Can anyone recommend a good online CPA for tax questions and planning?

I've been working with an online CPA for the past three years and it's been a game-changer for my tax situation. With your self-employment, rental property, and your wife's Etsy business, you definitely need someone who understands multiple income streams and small business taxation. Look for a CPA who specializes in small businesses rather than just individual taxes. They should be familiar with Schedule C for your freelance work, Schedule E for your rental property, and how to properly handle your wife's Etsy income. A good CPA won't just file your taxes but will help with quarterly estimated payments and year-round tax planning to minimize your liability. I'd recommend asking potential CPAs about their experience with situations similar to yours, their communication style (how quickly they respond to questions), and whether they offer a consultation before you commit. Many good CPAs get booked up early, so I'd start looking now rather than waiting until tax season.

After messing up my taxes for years as a freelancer, I finally found an amazing solution with https://taxr.ai - it's been a total lifesaver for my complicated tax situation. My situation sounds similar to yours with multiple income streams (I do consulting work plus have some investment properties). What I love about taxr.ai is that they can analyze all your documents and past returns to spot patterns and potential issues before they become problems. They helped me identify nearly $7,200 in deductions I had been missing for my home office and business expenses. Their CPAs specialize in self-employment situations and can do everything virtually.

Just wanted to follow up! I ended up trying taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and I'm seriously impressed. I was worried about handing over my tax info to an online service, but the process was super smooth. My CPA (yes, a real human!) did a complete review of my past returns and found that I'd been categorizing some business expenses incorrectly for years. The best part was how they explained everything in plain English instead of tax jargon. They've already helped me set up a better system for tracking my business expenses and estimated quarterly payments. Huge weight off my shoulders going into next tax season!

If you're looking for a CPA but are having trouble getting appointments (so many are booked solid these days), I discovered a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that helped me actually get through to tax professionals when nobody was responding to my inquiries. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was desperately trying to find a CPA who understood cryptocurrency taxation for weeks with no luck - everyone was either not taking new clients or taking forever to respond. Claimyr helped me skip the wait and connect with several CPAs for consultations so I could choose the right fit. Ended up finding an amazing tax pro who specializes in digital assets and self-employment.

I have to admit I was wrong. After my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr because none of the CPAs in my area were responding to emails or calls. It actually worked! Got connected with three different accounting firms within two days after spending weeks trying on my own. The CPA I ended up going with said they've been completely swamped with requests and their admin staff can only return a fraction of the calls they receive. Having someone navigate their phone system and wait on hold actually helped me break through that initial barrier. Just had my first consultation yesterday and they seem perfect for my small business situation.

I'm gonna go against the grain here and suggest you consider whether you really need a CPA at all. For many self-employed people with rental income, good tax software with audit support might be sufficient, especially if you take the time to learn the basics. I was paying a CPA $600+ annually but realized I could handle it myself after taking a free small business tax course through my local SBA office. Unless your situation is extremely complicated (multiple state filings, international income, complex investments), you might be overpaying.

Has anyone used a CPA who specializes in rental property? That part of my taxes always confuses me with depreciation and repairs vs improvements.

I'm in a really similar situation - self-employed with rental income and my spouse has a side business too. After years of doing my own taxes and worrying I was missing things, I finally bit the bullet and hired a CPA who specializes in small business and real estate. One thing I'd definitely recommend is asking potential CPAs about their process for year-round planning, not just tax prep. The CPA I work with sends me quarterly reminders about estimated payments and checks in before major financial decisions to discuss tax implications. That proactive approach has been worth its weight in gold. Also, don't be afraid to interview a few different CPAs before choosing. Most will offer a brief consultation to discuss your situation and their services. I talked to three before finding the right fit - someone who explained things clearly and seemed genuinely interested in helping me optimize my tax strategy rather than just filling out forms. The investment has paid for itself through better organization, strategic planning, and peace of mind. Good luck with your search!