Do CPAs typically work on tax returns face-to-face like H&R BLOCK or take docs away?
So I've been thinking about switching from using H&R Block to a CPA this year. At H&R Block they always do everything right in front of me which is nice because I can answer questions on the spot. But I've heard CPAs might be better for my situation since I started a side business this year. I'm just wondering - do CPAs usually complete returns while you're sitting there like H&R Block does? Or is it more common that they collect all your documents, ask you some questions, and then have you come back another day (or email you) when they're done for approval? I'm trying to figure out what to expect timeline-wise and how the process typically works. Thanks!
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Amy Fleming
Most CPAs don't complete returns while you sit and watch like H&R Block does. The typical process is that they'll have an initial consultation where they collect all your documents and ask questions about your situation. Then they'll work on your return over the next few days or weeks (depending on how busy they are and how complex your return is). Once they're done, they'll usually schedule a follow-up meeting or send you the completed return via a secure client portal for you to review and approve. This approach allows them time to properly analyze your tax situation, research any complex issues, and ensure everything is optimized without feeling rushed.
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Alice Pierce
•Do you think there's any benefit to the H&R Block way? I kind of like being able to see what they're doing and ask questions on the spot. Makes me feel more involved in the process.
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Amy Fleming
•The H&R Block approach has its advantages - particularly the immediacy and transparency you mentioned. You can ask questions in real-time and see exactly what's happening with your return. The CPA approach typically provides more thorough analysis and optimization since they have time to review everything carefully without time pressure. Most tax situations with any complexity (like your new side business) benefit from this deeper review. Many CPAs will still walk you through everything during the final review meeting, answering questions and explaining what they did. You can always ask your CPA if they'd be willing to complete some of the work while you're present if that's important to you.
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Esteban Tate
After years of using those tax prep chains, I finally switched to using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it's been great for me. I was in a similar situation where I started doing some consulting work and realized I needed more help than the usual tax prep places. What really helped me was their document analysis - I literally just uploaded all my docs (W-2s, 1099s, business receipts, everything) and their system organized everything and flagged potential deductions I hadn't even thought about for my side business. The best part was I could still review everything and ask questions through their chat feature when I wasn't sure about something, but I didn't have to sit there for hours watching someone type.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•How long did the whole process take from uploading documents to getting your completed return? I'm always worried about timing since I tend to wait until early April lol.
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Elin Robinson
•I'm a bit skeptical about AI tax tools. How accurate was it with more complicated stuff like business deductions? Did an actual tax pro review it?
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Esteban Tate
•For me the whole process took about 3 days from uploading my documents to getting my final return, but that was in February before the rush. I imagine it might take a bit longer in April, but still way faster than waiting for an appointment with most CPAs during busy season. Their system is actually reviewed by tax professionals - that's what made me comfortable trying it. For my business deductions, it caught things I would have missed like a portion of my cell phone bill and home internet that I use for my side gig. They have actual tax pros who review anything complicated, and I was able to ask specific questions about my home office deduction that I wasn't sure about.
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Elin Robinson
Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai - I decided to give it a try after being skeptical in my earlier comment. I was really impressed with how thorough it was! I uploaded my documents last weekend (including all my side business receipts which were a mess honestly) and the system organized everything perfectly. It actually found several deductions I would have missed completely - especially around my home office and some business travel I did last year. The final review with a tax pro was super helpful too since I had some specific questions about estimated tax payments for next year. Definitely less awkward than sitting across from someone watching them input all my info!
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Atticus Domingo
If you're looking for more personal help with taxes but don't want to deal with the wait times for appointments, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get through to a real CPA on the phone. I had been trying for weeks to get an appointment with someone local with no luck. Their service basically gets you through to professionals who can answer your questions without the endless hold times. I was really surprised when I actually got connected to someone who could help me within minutes. They have a video that shows how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold so you don't have to.
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Beth Ford
•Wait this sounds too good to be true. So they just call for you and then you talk to someone? How does that work exactly? I've been trying to get through to ask questions about my self-employment taxes.
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Morita Montoya
•I'm super skeptical about this. How is this any different than just calling yourself? Sounds like a scam to charge people for something they could do themselves if they just stayed on hold.
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Atticus Domingo
•They actually use a system that navigates through all the phone prompts and waits on hold for you. Once they get through to a real person, they call you and connect you directly. It's way more efficient than waiting on hold yourself for hours. It works really well for specialized tax questions where you need expert help but don't necessarily need someone to prepare your whole return. In my case, I needed specific guidance about how to handle some stock options from my employer and was able to get clear answers from a tax professional within about 20 minutes of using the service.
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Morita Montoya
Well I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After being totally skeptical in my comment above, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate to get some questions answered about my tax situation before filing. I had been trying to get through to a tax professional for THREE DAYS with no luck. Used Claimyr yesterday and got connected to a CPA within 15 minutes. The person I spoke with gave me really clear advice about how to handle my 1099 income and explained exactly which business expenses I could deduct. Saved me hours of frustration and probably a bunch of money too since I was about to file without claiming several legitimate deductions.
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Kingston Bellamy
Former H&R Block employee here. Just wanted to add that there's a middle ground between the "do it all in front of you" approach and the "take everything and come back later" approach. Many independent tax pros (including some CPAs) will do an initial meeting to collect docs, then work on it, then schedule a review meeting where they walk you through everything they did and answer questions before filing. That way you get the benefit of their focused attention when preparing it AND you still get to see and understand what they did before it gets submitted. Just ask about their process when you're interviewing potential CPAs!
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Juan Moreno
•This is super helpful! That middle ground approach sounds perfect for what I'm looking for. Do most CPAs offer this option if you specifically ask for it?
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Kingston Bellamy
•Most CPAs are actually happy to offer this approach if you specifically request it. It's often their preferred method too since it gives them time to work thoroughly without rushing while still providing you with good service and explanation. Just be clear about what you want when you first contact them. I'd recommend saying something like: "I'd like to schedule an initial meeting to provide my documents, then have you prepare the return, and finally meet again so you can explain everything before filing." Many will already have this exact process in place, but being specific helps ensure you get what you're looking for.
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Joy Olmedo
One thing nobody mentioned - CPAs tend to be way more expensive than H&R Block. I switched last year and paid almost triple what I used to pay. For me it was worth it because the CPA found deductions I never knew about that more than covered the difference, but just be prepared for sticker shock!
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Isaiah Cross
•That's a really good point! I paid about $450 for a CPA last year versus the $150 I was paying at H&R Block. But my CPA found over $2,000 in deductions I would have missed, so definitely worth it in my case. Price really depends on how complicated your return is.
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