- Question: Does sales tax apply to tax preparation fees when a client receives a completed paper tax return from the tax preparer? Answer: No, because the true object of the transaction is the service (tax preparation). Although the client obtains tangible personal property (a paper tax return), it is incidental in nature (https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/lawguides/vol1/sutr/1501.html).
Source: cdtfa.ca.gov
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.