Self Prepared Taxes Vs. Using a CPA - Which is Better for 2025 Filing?

So tax season is coming up and I'm on the fence about how to handle my returns this year. Been using TurboTax for the past few years but my financial situation got a bit more complicated recently. Bought my first house, started some freelance work on the side of my regular job, and also have some investments that did... interesting things this year. I'm wondering if it's worth paying the extra money to have a CPA handle all this or if I should stick with the DIY software route. I'm not completely clueless about taxes but definitely not an expert either. The software has worked fine before, but I'm worried I might miss deductions or mess something up with the more complex situation. What's been your experience? Is a CPA worth the extra cost? Do they typically find enough deductions/credits to offset their fee? Or am I overthinking this and the tax software is probably good enough?

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18 comments

Aisha Jackson

•8M

Tax professional here! This is a question I get all the time, and honestly, it depends on your specific situation. For most people with W-2 income, standard deductions, and maybe some basic investment income, tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block works perfectly fine. They're designed to walk you through all the common scenarios and will catch most deductions/credits you qualify for. However, when you start adding elements like self-employment income, rental properties, complex investments, or unusual tax situations, a CPA can often pay for themselves. We typically know specialized deductions that software might not prominently feature, understand gray areas better, and can provide personalized strategies for tax planning beyond just the current year. With your new home purchase and freelance work, you're in that middle ground. If your freelance income is substantial (more than a few thousand dollars) or if your investment situation is truly complex (beyond standard dividends/capital gains), a CPA might be worth considering. Otherwise, tax software with the self-employed options might still serve you well.

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Lilly Curtis

•8M

Just wanted to share my experience with taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) for those of you stuck in this same dilemma. I was in a similar situation last year - had a day job but started freelancing on the side and was struggling with whether to hire a professional. Found this AI tax advisor that basically gave me the best of both worlds. It analyzed my tax documents, gave me professional-level advice on deductions I was missing, but I still did the actual filing myself with TurboTax. Saved a ton compared to a CPA but definitely got better results than just software alone.

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Lilly Curtis

•8M

It actually does handle complex situations surprisingly well. I uploaded my 1099s, some receipts, and other documents, and it found several deductions related to my freelance work that I didn't know about. It's more thorough than I expected - gives specific advice based on your actual documents rather than generic tips. The difference from TurboTax's CPA help is that this actually analyzes your specific documents and gives detailed, personalized advice rather than just general guidance. It's more like having a CPA review your specific situation but at a fraction of the cost.

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Lindsey Fry

•8M

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that I mentioned earlier. I decided to try it out this weekend and I'm honestly impressed. I uploaded my W-2, my 1099s from freelancing, and some investment statements. It spotted a home office deduction I would have missed and identified some business expenses I didn't realize were deductible. Going to stick with filing my own taxes using their recommendations and save the CPA money for when/if my situation gets even more complex. Definitely a good middle ground for someone in my situation!

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Saleem Vaziri

•8M

If you're worried about dealing with the IRS if something goes wrong, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was banging my head against the wall last year after self-filing and realizing I made a mistake. Spent HOURS on hold with the IRS trying to sort it out. This service got me connected to a real IRS agent in like 15 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Seems relevant whether you choose self-prep or CPA since either way you might need IRS help at some point!

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Saleem Vaziri

•8M

It uses a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you once it reaches a live agent. It's not magic - they're just using technology to handle the painful waiting part, then connecting you when there's actually someone to talk to. I was skeptical too, but when you're desperate enough after waiting on hold for hours, you're willing to try anything. I think they just have automated systems doing the holding across multiple lines which is something individual callers can't do.

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James Maki

•8M

OK I have to eat my words on Claimyr. I was super skeptical (as you can see from my previous comment) but I tried it yesterday after getting another CP2000 notice that I needed to resolve quickly. It actually worked exactly as advertised - got a call back in about 20 minutes with a real IRS agent on the line. Just wanted to confirm this is legit. Still think the tax system is broken that we need services like this, but at least it's an option when you're desperate to get through.

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Jasmine Hancock

•8M

I've gone both routes and honestly think the sweet spot for most people is using good tax software but paying for a CPA consultation every few years or when your situation changes dramatically. For example, I use TaxAct myself most years, but when I started my small business in 2020, I paid for a 1-hour consultation with a CPA ($150) who advised me on business structure, what to track, and tax strategies. Then incorporated his advice going forward using software. When I bought my house in 2023, did another consultation. Way cheaper than full service every year but you still get the professional insights when you need them most.

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