CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for tax preparation services in Maryland
423 tax preparation services operated in Maryland in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 423CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,629mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.8U.S. 8.5
- State rank
- 22nd of 51by count
The tax preparation office industry in Maryland
Maryland had 423 tax preparation services in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541213, Tax Preparation Services). They employed 1,629 people in mid-March and reported $43.4 million in annual payroll. That is the 22nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Tax preparation services make up 0.30% of the 142,967 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Maryland has 6.8 tax preparation services, 20.1% below the national rate of 8.5. The average establishment has 3.9 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $26,663, 7.0% above the U.S. figure of $24,908.
| Measure | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 423 | 28,762 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,629 | 133,868 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $43,434,000 | $3,334,416,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.9 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $26,663 | $24,908 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.8 | 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.
Maryland's largest markets for tax preparation services
Census published tax preparation office counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Maryland. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 458 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 50% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 458 | 2,080 | 7.2 |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | 443 | 1,648 | 6.9 |
| Baltimore, MD | 191 | 875 | 6.7 |
| Hagerstown, MD-WV | 16 | — | 5.1 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 11 | 51 | 5.2 |
| Salisbury, MD | 10 | 29 | 7.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at tax preparation services in Maryland
72.2% of Maryland's tax preparation services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.1% nationally. 92.4% 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 | 304 | 72.2% | 69.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 85 | 20.2% | 20.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 26 | 6.2% | 7.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 6 | 1.4% | 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.
What tax preparation services in Maryland use the phone for
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.
Calls a tax preparation office in Maryland might handle in a typical week include:
- A new client calls to ask what documents to bring.
- The office calls a client about a missing document.
- A returning client calls to book an appointment.
Texting clients
Preparers text appointment confirmations and lists of documents to bring.
Texting from a local number in Maryland requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a tax preparation office in Maryland
Tax preparation services in Maryland average 3.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $120.00 a month and 4 on Ooma Office Pro cost $99.80. Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 4 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $252 less than RingCentral for a tax preparation office in Maryland 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 | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
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 Maryland
Maryland has 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 227, 301 |
| 443 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 410, 667 |
| 301 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 240, 227 |
| 410 | 783 | Eastern | 1991 | 443, 667 |
| 667 | 452 | Eastern | 2012 | 410, 443 |
| 227 | 141 | Eastern | 2023 | 240, 301 |
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 Maryland
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 Maryland 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 Maryland?
423 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,629 people in mid-March.
Which Maryland metro area has the most tax preparation services?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 458 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person tax preparation office?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 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 Maryland 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.