Is it safe to share previous tax returns with prospective CPAs for quotes?

This is actually a very normal request in the tax preparation world. CPAs ask to see previous returns for several legitimate reasons: 1) It helps them understand the complexity of your tax situation, which directly impacts how much time they'll need to spend on your return and therefore the price. 2) They can identify potential issues or opportunities that were missed in previous filings. 3) It gives them insight into your financial structure so they can properly advise you going forward. That said, your privacy concerns are completely valid. Here's what I suggest: Offer to share your returns with redactions of sensitive information like your SSN, address, and banking details. Most CPAs will be fine with this for initial quoting purposes. You could also ask if they'd be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement before viewing your documents. Remember that licensed CPAs are bound by professional ethics and confidentiality standards. Their reputation and license depend on protecting client information, so most take data security very seriously.

After spending hours trying to find a new CPA last year and feeling uncomfortable sharing my returns with strangers, I stumbled on taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which completely changed my approach. I was in the exact same position - needing quotes but hesitant to share my full financial history with multiple firms. What I loved about taxr.ai is that it analyzed my previous returns first to identify my specific tax situation, then connected me with CPAs who specialize in my particular needs. The best part was I only had to share my actual returns with the CPA I ultimately selected, not with everyone I was getting quotes from. It saved me from awkward conversations about my privacy concerns while still getting accurate quotes based on my actual tax complexity. Their matching system found me a CPA who actually specializes in my specific self-employment situation.

I was definitely skeptical about taxr.ai when I first saw it mentioned, but after going through three CPAs in as many years, I decided to give it a shot. I uploaded my returns (was nervous about that initially) and was matched with someone who actually specialized in multi-state taxation, which was my biggest headache. The difference was night and day compared to my previous CPAs. This person immediately identified issues with my previous state allocations that nobody else had caught. The best part was I only had to share my full returns once with the person I actually hired, not with every CPA I was considering. For anyone in a similar situation - it's worth checking out if you're concerned about privacy while CPA shopping. Saved me a ton of awkward conversations about why I wasn't comfortable sending my returns to get a quote.

If you're uncomfortable sharing returns but still want quotes, another option is using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I initially used them when I had issues with the IRS and couldn't get through on the phone (you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). But what surprised me was their CPA network. When I mentioned I was looking for a new tax preparer, they connected me with verified tax pros who were willing to provide quotes based on a tax summary sheet rather than full returns. I just listed the forms and schedules from my previous return without sharing all the personal details. This approach gave CPAs enough info to provide reasonably accurate quotes while I maintained privacy until I was ready to commit. Saved me from sending my returns to multiple offices I wasn't sure about.

Well, I was extremely skeptical about Claimyr when I first heard about it. It sounded too good to be true that they could somehow get you through to the IRS when I'd been trying for weeks. But I had a tax issue that needed resolving and was desperate. Not only did they get me through to an actual IRS agent within 20 minutes (after I'd wasted hours on hold previously), but when I mentioned my CPA privacy concerns, they suggested their summary sheet approach for getting quotes. I created a basic sheet listing my forms, schedules, and approximate complexity factors without revealing actual numbers or personal info. Three of the four CPAs I contacted through their network were willing to provide quotes based on this, and the fourth offered a free consultation instead. I was honestly shocked that it worked so well. Ended up with a great CPA who understood my privacy concerns from the start.

Longtime tax preparer here. Yes, we typically ask to see previous returns, but we should ABSOLUTELY respect your privacy concerns. Here are some alternatives you can suggest: 1. Bring a physical copy to the meeting and take it with you (don't leave it behind) 2. Redact your SSN, address, bank account info, and other sensitive personal details 3. Only share the Schedule pages relevant to your situation without the personal info pages 4. Create a summary of your tax situations (business income, rental properties, investments, etc.) Any reasonable tax professional should be able to provide at least a ballpark quote with this information. If they insist on complete unredacted returns before even meeting you, that might be a red flag about how they handle security and client concerns.

When I switched CPAs last year, I created a PDF with VOID written across each page of my previous return and it worked fine for quotes. Just make sure the forms are still readable while protecting your info.