1.5% and nonresidents who work there 0.75%, and Walker charges 1% and 0.5%. Muskegon, Ionia and Big Rapids also have one. Kentwood, Wyoming, Grandville, Holland, Zeeland, Grand Haven, Ada, Rockford and East Grand Rapids do not.
Can I meet in person in Grand Rapids?
Yes. Clients in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area can meet Chris at his downtown office at 2 Fulton St W, Suite 122, by appointment. Most of the process runs online through a secure portal, and the review call can happen in person or on Google Meet, whichever you prefer.
I live in Grand Rapids but work remotely for an out-of-state company. What do I file?
You file a federal return, a Michigan return and a Grand Rapids city return. If you also worked in person in another state, or your employer withheld tax for another state, you may need a return there too. Send Chris your W-2 and he will tell you which states apply. Each state is $50.
When do I pay for tax preparation?
At the start. After you request tax prep on this page, Chris emails you your tax prep agreement to sign through Docusign and a secure link to pay your fee, along with an invite to your client portal. If your documents show something your estimate did not include, he tells you on your review call, before any work starts.
Do you prepare business tax returns?
No. This service is built for personal returns for individuals and families. Side hustle income that goes on your personal return through Schedule C is included in the $300 tier. Business entity returns, like those for S corporations, C corporations and partnerships, are not prepared here. If you need one, a CPA who focuses on business tax is the better fit.
What counts as a side hustle?
Income you earn on your own, outside your W-2 job, that is reported on Schedule C of your personal return. Freelance design or writing, tutoring, photography, rideshare and delivery driving, and reselling online are common examples. It usually shows up on a 1099-NEC or 1099-K, but income you were paid in cash or by app counts too.
Do I have to live in Michigan?
No. Tax preparation is fully virtual, so you can live anywhere. You upload your documents securely, and Chris prepares and e-files returns for every state. Each state is $50, with any city return in that state included.
Do I need to be a financial planning client?
No. Anyone can hire Villaire Financial just to prepare their taxes. There is no planning relationship, monthly fee or asset minimum required.
Does hiring you for tax prep make you my financial advisor?
No. Tax preparation is a separate, flat-price service. Hiring Villaire Financial to prepare your return does not create an investment advisory relationship and does not obligate you to any other service. If you ever want ongoing financial planning, that is a separate agreement with its own fees, disclosed in writing before you sign anything.
Is Chris Villaire a CPA?
No. Chris is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, not a CPA, enrolled agent or tax attorney. He is registered with the IRS as a paid tax return preparer and has a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), a registration number every paid preparer must have, not a license or designation. He prepares personal returns for individuals and families only.
When is the deadline to file 2026 taxes?
Federal returns for tax year 2026 are due April 15, 2027. You can request an automatic extension to October 15, 2027 with IRS Form 4868, but an extension only gives you more time to file. Any tax you owe is still due by April 15. Grand Rapids set its city return deadline at April 30 for 2025 returns, so check the city site for your year.
Should I just file my own taxes with free software?
If you have a single W-2, no other income and plenty of time, free software can work fine. Paying for preparation makes more sense when your return has more going on, like a brokerage account, side income, a new child, a home purchase or a move between states, or when you want a CFP® professional to prepare it and explain it to you.
What is the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?
Tax preparation looks back. It reports what already happened last year and files your return. Tax planning looks ahead. It covers the decisions you make during the year, like which retirement account to use or when to sell investments, that change what you owe. Villaire Financial offers both. Tax preparation can be hired on its own, and year-round tax planning is part of ongoing financial planning.
See your price and book
Pick what applied to you, see your price, and send your request. Chris emails you the next steps.
If you want help with more than your taxes later on, that is a separate conversation and a separate agreement. See financial planning services and how they are priced.
Worth reading before you file
Plain-English articles on brackets, withholding and city income tax in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids City Income Tax: Who Pays and How to File
Grand Rapids residents pay a 1.5% city income tax and commuters pay 0.75%. Here is who has to file, what it costs, and how to file the return.
How to Pay Less in Taxes as a W-2 Employee: 4 Moves That Actually Work
You don't need a business to pay less in taxes as a W-2 employee. Four moves that use the tax-advantaged accounts and rules you already have.
How Your Tax Bracket Actually Works (Most People Get This Wrong)
Worried a raise will cost you money in taxes? It won't. Here's how marginal rates actually work, with real math.
Tax preparation is offered by Villaire Financial, LLC as a separate service from its investment advisory services, and hiring Villaire Financial for tax preparation does not create an advisory relationship. Prices apply to federal, state and city individual income tax returns and are confirmed before work begins. Business entity returns are not offered. This page is general information, not tax, legal or investment advice. Last reviewed October 5, 2026.