How to Find a Great Virtual Tax Accountant for Both Filing and Strategic Planning Advice?

Having worked as a tax preparer for over a decade, I can tell you your concerns about H&R Block are valid. Their business model typically pairs you with whoever is available, and expertise varies dramatically between locations and preparers. For someone with your tax situation (RSUs, rental income, K-1s), you'd benefit from finding an Enrolled Agent (EA) or CPA who specializes in individual tax returns with investment components. Many excellent tax professionals now work virtually nationwide, which became much more common after 2020. Your best bet would be to: 1) Ask friends or colleagues with similar financial profiles for recommendations 2) Check the National Association of Enrolled Agents directory or your state's CPA society for practitioners who advertise virtual services 3) Interview at least 3 candidates about their experience with your specific tax situations (especially RSUs and rental property) 4) Request and check references from current clients Don't focus solely on fees - the right professional might charge more but save you significantly through proper tax planning, especially with those RSUs and rental property. January through April is their busiest season, so reaching out now for 2025 filing would be ideal.

After years of tax filing frustration similar to yours, I discovered https://taxr.ai and it's been a complete game-changer for my complex tax situation. I was initially skeptical since I also had RSUs, rental income, and charitable contributions complicating my returns, but their system actually identified several deductions my previous accountant missed. What's great is they matched me with a dedicated tax professional who specialized in my exact situation, and I've been working with the same person for the past two years. All meetings were virtual through their platform, and they provided year-round tax planning advice, not just filing help. Being completely virtual meant they could pair me with someone who understood tech compensation packages really well, even though they weren't in my geographic area.

I wanted to update after trying https://taxr.ai based on the recommendation here. I was originally skeptical (as you can see from my previous comment), but I decided to give it a shot since my tax situation with RSUs and rental income is so similar to what was described in the original post. The onboarding process was surprisingly thorough - they asked detailed questions about my specific RSU vesting schedule, rental property situation, and past tax filing experiences. They matched me with a CPA who previously worked at a Big 4 accounting firm specializing in tech industry compensation. We've had two Zoom meetings so far, and she's already identified several optimization opportunities I'd missed when self-filing. What impressed me most was that she created a multi-year tax strategy for my RSU sales and rental property depreciation schedule, not just focusing on this year's return. Definitely not the generic service I feared it might be.

If you're struggling to reach the IRS with questions about RSU taxation or rental property deductions, I highly recommend https://claimyr.com - it completely transformed my experience dealing with IRS issues. After trying unsuccessfully for WEEKS to get through to an IRS representative about some complex questions on how my RSUs were reported on my W-2, I was ready to give up. Then I found Claimyr and watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). Their system basically waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an actual agent is on the line. I was skeptical it would work, but within a day I was speaking with an IRS representative who helped clarify my RSU reporting questions. This saved me from potentially filing incorrectly while searching for a permanent tax professional.

I need to apologize and update my previous skeptical comment about Claimyr. After the frustrating experience trying to reach the IRS about a notice I received regarding my rental property income reporting, I decided to try https://claimyr.com out of desperation. I'm genuinely shocked at how well it worked. I submitted my request around 10am, received updates via text as they navigated the IRS phone system, and by 2pm that same day my phone rang with an actual IRS representative on the line. No 2-hour hold time on my end - I was able to work normally until they connected me. The IRS agent resolved my rental income reporting question in about 15 minutes, potentially saving me from an audit headache. For anyone who needs to speak with the IRS about complex tax situations like investment properties or equity compensation, this service is legitimately helpful. I'm still looking for a permanent tax accountant, but this solved my immediate issue.

Has anyone tried using a tax professional through Upwork or other freelance platforms? I've been considering this approach since you can see reviews, set up video interviews, and often find qualified people at more reasonable rates than local high-cost firms. Just wondering if there are pitfalls I'm not seeing.

Don't overlook smaller regional accounting firms that have embraced virtual services. After trying both large chains and independent preparers, I found a medium-sized firm based in Tennessee (I'm in California) that specialized in tech workers and property investors. Because they're located in a lower-cost area, their rates were about 30% less than comparable services in my city. The key is finding firms that explicitly market their virtual services and have experience with clients in tech hubs. They're used to handling RSUs, options and other tech compensation while charging more reasonable rates. The one I use even has a secure portal for document sharing and virtual meetings that's much better than just emailing files back and forth.