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Can anyone recommend tax preparers that give sign-up bonuses for 2025 filing season?
Looking for a new tax preparer this filing season since my old one retired. I heard some of the bigger companies offer sign-up bonuses or discounts for first-time customers. My taxes aren't super complicated (W-2 income, mortgage interest, some investments) but I'd rather have a professional handle everything. Has anyone used a service that offers bonuses or incentives for new clients? Any recommendations on which ones are actually worth it versus the ones that give you a bonus but then charge higher fees? I'm in the Midwest if that makes any difference. Thanks in advance!
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Forgot to include 1099 form from savings bond redemption in my TurboTax filing - what now?
Just realized I seriously messed up my tax filing for this year. I cashed in a savings bond my grandparents gave me years ago, and my bank sent me a 1099 form for the interest. The bond was worth about $3,750 including interest. I completely forgot to include this when filing through TurboTax last month. My return has already been accepted by the IRS and I even got my refund of $1,240 deposited last week. I'm freaking out a bit because I've never had to deal with this before. Will the IRS automatically catch this? Should I file an amended return? How much trouble am I in for this honest mistake? I don't even know how much tax I'd owe on this savings bond interest. Appreciate any advice from people who've dealt with something similar!
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This is another reason why I'll always check my Return & Analysis section in tax software now. Found out the hard way that you can see all the forms that have been reported to the IRS with your SSN before you file. Would have saved me a similar headache last year!
Wait, there's a way to see what forms have been sent to the IRS under your SSN before you file? How do you access that? That would be super helpful.
Not all tax software has this feature, but many do now. In TurboTax, there's a "Tax Data Verification" section where you can import forms the IRS has received. H&R Block has something similar called "Tax Identity Shield" where you can review reported forms. The most comprehensive way is to create an account on the IRS website and request a "Wage and Income Transcript" which shows all information returns (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) reported to the IRS. The only downside is that current year information might not be fully updated until summer, so it's most helpful for catching things you missed the previous year.
The same thing happened to me but with a 1099-MISC for some freelance work. I amended through TurboTax and it was accepted in about 12 weeks. Here's my advice - pay the estimated additional tax when you file the amendment. Don't wait for the IRS to bill you, because the interest keeps accumulating.
Did you have to pay a penalty too? I'm in a similar situation and wondering what the damage will be...
Most Reliable Tax Software for 2025 Filing Season?
I've been relying on a tax professional for the last 7 years due to some complex situations - my wife went through a company downsizing with a severance package, then had a period on unemployment benefits, followed by about 2 years of independent contracting work. Those complications definitely justified using an accountant! This year things are much simpler since she's back at a traditional W-2 employment situation and we don't have any unusual income sources or deductions to report. I'm thinking we could save some money by filing ourselves this tax season. For those who do their own taxes, what's the best tax software out there these days? I'm looking for something user-friendly but comprehensive enough to handle our situation (married filing jointly, mortgage interest, some basic investments, nothing exotic). Any recommendations based on recent experiences would be super helpful!
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After trying several options over the years, I think FreeTaxUSA is seriously underrated. Used it last year after switching from TurboTax (which was getting too expensive for what it offers). FreeTaxUSA handles everything the expensive software does including self-employment, investments, and itemized deductions. Federal filing is free and state is only like $15. Interface isn't as pretty as TurboTax but it gets the job done.
Does FreeTaxUSA handle investment sales with basis reporting? That's where I got stuck with another budget option last year and had to upgrade.
Yes, FreeTaxUSA handles investment sales with basis reporting really well. I had about 20 stock transactions last year with various purchase dates and it handled everything smoothly without making me upgrade. The interface for entering the information is straightforward - you can either enter transactions manually or import a spreadsheet if your broker provides one. Much better than my experience with other budget options that either couldn't handle investments or required upgrading to a premium tier.
One important thing nobody's mentioned - if your income is under $73,000, you might qualify for IRS Free File which gives you access to premium tax software completely free. Check the IRS website before paying for anything! The software companies hide these free versions on their own websites but they're required to offer them through the IRS Free File program.
I tried Free File last year and it was confusing because there were multiple options. How do you know which one to pick?
How long do I need to keep tax returns for? Cleaning out my filing cabinet!
I'm in the middle of a serious spring cleaning and found this massive pile of tax returns going back forever. Pretty sure I've got stuff from like 2011 in there. I want to finally clear some space and shred whatever I don't need anymore. This year was the first time I had to file a Schedule C because I started a side gig driving for UberEats. Before that, it was just basic W-2 income from my regular job and a bit of unemployment when I got laid off in 2021. How far back can the IRS actually go for audits? Is there a statute of limitations or something? I'm drowning in paperwork and would love to feed some of it to my new shredder. Thanks!
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Don't forget state tax returns! Different states have different retention requirements. For example, California has a 4-year statute of limitations instead of the IRS's 3 years. If you've moved between states, you might need to check the rules for each state you've filed in.
Oh snap, I didn't even think about state returns! I've lived in three different states over the last decade (moved for work a couple times). Does that mean I need to look up each state's rules?
