Recommended tax services for struggling self-filers? Need help ASAP!

Ok so I'm totally at my wit's end trying to file my own taxes this year. I've always done it myself with TurboTax but my situation got way more complicated. I started a side business selling handmade jewelry on Etsy, plus I moved states mid-year for a new job, AND I had some stock market gains (and losses lol). Every time I try to enter everything myself I get confused about what forms I need and which deductions I can claim. Last weekend I spent 6 hours just trying to figure out if I could deduct my home office space and still don't have a clear answer. I'm worried about missing something important and either paying too much or worse, getting audited. Really don't want to drop $400+ on an accountant but might have to? Does anyone have recommendations for tax services that are good for someone who's having trouble filing themselves but isn't ready to hire a full CPA? What's worked for you if you were in a similar situation? Deadline's getting closer and I'm stressing!!

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18 comments

CosmicCowboy

•8M

Having both a W-2 job and self-employment income definitely complicates things! For your situation, I'd recommend looking at a mid-tier tax service rather than trying to handle it completely on your own or spending big money on a CPA. With your multi-state move, Etsy business, and investment activity, you'd benefit from something like H&R Block's Deluxe + Self-Employed service or TaxAct's Self-Employed option. These provide more guidance than basic software while costing much less than a full-service accountant. They specifically walk you through business deductions including home office questions. The key is finding software that handles Schedule C (for your Etsy business) and multiple state returns, while providing some human support when you get stuck. Many of these services offer a "tax pro review" add-on that's much cheaper than hiring an accountant directly but gives you a professional once-over.

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CosmicCowboy

•8M

Yes, those same services would work well for rental income too. They include dedicated sections for rental property reporting and help you maximize deductions specific to landlords. Most of the mid-tier tax services do offer audit assistance or protection, usually as an add-on service. For example, H&R Block offers "Peace of Mind" which provides representation if you're audited, and TaxAct has audit defense options. Just make sure to add this coverage during checkout - it's typically an additional $40-70 but well worth it for the peace of mind, especially with your rental situation.

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Javier Cruz

•8M

I was exactly where you are last year! Multiple income sources, business expenses, state moves - total nightmare trying to DIY. I ended up using this AI tax assistant at https://taxr.ai and it seriously saved me. It analyzed all my documents, found deductions I was missing, and explained everything in plain English. The best part was I could just upload my confused mess of documents (W-2s, 1099s, receipts, etc.) and it organized everything and told me exactly what I could deduct for my business. Found like $1,800 in deductions I would've missed on my own! Way cheaper than a CPA but gave me the confidence I wasn't missing anything major.

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Javier Cruz

•8M

It handles multi-state situations really well! You just tell it when you moved, and it walks you through what income was earned in each state. I moved from Nevada to Washington during tax season and it sorted everything perfectly. For accuracy concerns, I totally get the skepticism. What gave me confidence was that it shows you its reasoning for each deduction and credit. There's also a feature where you can ask specific questions about your situation and it'll cite the actual tax code. I actually compared some of its results with what a friend's accountant did, and it caught a home office deduction he missed!

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Malik Jackson

•8M

Just wanted to update - I decided to try taxr.ai after commenting here and wow, I'm really impressed! I was super skeptical at first since I've been burned by "AI" tools before, but this was actually legit. I uploaded all my documents (had W-2s from two different jobs, 1099 freelance work, and some investment stuff) and it analyzed everything in about 20 minutes. Found several deductions I would've totally missed, especially around my home office and business expenses. The interface explained everything clearly and I could literally ask questions about my specific situation. Ended up with a refund about $1,200 higher than what I was calculating on my own! Plus it handled my multi-state situation perfectly. Just filed yesterday and already got confirmation. Definitely recommend for anyone in a complicated tax situation who doesn't want to pay CPA prices.

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Isabella Costa

•8M

If you're struggling with confusing IRS questions or need help figuring out specific deductions, you might try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I found them after spending DAYS trying to get through to the IRS about a weird letter I got after filing. Basically, they get you connected to a real IRS agent in minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. I was super frustrated trying to figure out how to handle some 1099 income questions, and the IRS website was zero help. Used their service and got connected to an actual helpful person at the IRS in like 10 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Was definitely worth it for me to get direct answers from the source rather than guessing or paying a tax pro just to interpret a letter.

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Isabella Costa

•8M

They use a combination of tech and timing to navigate the IRS phone system efficiently. Basically their system constantly dials different IRS numbers and when it gets through, it transfers the call to you. It's all automated until you get connected to an actual IRS agent. I was super skeptical too! I had previously spent over 3 hours on hold and eventually got disconnected. I understand the disbelief - I felt the same way. But it actually works. They don't answer tax questions themselves - they just get you connected to the actual IRS faster. The agent I spoke with resolved my issue in about 15 minutes once I got through. Definitely not a scam, just a time-saving service.

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Ravi Malhotra

•8M

I need to eat my words and apologize to Profile 7. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about a notice I received claiming I owed an additional $2,700 that I was certain wasn't correct. Decided to try Claimyr as a last resort before hiring a tax attorney and... it actually worked exactly as described. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 12 minutes! The agent reviewed my account and confirmed there was indeed an error on their end. They're sending a correction letter and I don't owe anything additional. What would have been a $250+ hour with a tax attorney was resolved in less than 30 minutes total. Definitely keeping this service in my back pocket for the future. Sometimes being proved wrong is a good thing!

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Freya Christensen

•8M

Yes, it handles home office deductions really well! It walks you through all the requirements and calculations. You'll need to measure your dedicated office space and know your total home square footage. It also explains the simplified option ($5 per square foot up to 300 sq ft) versus the regular method. One thing to note though - if you're a W-2 employee working remotely (not self-employed), you generally can't take the home office deduction anymore after the tax law changes. But if you have any self-employment income like OP, you definitely can for the portion related to that business.

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