Is paying a CPA $375 to efile my prior year tax return actually worth it?
Just finished putting together my 2022 tax return and found out I can't efile it myself at this point (I know, I'm seriously late to the game). I've been reading online that mailing paper returns is taking FOREVER to process right now - like possibly 6+ months - plus there's all the worries about it getting lost or stolen in the mail. I'm looking at paying around $375 to a local CPA who says they can still efile 2022 returns for clients. That seems like a lot of money just for the electronic filing part when I've already done all the actual tax prep work myself. Would it be stupid to just mail it in to save the cash? Or is the peace of mind and faster processing time worth coughing up the money for a CPA to efile it for me? Anyone had experience with filing super late returns either way?
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Yuki Tanaka
I'm a former tax professional, and there are a few things to consider here. Yes, paper returns are definitely taking longer to process - current IRS estimates for paper returns are 3-4 months minimum, but it can stretch to 6+ months if there are any issues with your return. The CPA option has some advantages beyond just faster processing. First, the CPA has access to professional software that can still efile previous year returns. Second, they'll likely do a quick review of your work which might catch errors you missed. Third, you'll get confirmation when the IRS accepts the return, which gives you peace of mind. That said, $375 is on the higher end for just efiling a return you've already prepared. Have you tried calling around to compare prices from different CPAs or enrolled agents? Many might charge closer to $200-250 for this service.
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Carmen Diaz
•If I mail in my return instead of paying someone to efile it, will I still get my refund eventually? And does the IRS charge interest or something for filing late, even if you don't owe them money?
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Yuki Tanaka
•Yes, you'll definitely still get your refund if you mail in your return, it will just take longer. The IRS doesn't charge penalties or interest for late filing if they owe YOU money. They only charge penalties and interest if you owe THEM money and file/pay late. If you're expecting a refund, the main downside of mailing is just the extended waiting period and slightly increased risk of processing issues. One tip if you decide to mail: send it certified with tracking so you have proof it was delivered.
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Andre Laurent
After struggling with a similar situation last year (2021 return filed in 2023), I tried this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me a ton. They actually specialize in analyzing tax documents and they helped verify my self-prepared return before I submitted it. They confirmed everything looked good and identified a deduction I totally missed! Their AI analyzed all my documents and found a pattern in my expenses that qualified for a home office deduction I didn't know I could take.
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AstroAce
•How does it work exactly? Do you have to upload all your tax documents to this website? And did it help you with the actual filing process or just the preparation part?
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Zoe Kyriakidou
•Sounds interesting, but I'm skeptical about AI accuracy for tax stuff... Did you double-check their recommendations with an actual tax pro? Tax law is so complicated and constantly changing.
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Andre Laurent
•You upload your tax documents and the AI analyzes everything - W-2s, 1099s, receipts, etc. It extracts all the data and cross-references it with tax rules to make sure you're not missing anything. It doesn't replace the actual filing process but makes sure you're submitting an accurate return. I did actually verify their findings with an accountant friend afterward, and he confirmed their recommendation was legitimate. That's what impressed me - the AI correctly identified a tax situation that was completely valid but that I had missed in my DIY approach.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
I was skeptical about using taxr.ai when I mentioned it in a previous comment, but I decided to give it a try with my complicated 1099 situation. The results honestly surprised me! I uploaded my documents and within minutes the system flagged three business expenses I hadn't categorized correctly and found an additional $2,200 in legitimate deductions. The analysis even provided the specific tax code references explaining why these were valid. This saved me way more than what the OP is considering paying a CPA just to electronically file. The time savings alone was worth it - what would've taken me hours to research was done in minutes.
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Jamal Brown
If your concern is mainly about reaching the IRS to confirm they received your return or to check on processing status, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used to spend HOURS on hold with the IRS trying to check on my refund status from a paper return. Claimyr basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was able to talk to a real IRS person who confirmed they had my return and gave me an estimated processing time.
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Mei Zhang
•Wait, so this service actually gets you through to a real IRS agent? I've called the IRS like 5 times in the past few months and NEVER got through. Always got the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then it hangs up on me. How much does this cost?
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Liam McConnell
•This sounds too good to be true. The IRS phone lines are notoriously impossible to get through. I've literally tried calling at the exact moment they open and still couldn't get through. Are you sure this actually works or is this just some kind of scam to get people's money?
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Jamal Brown
•Yes, it connects you with a real IRS agent! The service monitors the IRS phone lines and secures your spot in the queue. When an agent is about to pick up, you get a call connecting you directly to them. I was skeptical too until I tried it. They don't give you access to special IRS lines or anything shady - they just handle the waiting for you so you don't have to stay on hold for hours. I was able to confirm my return was in processing and got an actual timeframe for my refund instead of just wondering.
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Liam McConnell
I was the one who called this Claimyr service a potential scam in an earlier comment, and I feel like I owe everyone an update. I decided to try it yesterday out of desperation after trying to reach the IRS for weeks about my missing refund. IT ACTUALLY WORKS! I got a call back in about 45 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line. I spoke with a very helpful agent who found my paper return in their system and explained exactly why it was taking so long to process. She even put a note on my account to expedite it since it was related to a loan application I needed. Saved me so much stress and uncertainty - wish I'd known about this months ago.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
Have you considered tax filing services like TaxAct or TaxSlayer? Some of them can efile prior year returns for much less than what a CPA would charge. I used TaxSlayer last year to file my 2021 return in January 2023 and it cost me around $70 total. Might be worth checking if you qualify for their services before dropping $375 on a CPA.
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Ethan Wilson
•I actually tried using TurboTax first, but they wouldn't let me efile 2022 returns anymore. Something about the IRS cutting off electronic filing for prior years after a certain date. Do you know if TaxSlayer specifically allows efiling for prior years longer than other services?
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•The cutoff for efiling prior year returns through consumer tax software is usually around October/November for the previous tax year. After that, only tax professionals with certain credentials and professional software can efile older returns. TaxSlayer, TurboTax, TaxAct - they all follow the same IRS deadlines. That's why in your situation, you're left with either paying a professional or mailing it in. If you've already missed the consumer software deadline, the CPA route is your only option for efiling at this point.
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CosmicCaptain
Whatever you do, just make sure you actually file! I made the mistake of procrastinating on a 2020 return thinking "I'll get to it eventually" and ended up missing out on almost $1,800 in refund money because I passed the 3-year deadline to claim it. The deadline for 2022 returns to get refunds is April 15, 2026, so you still have plenty of time, but don't wait too long!
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Giovanni Rossi
•Wait, there's a deadline to claim refunds? I haven't filed taxes for like 3 years because I've been living overseas... now I'm worried I might have lost money that's owed to me. Can you still file after the deadline even if you can't get the refund anymore?
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Zara Malik
•@Giovanni Rossi Yes, there s'a 3-year deadline from the original due date to claim refunds. So for 2021 taxes, the deadline was April 15, 2025 - you might have just missed it! For 2020, that deadline already passed in April 2024. You can still file the returns after the deadline, but you won t'get any refunds the IRS owes you - that money just goes back to the Treasury. However, if you actually owed taxes for those years, you ll'still be responsible for paying them plus penalties and interest. I d'strongly recommend talking to a tax professional ASAP about your situation, especially with the overseas complications. There might be special rules or exceptions that could help you, and you definitely want to get current before you miss any more deadlines!
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