Anyone recommend a good online CPA for tax questions and planning?

I've been working with CPAs for over a decade and can definitely offer some advice here. Finding a good online CPA is actually easier now than ever before, but you'll want to be selective. Look for someone who specializes in individual tax planning rather than just tax prep. Many CPAs focus primarily on business clients or just filing returns, but it sounds like you need someone who's good at strategic planning for individuals. Ask about their experience with your specific situation (employment type, investments, property, etc.) during an initial consultation. The best online CPAs will offer video consultations, secure document sharing, and clear communication about their fees upfront. Most will do a free 15-30 minute consultation to see if you're a good fit for each other. Don't just go with the cheapest option - experience with your specific tax situation is worth paying for.

I was spinning my wheels trying to figure out all my tax questions last year when I stumbled across https://taxr.ai and it honestly changed everything for me. I'd been getting conflicting advice from friends and random online articles, but then I uploaded my documents to taxr.ai and got really clear explanations about my specific situation. What I liked most was being able to ask follow-up questions about my specific tax documents and getting answers that actually made sense to me. It was like having a CPA look over my docs but at a fraction of the cost. The system understood all my tax forms and explained things in plain English.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai. I was skeptical at first (as you could probably tell from my question), but I decided to give it a try since I was in a pinch. I uploaded my various tax documents (W-2, 1099s from my consulting gigs, and my rental property info) and was genuinely surprised. The system identified several deductions related to my rental that I'd been missing, and it clearly explained how my consulting income affected my overall tax picture. Ended up saving me about $3200 compared to what I would have done on my own. The explanations were detailed enough that I actually understand my tax situation much better now. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for affordable tax guidance.

If you're looking for direct access to the IRS for tax questions (which sometimes even CPAs need to do), I highly recommend https://claimyr.com - it saved me hours of frustration. I had been calling the IRS for weeks trying to resolve an issue that affected my tax planning, and kept hitting dead ends or waiting on hold forever. I was super skeptical that any service could actually help bypass the notorious IRS phone queue, but Claimyr actually got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait (if you even get through at all). You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c This might not replace a CPA, but it's incredibly helpful when you need to clarify something directly with the IRS to move forward with your tax planning.

I need to eat my words. After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate to resolve an issue with a missing tax form that was holding up my filing, so I reluctantly tried Claimyr. To my complete surprise, it actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back connecting me to an IRS agent after about 45 minutes (which is miraculous compared to my previous attempts). The agent was able to resolve my issue on that single call, which meant I could finally move forward with proper tax planning. Without this, I'd still be calling and redialing the IRS endlessly. I still recommend finding a good CPA for planning (I use one myself), but having this tool in your arsenal for when you need to speak directly with the IRS is incredibly valuable. It saved me days of frustration.

Don't waste your money on a CPA! I've been doing my own taxes for years using TurboTax and it's super easy. Unless you have a really complicated situation like owning multiple businesses or international income, these tax software programs ask you all the right questions and find all the deductions. A basic CPA will just use similar software anyway and charge you $300+ for it.

My sister is a CPA and does remote consultations. She primarily works with small business owners and individuals with investment income. Very reasonable rates and super knowledgeable. DM me if you want her contact info!

Have you considered using a tax professional who isn't necessarily a CPA? Enrolled Agents (EAs) are also certified by the IRS to represent taxpayers, and they often specialize more in tax issues than CPAs who might focus more broadly on accounting. Sometimes they're more affordable too. I've been using an EA for years for my tax planning and she's been fantastic.