Yes, you should check each state's rules where you've filed. The statute of limitations varies - California is 4 years, New York is 3 years, and some others have different timeframes. If you want to keep things simple without researching each state, just keep everything for 7 years. That covers the longest standard statute across all states and the federal extension for substantial underreporting. But if you're really tight on space, it's worth looking up the specific states where you filed.
I learned a neat trick from my accountant - take pictures of all tax docs with my phone and save them to a dedicated Google Drive folder each year. Then I have a reminder set for 7 years later to delete that year's folder if I want. Easy system and doesn't take up any physical space!
Is that secure enough though? I'm worried about tax docs in the cloud. Wouldn't a local hard drive be safer?
Can my girlfriend claim our 3 kids on taxes with only $4000 income this year?
Title: Can my girlfriend claim our 3 kids on taxes with only $4000 income this year? 1 My girlfriend worked part-time at Walmart for a few months and only made around $5300 for the whole year. We've been living together for almost 3 years and have three children (ages 7, 5, and 2), but I'm the one covering about 95% of our household expenses including rent, utilities, food, etc. I'm trying to figure out if she can claim all the kids on her tax return with that little income even though she didn't really financially support them. Would this help her get a bigger refund? Or would it cause problems with the IRS later? We're not married and I'm not planning to claim any of the children on my return this year. She could really use the money from a refund if it's possible. I know there's the Child Tax Credit and maybe some other benefits, but I'm confused about the income requirements. Does she need to have made a certain amount to qualify? Thanks for any help!
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3 Another important thing to consider - if your girlfriend claims the kids with such low income, she might qualify for other government benefits too. When I was in a similar situation, my tax refund helped me qualify for education grants that completely covered my associate's degree. Make sure she also checks if this will affect any benefits she's already receiving. Sometimes a big tax refund can temporarily push you over income limits for certain programs, so plan accordingly!
17 This is really good advice! My sister got a huge refund from EIC and it messed up her Medicaid for two months because it counted as income. She had to pay out of pocket for her prescriptions until it got sorted out. Definitely worth looking into how it affects other benefits.
3 Absolutely right about the potential Medicaid issue. The good news is that tax refunds only count as a resource for 12 months after receiving them for Medicaid purposes, so it's temporary. For SNAP benefits (food stamps), federal tax refunds don't count as income at all. For education grants, the FAFSA doesn't count tax refunds as income either, which is why it can be such a good opportunity for low-income parents. I was able to use my refund to cover childcare while I took classes, and the Pell Grant covered everything else. Changed my whole career trajectory!
14 Just to add another perspective - I was in your girlfriend's exact situation in 2022. I only made about $5800 that year while my boyfriend supported us and our twins. I claimed both kids and received almost $11,000 in tax refunds through EIC, Child Tax Credit, and Recovery Rebate Credit (that was during Covid). The only issue we ran into was that my boyfriend had already claimed one of our kids the previous year, so the IRS flagged our returns for review. We had to submit extra paperwork showing our living situation had changed, but ultimately everything was approved. Just document everything - keep records showing the kids live with you both (school records, medical records), proof of your address, etc. Better safe than sorry!
9 Did you have to mail in your return or could you still e-file? I heard the IRS makes you paper file if you're claiming kids with really low income since it triggers some kind of review.
Amina Bah
Former H&R Block preparer here. Their new client bonus was $25 last year but the base fee for even a simple return started at $149 plus extra for each form. If you have investments, HSA, or itemize, you're looking at $250+ easy. Liberty Tax gave $50 Amazon cards but charged even more. Most bonuses are marketing gimmicks. You're better off finding a reputable local CPA or EA (Enrolled Agent) who charges a flat reasonable fee. Ask specifically if they have experience with your tax situation (investments, rental property, whatever applies to you).
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Ava Thompson
AuthorThanks for the insider perspective! What credentials should I be looking for when choosing someone? Is there a big difference between a CPA and an EA when it comes to regular tax prep?
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Amina Bah
For most individual returns, both CPAs and EAs are qualified, but there are differences. CPAs have broader accounting education and can handle financial planning beyond taxes. EAs specifically focus on taxation and representation before the IRS. Both have to pass rigorous exams and maintain continuing education. What's most important is finding someone with experience in your specific situation. Ask how many similar returns they've prepared and what their process is for staying current with tax law changes. Also inquire about their availability throughout the year - you want someone who's accessible if you have questions or receive IRS notices, not just during tax season.
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Oliver Becker
Don't chase bonuses. I fell for that with Liberty Tax last year - got a $75 gift card but ended up paying almost $300 for a return that should've cost $150. Look at total cost not just the bonus. Plus, the preparer was clearly new and missed some credits I was eligible for. Had to get it amended.
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Natasha Petrova
Yeah I had a similar experience with Jackson Hewitt. Got a "free" $25 discount but ended up paying way more than my friend who used a local accountant. The preparer seemed to be following a script rather than actually looking at my specific situation.
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