Can I get money back if my accountant messed up and I paid excessive taxes?

When your accountant makes mistakes that cause you to overpay taxes, you generally have three options: First, you can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) for any open tax years - typically the last three years. If you discover you've overpaid, you can claim a refund for those past years. The deadline is generally three years from when you filed the original return or two years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later. Second, regarding your accountant's liability, it really depends on the nature of the error. Simple missed deductions or sub-optimal choices might not rise to the level of professional negligence, but significant errors might. Professional tax preparers typically carry errors and omissions insurance for situations like this. Third, you should have a direct conversation with your original accountant. Show them what other professionals have found and give them a chance to explain or correct their work.

I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which saved me thousands. After getting conflicting opinions from different accountants about my previous returns, I uploaded my tax documents and returns to their system, and it flagged EXACTLY where money was left on the table. Their AI analyzed my returns, found I'd overpaid by $4,200 over two years, and guided me through amending my returns. The best part was they explained everything in plain English so I could understand what went wrong. They also provided documentation I could take back to my original accountant to show exactly where the errors were.

Update on my situation: I decided to try taxr.ai after my skepticism in my previous comment. I'm honestly shocked at how helpful it was. Within an hour, I had a detailed report showing I overpaid by $2,700 last year because my accountant miscategorized my freelance income and missed home office deductions I was eligible for. The report included specific IRS regulations and tax code references that made it clear these were legitimate issues. I approached my accountant with this information, and while he was initially defensive, he eventually acknowledged the errors after reviewing the documentation. He's now helping me file amended returns at no charge. What impressed me most was how the system explained everything in normal language I could understand, not tax jargon. Definitely worth checking out if you think your returns might have issues.

After dealing with similar issues with an accountant who messed up, I spent WEEKS trying to reach the IRS to confirm what other accountants were telling me about filing amended returns. Couldn't get through no matter what time I called. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed I could file amended returns for the last 3 tax years and explained exactly what documentation I needed. Having that official confirmation before confronting my accountant made all the difference - he stopped arguing once he knew I'd spoken directly with the IRS.

I need to eat my words from my skeptical comment. After continuing to fail getting through to the IRS myself for another week, I tried Claimyr out of desperation. Within an hour, I was talking to an actual IRS representative who confirmed everything the other accountants had told me about my situation. The IRS agent explained I could file Form 1040-X for the last three tax years and provided the exact documentation requirements. Having this official confirmation has been invaluable - my original accountant immediately stopped disputing the issues when I mentioned I had spoken directly with the IRS. The service works exactly as described - they handle all the waiting and phone tree navigation, then connect you once they have a human on the line. Saved me literally days of frustration and helped me start the process of getting back the $5,200 I overpaid.

You should definitely talk to your original accountant first before doing anything else. Sometimes what looks like a "mistake" to another accountant might have been a purposeful decision based on information you provided or your specific situation. I'm an accountant myself, and I've had clients come to me thinking their previous preparer made mistakes when actually the other accountant had valid reasons for their approach. Tax law isn't always black and white - there are many gray areas where professional judgment comes into play.

One thing nobody has mentioned - check your engagement letter with the accountant! Most have clauses that limit their liability for mistakes to the fee you paid them. So while you might get them to file amended returns for free, getting them to pay the difference in taxes might be tough unless you can prove gross negligence.

Just went thru this last year. Filed amended returns for 2 years and got back almost $7k. The key was having the new accountant specifically document WHY the original returns were incorrect with specific tax code references. If its actual errors (not just different but valid approaches), the IRS generally approves the amendments without much hassle. My original accountant even ended up refunding my preparation fees when I showed him the detailed errors.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My accountant missed several obvious deductions and I'm out about $2,200. What I've learned so far is that you definitely have options, but timing matters a lot. First, definitely file those amended returns (Form 1040-X) as soon as possible. You generally have 3 years from the original filing date, but don't wait - the sooner you file, the sooner you get your refund. Second, document everything. Get written opinions from the other accountants about what was wrong with your original returns. This becomes crucial evidence if you need to pursue your original accountant for compensation. Third, many states have licensing boards for tax preparers that handle complaints about professional negligence. If your accountant is licensed (CPA, EA, etc.), filing a complaint can sometimes motivate them to resolve the issue quickly. The $3,800 you mentioned is significant enough that it's worth pursuing aggressively. Even if their engagement letter limits liability, gross negligence or clear professional errors often override those protections. Don't let them off the hook too easily - that's a lot of money to just write off as "oops.