CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for tax preparation services in Indiana
573 tax preparation services operated in Indiana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 573CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,923mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 8.3U.S. 8.5
- State rank
- 17th of 51by count
Tax preparation services in Indiana by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 573 establishments in Indiana classified as Tax Preparation Services (NAICS 541213) for 2023. They employed 2,923 people in mid-March and reported $51.2 million in annual payroll. That is the 17th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Tax preparation services make up 0.37% of the 155,692 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Indiana has 8.3 tax preparation services, 2.1% below the national rate of 8.5. The average establishment has 5.1 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $17,525, 29.6% below the U.S. figure of $24,908.
| Measure | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 573 | 28,762 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,923 | 133,868 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $51,225,000 | $3,334,416,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.1 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $17,525 | $24,908 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 8.3 | 8.5 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Where tax preparation services in Indiana are concentrated
Census published tax preparation office counts for 30 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Indiana. The largest is Chicago, IL-IN, with 822 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 68% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL-IN | 822 | 3,855 | 8.7 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 193 | 1,099 | 8.4 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 166 | 856 | 7.6 |
| Louisville, KY-IN | 124 | 656 | 8.9 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 46 | 204 | 9.9 |
| Evansville, IN | 24 | 199 | 8.8 |
| South Bend, IN-MI | 20 | 60 | 6.1 |
| Lafayette, IN | 20 | — | 8.7 |
| Elkhart, IN | 19 | 72 | 9.2 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 12 | — | 7.1 |
| Bloomington, IN | 12 | 84 | 7.4 |
| Columbus, IN | 7 | 24 | 8.3 |
| Kokomo, IN | 7 | — | 8.3 |
| Warsaw, IN | 7 | — | 8.7 |
| Richmond, IN | 7 | 29 | 10.5 |
| Muncie, IN | 6 | 25 | 5.3 |
| Auburn, IN | 6 | — | 13.5 |
| Bedford, IN | 5 | 31 | 11.1 |
| Crawfordsville, IN | 5 | — | 12.9 |
| Angola, IN | 5 | 20 | 14.3 |
| Seymour, IN | 4 | — | 8.4 |
| Plymouth, IN | 4 | — | 8.6 |
| Decatur, IN | 4 | — | 10.9 |
| Greensburg, IN | 4 | — | 15.1 |
| Michigan City, IN | 3 | 4 | 2.7 |
Top 25 of 30 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at tax preparation services in Indiana
64.4% of Indiana's tax preparation services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.1% nationally. 88.6% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 367 | 64.4% | 69.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 138 | 24.2% | 20.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 51 | 8.9% | 7.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 14 | 2.5% | 2.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.5% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a tax preparation office in Indiana has to catch
Tax preparers do much of their year's business in a few months, and a missed call in March is often a lost return. Seasonal staff need to share one business number without giving out personal phones.
A few of the calls that come in to tax preparation services in Indiana:
- The office calls a client about a missing document.
- A client calls to ask about the status of a refund.
- A new client calls to ask what documents to bring.
What tax preparation services text about
Preparers text appointment confirmations and lists of documents to bring.
Texting from a local number in Indiana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 5-person tax preparation office
Tax preparation services in Indiana average 5.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $150.00 a month and 5 on Ooma Office Pro cost $124.75. Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 5 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $612 less than RingCentral for a tax preparation office in Indiana of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Indiana
Indiana has 8 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a tax preparation office can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 317 | 786 | Eastern | 1947 | 463 |
| 812 | 785 | Eastern and Central | 1947 | 930 |
| 765 | 725 | Eastern | 1997 | none |
| 219 | 495 | Eastern and Central | 1948 | none |
| 260 | 444 | Eastern | 2002 | none |
| 574 | 403 | Eastern and Central | 2002 | none |
| 463 | 188 | Eastern | 2016 | 317 |
| 930 | 158 | Eastern | 2015 | 812 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for tax preparation services in Indiana
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Indiana is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Avoid sending Social Security numbers or full tax documents by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many tax preparation services are in Indiana?
573 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,923 people in mid-March.
Which Indiana metro area has the most tax preparation services?
Chicago, IL-IN, with 822 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 5-person tax preparation office?
$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Indiana number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.