Is it too late to hire a CPA for taxes with April 18th deadline approaching?

12 You're definitely cutting it close, but it's not impossible to find someone. Many tax pros are working extended hours right now and some might still take on clients. Call around tomorrow morning first thing and be upfront about your timeline. Be prepared that many will say no, but some might be willing to help if your situation isn't overly complicated. When you call, have your info organized - how many 1099s, approximate income, any major life changes, etc. This helps them quickly assess if they can help you. If you strike out with CPAs, look into Enrolled Agents too - they're tax specialists who often have more availability than CPAs during tax season. Also check with any tax preparation chains in your area - while not the same as hiring a dedicated pro, they might be able to accommodate you.

7 I was in a similar situation last year - always did my own taxes with TurboTax but got tired of struggling through the self-employment stuff. I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really saved me. It's specifically designed for analyzing tax documents and self-employment income, which was exactly what I needed. Rather than spending hours trying to figure out which expenses were deductible for my 1099 work, I uploaded my docs and got professional guidance. Much more affordable than hiring a full CPA, but still got the expertise I needed. They helped identify several deductions I had been missing for years!

3 Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after posting my question here and wow, what a difference! I uploaded my 6 different 1099s and it organized everything perfectly. The system caught several business expenses I could deduct that I had completely missed in previous years. The analysis showed I was overpaying by almost $1,200 annually! I'm definitely not going back to struggling with TurboTax. Feeling much less stressed about the whole tax situation now.

8 If you're having trouble finding a CPA this late, another option is trying to get help directly from the IRS. I know that sounds crazy since getting through to them is nearly impossible, but I used this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it actually worked! There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had some complicated 1099 questions similar to yours and was panicking about filing correctly. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. The agent walked me through exactly what forms I needed and answered all my specific questions about self-employment deductions. Totally worth it for the peace of mind.

19 I need to apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr. After posting here, I decided to give it a shot since I was desperate for answers about my 1099 situation. I'm honestly shocked - it actually worked! I got a call back in about 20 minutes and talked to a real IRS agent who answered all my questions about my self-employment tax situation. After two years of never being able to get through on my own, this was like magic. The agent explained exactly how to handle my specific situation with multiple 1099s and cleared up my confusion about quarterly estimated payments. If you're in a time crunch like the original poster, this is definitely worth trying.

2 Another option: look into tax prep services that aren't full CPAs but still offer professional help. Places like H&R Block or local tax offices often have availability even this late. They might not give you the same level of strategic advice as a dedicated CPA, but they can definitely handle 1099 income and basic deductions. Many of these places also offer audit protection for an additional fee, which gives some peace of mind. I used a local tax service last year when I was in a similar situation (half W-2, half 1099 income) and it worked out fine.

17 Don't forget about the extension option! File Form 4868 by April 18th and you'll get until October 16th to actually submit your return. You still need to pay estimated taxes by April 18th to avoid penalties, but it gives you time to find a good CPA who isn't in the middle of tax season chaos. I'm self-employed too and I always file an extension just to avoid the rush. My CPA charges less after the deadline too because they're not as swamped.