Offshore staffing firms, ranked on evidence
Independent scores for offshore accounting, tax and back-office providers, built only from what each firm publishes.
- US median wageO*NET, BLS 2025 wage data
- $54,920
- Benefits and payroll taxes30% of total employer cost (BLS, June 2026)
- $23,537
- US hire, loaded
- $78,457
- Offshore dedicated hire$11/hr x 2,080 hours
- $22,880
- Your review time10% of offshore cost
- $2,288
- Difference per seat
- $53,289
Offshore rates are published starting rates. Try any role in the cost calculator.
Which industries does Offshore Shortlist cover?
We start with tax and accounting, where 10 providers are scored today. Each industry gets its own section, because the rules, roles and risks differ: a CPA firm worries about Section 7216, a medical practice about HIPAA.
- CPA ShortlistOffshore tax, accounting and bookkeeping staff for US CPA and EA firms. 10 firms scored, plus guides, a consent generator and a cost calculator.Live
- Medical billing and revenue cycleOffshore billing, coding and AR teams for US practices. Research underway; first rankings planned for early 2027.In research
- Legal supportParalegal, document review and contract support for US law firms.Planned
Which offshore accounting firms rank highest right now?
MYCPE ONE leads the CPA Shortlist ranking at 9.2 out of 10, followed by QX Accounting Services at 8.2 and CapActix at 7.0. Every score comes from facts the firm publishes on its own website.
| # | Firm | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | MYCPE ONEDedicated tax and accounting staff at the lowest published rate | 9.2 /10 |
| 02 | QX Accounting ServicesA managed team with a built-in second review | 8.2 /10 |
| 03 | CapActixTrying a team before you commit | 7.0 /10 |
| 04 | Madras AccountancyA small specialist that works only for US CPA firms | 6.8 /10 |
| 05 | TOA GlobalFirms that prefer the Philippines over India | 6.8 /10 |
How do we score each firm?
Six weighted criteria add up to 100 points, and each is scored 0 to 5 from public evidence. Security evidence and industry fit weigh most, because they decide whether you can use a firm at all.
No firm can pay to change its score. A firm can raise it by publishing better evidence, such as a current SOC 2 Type II report or a price list.
CPA-firm fit
25%Does the firm build its service around US CPA and EA practices: US tax season, 1040/1120/1065 work, review layers and firm software?
Security evidence
25%Is there a named, checkable credential such as a SOC 2 Type II report or an ISO 27001 certificate, stated in plain text rather than as a badge?
Pricing transparency
15%Does the firm publish a rate or price list, so you can compare before a sales call?
Bench depth
15%How many trained staff can it draw on when your busy season peaks or someone leaves?
Engagement terms
10%Trial periods, part-time options, replacement guarantees and how quickly a team starts.
Claim consistency
10%Do the firm’s own pages agree with each other on headcount, client count, certifications and terms?
What does an offshore hire cost compared with a US hire?
A dedicated offshore tax preparer at the published $11 starting rate costs about $25,168 a year with your review time included. A US tax preparer at the median wage costs about $78,457 once benefits are added.
Annual cost of one full-time hire: US in-house vs offshore
US median wage plus benefits, compared with a dedicated offshore hire at a published starting rate.
- US in-house, loaded cost
- Offshore dedicated, with 10% oversight
View as table
| Role | US median wage | US loaded cost | Offshore rate | Offshore yearly | Lower by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax preparer | $54,920 | $78,457 | $11/hr | $25,168 | 68% |
| Staff accountant | $83,680 | $119,543 | $15/hr | $34,320 | 71% |
| Bookkeeper | $50,670 | $72,386 | $10/hr | $22,880 | 68% |
When does offshore work actually get done?
With a day-shift team in India, work you hand off at 5 PM Eastern is usually back before your office opens. Evening-shift teams cover your full workday instead. Check any city and date in the time zone overlap planner.
Who is working when, shown in US Eastern time
India runs 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Standard Time (9 hours 30 minutes during US daylight saving). India does not change its clocks.
Which free tools can you use today?
Three tools that answer the questions buyers ask first: what it costs, when the work gets done, and what your clients need to sign.
Offshore staffing cost calculator
Any role, your salary, your quote. See the yearly difference per seat.
Time zone overlap planner
Your office hours against a team in India, the Philippines or 8 other countries.
Section 7216 consent generator
For tax firms: a ready-to-sign consent with the IRS-required wording.
Offshore staffing guide for accounting firms
Models, costs, rules and a 90-day plan for your first seat.
What do buyers ask before hiring offshore?
What is offshore staffing?
Offshore staffing means hiring dedicated people who work from another country, usually through a provider that employs them for you. They work on your files and in your systems, under your direction, while the provider handles payroll, office, equipment and local law. India and the Philippines are the largest sources for US businesses.
How much does offshore staffing cost?
It depends on the role. For accounting work, published starting rates run from $10 to $15 an hour: Meru Accounting lists bookkeepers from $10 and tax preparers from $11, and MYCPE ONE starts at $11. Experienced and senior people cost more. Our cost calculator compares any role against a US hire.
Is offshore staffing legal for US businesses?
Yes, but industry rules apply. Tax preparers need the taxpayer’s signed consent under IRS Section 7216 before return information goes to a preparer abroad, and health data needs HIPAA business associate agreements. Each Offshore Shortlist section explains the rules for its industry, starting with the Section 7216 guide for CPA firms.
Should we hire from India or the Philippines?
Both give US businesses overnight turnaround. India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of US Eastern time in winter and the Philippines is 13 hours ahead. Choose on the provider’s security evidence, experience in your industry and the shift your staff will work. The time zone planner shows your exact overlap.
How does Offshore Shortlist make money?
Some providers pay us a referral fee when a business we introduce signs with them. Fees never change a score, and rankings are not for sale. When a page lists a provider that pays us, the page says so. Details are on our disclosure page.
Want three providers matched to your business?
Tell us the roles, software and timing you need. We reply within two business days with three providers that fit and the questions to ask each one.