CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for tax preparation services in Texas
2,566 tax preparation services operated in Texas in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 2,566CBP 2023
- Employees
- 11,934mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 8.2U.S. 8.5
- State rank
- 2nd of 51by count
Tax preparation services in Texas by the numbers
Texas had 2,566 tax preparation services in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541213, Tax Preparation Services). They employed 11,934 people in mid-March and reported $261.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 2nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Tax preparation services make up 0.38% of the 670,878 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Texas has 8.2 tax preparation services, 3.0% below the national rate of 8.5. The average establishment has 4.7 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $21,870, 12.2% below the U.S. figure of $24,908.
| Measure | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 2,566 | 28,762 |
| Mid-March employees | 11,934 (moderate noise) | 133,868 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $260,998,000 | $3,334,416,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $21,870 | $24,908 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 8.2 | 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.
Tax preparation services by metro area in Texas
Census published tax preparation office counts for 47 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Texas. The largest is Dallas, TX, with 697 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 95% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 697 | 2,898 | 8.4 |
| Houston, TX | 669 | 3,082 | 8.6 |
| San Antonio, TX | 229 | — | 8.3 |
| Austin, TX | 167 | 705 | 6.5 |
| El Paso, TX | 115 | — | 13.1 |
| McAllen, TX | 81 | 415 | 8.9 |
| Beaumont, TX | 54 | — | 13.5 |
| Brownsville, TX | 50 | — | 11.6 |
| Killeen, TX | 37 | — | 7.3 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 35 | 145 | 7.8 |
| Laredo, TX | 30 | 124 | 11.0 |
| Waco, TX | 22 | — | 7.2 |
| Longview, TX | 18 | 85 | 6.1 |
| Amarillo, TX | 18 | — | 6.6 |
| Midland, TX | 15 | 123 | 7.9 |
| Odessa, TX | 14 | — | 8.2 |
| Sherman, TX | 13 | 38 | 8.6 |
| Lubbock, TX | 12 | 73 | 3.3 |
| College Station, TX | 12 | 42 | 4.2 |
| Abilene, TX | 11 | — | 6.0 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 11 | 48 | 7.3 |
| Tyler, TX | 10 | — | 4.0 |
| San Angelo, TX | 10 | — | 8.2 |
| Victoria, TX | 10 | — | 10.1 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 8 | 73 | 5.5 |
Top 25 of 47 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at tax preparation services in Texas
71.2% of Texas's tax preparation services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 69.1% nationally. 90.4% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 1,827 | 71.2% | 69.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 492 | 19.2% | 20.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 185 | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 50 | 1.9% | 2.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 11 | 0.4% | 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 Texas 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.
Calls a tax preparation office in Texas might handle in a typical week include:
- The office calls a client about a missing document.
- A client calls about a letter from the IRS.
- A returning client calls to book an appointment.
When nobody can pick up
Evening and weekend calls spike in tax season, so a greeting with hours and a way to request an appointment helps.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for tax preparation services in Texas
Tax preparation services in Texas average 4.7 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. On Callata the same 5 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $612. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| 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 Texas
Texas has 29 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 281 | 786 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 469 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 214, 945, 972 |
| 832 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 512 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 737 |
| 713 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 972 | 785 | Central | 1996 | 214, 469, 945 |
| 210 | 784 | Central | 1992 | 726 |
| 214 | 784 | Central | 1947 | 469, 945, 972 |
| 817 | 780 | Central | 1953 | 682 |
| 903 | 771 | Central | 1990 | 430 |
| 346 | 752 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 956 | 735 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 806 | 734 | Central | 1957 | none |
| 254 | 671 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 361 | 537 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 940 | 506 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 830 | 496 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 409 | 433 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 936 | 422 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 682 | 421 | Central | 2000 | 817 |
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 Texas
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Texas, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Avoid sending Social Security numbers or full tax documents by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many tax preparation services are in Texas?
2,566 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 11,934 people in mid-March.
Which Texas metro area has the most tax preparation services?
Dallas, TX, with 697 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 Texas 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.