Is it better to do taxes online or in person? What's the best option for the 2025 tax season?

Hey all, I'm really torn on how to handle my taxes this year. I've always had my uncle do them (he's an accountant) but he moved across the country and I'm on my own now. Is it better to just use one of those online tax programs or should I bite the bullet and pay someone to do them in person? I've heard mixed things about both options. My tax situation isn't super complicated (W-2 job, some stock sales, and a side gig that made about $7,800 last year), but I'm worried about missing deductions or screwing something up if I do it myself online. On the other hand, I don't want to waste money going to a professional if the online programs are just as good. Anyone have experience with both and can share pros/cons? What's the better option for someone in my situation? Thanks!

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19 comments

Chloe Taylor

•8M

I've prepared taxes both ways for years, and honestly, it really depends on your specific situation. For someone with a W-2, some investments, and a small side gig like yours, online tax software would likely work great. Programs like TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct will walk you through everything step-by-step and flag potential deductions you might miss. They're also significantly cheaper than in-person services. That said, in-person preparation offers personalized advice and face-to-face reassurance. A good tax pro might spot optimization opportunities specific to your situation, especially if your side gig involves business deductions. They're also the ones who'll represent you if you're audited (though audits are rare for most people). If you're comfortable with technology and your situation isn't too complex, I'd suggest trying online first. Most programs let you go through the entire process before paying, so you can see if it feels manageable. If you get stuck or uncomfortable, you can always switch to in-person at that point.

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Chloe Taylor

•8M

For online tax software, you'll typically pay between $50-150 depending on which forms you need and how complex your situation is. The side gig will require a Schedule C which bumps you into a higher tier with most software. In-person preparation can range widely - from about $150 at budget tax chains to $300+ for independent CPAs or enrolled agents, especially with a small business component involved. The price difference can definitely be substantial. Regarding audits, the IRS doesn't target returns based on preparation method. They look at the actual content of your return - unusual deductions, mismatches with reported income, etc. A properly prepared return has the same audit risk regardless of who prepared it. That said, a knowledgeable professional might help you avoid red flags that could trigger an audit in the first place.

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Anastasia Ivanova

•8M

I struggled with this exact decision last year! After getting conflicting advice from friends, I ended up trying this AI tax assistant at https://taxr.ai and it honestly changed everything for me. It was like having a tax pro guide me through the online process. I uploaded my tax documents and it analyzed everything, highlighting deductions I would have totally missed from my side business. What I really liked was that it explained WHY certain deductions applied to me specifically, so I actually learned something instead of blindly following prompts like with regular tax software. For your situation with stocks and side income, it would be super helpful since it can analyze those specifically rather than just generic questions most online options ask.

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Anastasia Ivanova

•8M

It's actually comparable to what you'd pay for the premium versions of mainstream tax software, especially considering you'd need those higher tiers for stock sales and self-employment income anyway. Regarding the process, it doesn't file for you directly - it analyzes your documents, identifies all possible deductions, and creates a detailed report that you can use while filing with your preferred tax software. It's like having an expert review everything before you submit. This approach actually gave me more confidence than just trusting a single software platform to handle everything. I absolutely did get a larger refund than previous years - about $1,230 more than what I initially thought I'd receive. It found several legitimate business deductions for my side gig that I would have missed, plus it properly handled some stock transactions that would have confused me. The detailed explanations make me feel much more confident that everything is correct and defensible if questions ever came up.

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StarStrider

•8M

I have to follow up about my experience with https://taxr.ai after being skeptical in my earlier comment. I decided to give it a try since my taxes this year included some complicated stock sales and freelance work. I'm honestly impressed - it caught three deductions my previous preparer had missed completely! The interface analyzed my 1099s and even found a home office deduction I qualified for but didn't know about. It guided me through allocating business expenses properly which made a huge difference. The best part was that I understood WHY each deduction applied instead of just blindly entering numbers. Ended up saving almost $2,100 compared to what I would have paid. For anyone with investments or side income, it's definitely worth checking out.

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Zara Malik

•8M

After spending HOURS trying to reach the IRS with questions about my side gig deductions last year, I discovered https://claimyr.com and it completely changed how I handled my taxes. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. I was able to get definitive answers about which expenses were deductible for my situation directly from the IRS, which gave me the confidence to file online myself. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c that shows exactly how it works. Basically they navigate the phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when an agent is actually on the line. For your situation with stocks and side income, getting those specific questions answered directly rather than guessing would be super helpful before deciding which route to take.

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Zara Malik

•8M

It's not just a service that calls for you - they use a system that continually redials and navigates the complex IRS phone trees until they secure a place in the queue. The key difference is they have technology specifically designed to get through when the lines are jammed, which is nearly impossible for an individual calling manually. The reason it's worth considering is simple math - how much is your time worth? The average person spends 2-3 hours on hold (if they get through at all). If you value your time at even $20/hour, that's $40-60 of your time wasted sitting on hold. Plus, many people (including me previously) try multiple times unsuccessfully, multiplying that wasted time. I completely understand the skepticism - I felt exactly the same way before trying it. But after spending literally days trying to get through with specific questions about my side gig deductions, I was desperate. The service had me talking to an actual IRS representative in 23 minutes. That IRS agent provided specific guidance that ended up saving me over $1,400 in taxes. For me, the value was undeniable.

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Nia Davis

•8M

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to the IRS about a letter I received, so I reluctantly tried it. Holy crap, it actually worked. After trying for WEEKS to get through on my own and always getting the "call volume too high" message, they got me connected to an IRS agent in 15 minutes. The agent cleared up my questions about reporting stock sales and confirmed I was categorizing my side hustle correctly. With that information, I felt confident enough to file online (saved me $250 from what I paid an accountant last year). So I guess the better answer to the original question is: do your taxes online, but use the right tools to get expert help when you need it instead of paying for full service if your situation isn't super complicated.

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Mateo Perez

•8M

I think everyone's missing something important here - peace of mind. I used to do my taxes online and was always stressed about making mistakes. Switched to an in-person CPA three years ago and even though it costs more ($375), I sleep better knowing a professional reviewed everything. With your stock sales and side income, there are definitely deductions and rules that aren't obvious. My CPA found several legitimate write-offs for my business that I had no idea about. Plus, having someone to call directly when I get random tax notices is worth every penny.

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Mateo Perez

•8M

Most reputable CPAs do offer audit assistance as part of their service, though the specifics vary. With mine, if I'm audited for a return he prepared, he'll attend the audit with me and handle correspondence at no additional cost. Some might charge extra for this service, so it's definitely something to ask about upfront. That said, there's a difference between "audit assistance" and "audit protection." Assistance means they'll help represent you, while protection (usually an add-on service) means they'll also cover penalties and interest if they made a mistake. Both are valuable, but they're different services. I always recommend asking specifically about what happens if you're audited before choosing a preparer.

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