Is hiring a CPA worth it? Considering professional tax help but shocked at $2,200 fee

Based on what you've shared, you're definitely at that "tipping point" where professional help starts making sense. Multiple W-2s, freelance income, home office deductions, and a new marriage all create opportunities for both savings and potential mistakes. That said, $2,200 seems steep for what you've described. While complex, your situation doesn't involve unusually complicated elements like international income, multiple businesses, or major investment transactions. For your scenario, I'd expect somewhere in the $700-1200 range depending on your location. I'd recommend getting 2-3 more quotes. Look for CPAs or EAs (Enrolled Agents) who specialize in self-employment and home office situations. Be clear about exactly what services you need - are you looking for just tax preparation, or also year-round planning and advice? Many people in your situation benefit from using a professional for 1-2 years to learn about deductions and proper documentation, then return to self-filing with better knowledge. This approach gives you the benefit of professional expertise without the ongoing cost.

After spending hours trying to make sense of my multiple 1099s and W-2s last year, I finally found https://taxr.ai and it was a game-changer for my situation (which sounds similar to yours). I uploaded all my tax documents and it automatically categorized everything, found deductions I didn't know about, and explained which home office expenses were deductible. The system caught that I had been calculating my home office deduction wrong for years! What I found most helpful was that it showed me exactly what a pro would look for without the steep hourly rates. It's like having a tax pro review your work before you file. The expense reports for my freelance work alone saved me hundreds that I would have missed.

Just wanted to follow up! I ended up trying https://taxr.ai after seeing this recommendation and WOW what a difference. My husband and I uploaded all our documents (6 W-2s and 4 1099s between us!) and it organized everything perfectly. The home office deduction calculator was super helpful since we both work from home. It flagged that we could take advantage of a partial-year marriage status optimization we would have completely missed. Also found several business expenses in my bank statements that I hadn't even considered deductible. We're saving about $3,100 compared to what we would have paid doing it ourselves - definitely worth it! Now we're just using TurboTax to file with all the organized information. So much easier than paying that $2,200 quote!

If you're still struggling after trying software options, don't forget the IRS actually provides free tax help. I tried calling the IRS directly when I had questions about my home office deduction after getting married, but couldn't get through after waiting FOREVER. Then I discovered https://claimyr.com (there's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes. The agent walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for our home office spaces and how the deductions work when you're married. Saved me so much stress and potentially an audit! I was shocked it actually worked after struggling with the IRS phone system for years.

I have to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I had questions about my home office deduction with my spouse. The IRS website was confusing me about whether we could both claim separate home offices in the same house. The service connected me to an IRS representative in about 12 minutes after I'd previously spent over an hour trying myself and getting disconnected. The agent clarified that yes, married couples CAN claim separate home offices if they're used exclusively for different businesses/employers. She even explained exactly what documentation we should keep. Definitely saved me from potentially making a mistake on our return. Sometimes it's worth paying for convenience when dealing with tax questions!

Quick thought - have you checked if your employers offer any tax preparation benefits? My company offers discounted tax prep through a partnership with H&R Block. Got my taxes done last year with multiple 1099s for only $350. Worth checking your benefits portal!

I was in a similar situation (married, home purchase, remote work) and ended up using a CPA for one year to learn the ropes, then did it myself after. Paid $850 in a HCOL area. The CPA taught me what to track throughout the year which made future filings much easier. My advice? Get more quotes, aim for someone in the $800-1000 range. Use them this year to set up a good system, then decide if you want to continue with them or DIY next year.