[Melissa]

I’m curious about your thoughts/experiences on hiring a professional to do your taxes vs doing them yourself. Is it worth the cost to pay someone?

I am single, no kids, not a homeowner and only have one w2 so filing is easy for me.

[Allison]

If it’s uncomplicated, why hire a professional?

[Michelle]

I have used a CPA for 25 years bc my husband had an LLC at one time and independent contractor. Now we are both employees and will get w-2s.

We are now in higher tax bracket.

Wondering if I should keep paying her or do myself this time

[Jessica]

I’m a tax accountant and I would turn you away as a client because I’d feel bad taking your money. You can do it yourself easy peasy.

[Chris]

In your situation you should be able to do them yourself. I own a company so I use an accountant.

[Abigail]

I’m a CPA that works in tax, and I will say that if your return is that simple it is definitely not worth the money to hire someone to do it for you.

If you don’t feel comfortable doing it on your own then I would just use the software that walks you through it like from h&r block or something like that.

[Teresa]

Depends on complexity.
The most complex thing about my taxes is form 8606 (for backdoor Roth). First time I did it, I looked up a guide for the tax software I used (freetaxusa), and it was nice and easy.

Verified the completed forms before filing, and everything was good to go.

W2 income with nothing too special is pretty straight forward.

[Louise]

If simple easy to do thyself. If complicated or special circumstances, good to use accountant.

[Stacey]

A lot of the paid tax people walk through a computer program. You pay them a lot of money for that.

You can walk yourself through it for free or cheap. Especially as simple filing.

[Lisa]

I do our own taxes. It is simple if you do it one step at a time.

You can get a computer program to help but it really isn’t necessary

[Carol]

I did my own taxes one year and owed $200, I was yoing and I didn’t think that could possibly be correct.

I asked an accountant to do my taxes and I got back $2000.

They are worth every penny.

[Allison]

I’ve always done my own. We are dual income no kids not homeowners and it maybe takes me 30 minutes a year

[Darla]

When my taxes were straightforward, I used Turbo Tax (until 2012).
As they became more complex (Investments/Inheritance/Tax management), I hired a CPA and have used them ever since.

The wisdom is knowing what you need for the stage of life you are in currently.

[Courtney]

I do ours on Turbo Tax. 2 people, no mortgage, nothing special

[Mindy]

Do it yourself. I always review the tax changes that occurred before I would do them. It gets sticky when you own a business, own rental property, or have some serious investing going on.

I did my dad’s taxes and he had alot of serious investing.

Turned it in and IRS corrected his tax numbers that I put down incorrectly.

[Sarah]

If I was in your situation no I absolutely would not pay someone. I have kids, one in college, own a home, and own 3 businesses.

So yes, I pay someone. Plus, I can write off what she charges me as a business expense.

[Rona]

Not worth it for me to hire someone. I’ve been doing my own since I turned 18. It’s a simple process.

Now if I had a complicated situation I would hire someone no problem because it would make sense.

[Mally]

Before I bought my houses I did my own taxes no kids w2 income no issues ever.

Now that I have multiple assets it’s easier to have someone else do it.

[Angela]

If all you have is a w2, it’s easy enough for you to do it yourself.

The IRS has free file info on their website depending on ones income

[Shevelia]

I have used Turbo Tax in the past and been very pleased. My taxes can be complicated, own a business and rentals but I love how detailed the software was…

even giving you ideas of how to save for the next year

[Antonia]

I do mine myself using FreeTaxUSA. Your return sounds much less complicated than mine, so I recommend DYI.

[Bonita]

I actually do my own THEN take it to be double checked! Lol
At my local library they have volunteer tax professionals that do tax preparation for people.

FREE.

[Sara]

I use the free app from AARP, and there are others. It always tells me I have too much income to use it, but I just ignore it.

The IRS accepts my forms just fine….no issues after 3 years of doing it absolutely *free*

[Rachel]

As long as you don’t have a ton of desuctions or uncommon situations, there’s usually no reason to have someone else do it for you.

A program like Turbotax walks you through deductions you might otherwise miss.

If you invest and have lower income, make sure to check out that deduction as it’s a good one.

[Author]

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