CPA refuses to send me my tax return before filing it with the IRS - is this normal?

This is definitely not normal. As a tax preparer, I always provide my clients with a complete draft of their returns for review before filing. It's not just good practice, it's ethically required. A few important points: You should absolutely be able to review your return before it's filed - it's YOUR tax return and YOUR liability if there are errors. The preparer information section (the part where the CPA signs) specifically states that the preparer discussed the return with you before filing. You need to formally sign Form 8879 (IRS e-file Signature Authorization) for EACH tax year before a return can be e-filed. A blanket authorization from when you hired her is not sufficient for e-filing your current year return. I would strongly recommend contacting her again, firmly but professionally, stating that you need to review the return before filing and that you need to sign a proper Form 8879 for this year's return. If she refuses, you might want to consider finding a new CPA.

I had a similar issue last year with a preparer trying to file without letting me review everything first. After dealing with that headache, I started using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it's been a game-changer for dealing with tax professionals. The service analyzes your tax documents and creates a report of what should be included in your return. What I really liked is that I could use it to verify what my CPA included before signing off. In my case, I found my CPA had missed some business deductions that the AI caught! It was super helpful having that "second opinion" before authorizing the filing. I just uploaded my documents and got a detailed breakdown of what should be on my return.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I decided to try it after asking about it here. My situation with multiple income sources has always made tax time stressful, but this actually helped a lot. I uploaded my documents (including my rental property records and business expenses) and got a comprehensive breakdown of everything. The report showed me that my preparer had incorrectly calculated depreciation on one of my properties and missed some home office deductions for my business. When I brought these issues to my tax preparer with the specific documentation, they corrected the return before filing. Saved me over $2,200 in taxes! Definitely worth checking out if you're in a situation where you need to verify what your preparer is doing.

If your CPA is refusing to let you review your return and ignoring your requests, you might need to speak directly with the IRS about this situation. The problem is getting through to someone - I spent HOURS on hold last year with a similar issue. I finally found a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. Basically, they navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when they've secured a place in line with an agent. I was super skeptical but desperate after waiting on hold for 3+ hours and getting disconnected. It actually worked and the agent I spoke with was able to advise me on my rights regarding tax preparation and filing authorization.

I have to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After expressing skepticism here, my frustration with trying to reach the IRS about my identity verification issue reached a breaking point. After spending 4 hours on hold over 2 days and getting disconnected both times, I decided to try the service. It actually worked exactly as described. I entered my phone number, they called the IRS, and about 45 minutes later I got a call back connecting me directly with an IRS representative. The agent confirmed that my CPA situation (similar to the original poster's) wasn't proper procedure, and that I absolutely have the right to review my return before it's filed. The agent explained that preparers must provide a copy of the return and get Form 8879 signed before e-filing. This information helped me stand my ground with my preparer, who finally sent me my return for review (turns out there were indeed some errors I needed to correct!).

To the original poster: You need to be FIRM with your CPA. Tell her explicitly: "I will not authorize you to file my return until I have reviewed it in full. Please send me a complete copy immediately." If she files without your authorization, that's actually against IRS regulations. Documentation is everything. Send this request via email so you have a paper trail. If she still refuses, inform her that you'll be reporting her to your state's board of accountancy and the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility. CPAs are licensed professionals with ethical obligations - most will quickly comply when reminded of this.

Just a word of caution - make sure to get the COMPLETE return for review, not just the summary pages. A friend of mine thought she reviewed her "full return" but her CPA only sent the first few pages. The error was buried in Schedule C that wasn't included in what she received.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been feeling uneasy about my tax preparer's practices, it's reassuring to know that my instincts were right. The information about Form 8879 needing to be signed each year is particularly eye-opening - I had no idea that was required. I'm definitely going to be more assertive about reviewing my returns going forward. It sounds like there are some good tools mentioned here (like taxr.ai) that could help verify what preparers are doing, and knowing that services like Claimyr exist for reaching the IRS gives me confidence that I can get official guidance if needed. The key takeaway for me is that this isn't just about being difficult or untrusting - it's about protecting myself from errors and ensuring my tax professional is following proper procedures. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!