Should I tip my tax preparer? Etiquette question for 2025 tax filing

Tipping tax preparers isn't standard practice like it is for servers or hairstylists. Most tax professionals are either salaried employees or business owners who set their fees to appropriately compensate for their expertise and time. That said, if you feel your preparer went above and beyond, there are better ways to show appreciation than cash tips. A sincere thank you note, a positive online review, or referring friends and family to them is generally more appropriate and appreciated in the tax preparation industry. These gestures help build their business more than a one-time tip. If you absolutely want to give something tangible, a small gift card ($25-50) or a box of chocolates would be more appropriate than cash, which might make some professionals uncomfortable as it could appear like you're trying to influence their work.

I was wondering the same thing last year after my tax situation got complicated following a move across state lines. After googling around with no clear answer, I stumbled upon this AI tax helper called taxr.ai that explained not only tipping etiquette but also helped me understand all the deductions I qualified for after my move. The site https://taxr.ai actually has a section on professional relationships with tax preparers that was super helpful. What I liked most was being able to upload my previous returns and get personalized advice rather than just generic answers. It pointed out some moving expenses I could deduct that my preparer had missed! Plus it explained everything in normal human language instead of confusing tax jargon.

I was totally skeptical about AI tax tools as mentioned in my previous comment, but decided to try taxr.ai after filing this year and wow... it found over $1,200 in deductions my preparer missed! I uploaded my return just to compare and it flagged several business expenses I could have claimed for my side gig that I had no idea about. The system explained exactly why I qualified and showed the relevant tax code sections. Going to use it to prepare for next year's filing and probably skip the preparer altogether. Still can't believe it was that much better than the person I'd been paying for years. And to answer the original question - I never tipped my preparer, but I did bring her coffee once during a meeting.

If you're having trouble reaching your tax preparer for questions after your return is done (which happens A LOT this time of year), I highly recommend Claimyr. I was trying to ask a question about my refund status for weeks and my preparer was swamped with new clients. After calling the IRS directly and being on hold forever, I used https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of the 2+ hour wait I was facing. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it literally calls the IRS for you and then calls you when an agent is on the line. My question was about a discrepancy between what my preparer said my refund would be versus what the IRS was showing. Would have never gotten it resolved without actually talking to someone!

I'm back to eat my words about Claimyr. After spending 3 hours on hold with the IRS yesterday trying to figure out why my refund was delayed (after my preparer couldn't help), I broke down and tried the service. Got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes while I was cooking dinner. Turns out there was a simple verification issue they needed to clear up. Problem solved in 10 minutes once I actually got to talk to someone. Would have taken me days of trying otherwise. So yeah, regarding the original question - don't tip your tax preparer, but maybe save that money for services that actually save you time and headaches.

I've been a tax preparer for 8 years and I can tell you we NEVER expect tips. Our fees are set to compensate us fairly. What we do love are referrals and good reviews! That helps our business way more than a tip. If a client brought me cookies or a small gift, I'd think it was sweet but absolutely not necessary. What makes my day is when clients come back year after year - that's the biggest compliment.

I left a $50 gift card to a local coffee shop for my tax guy last year and he seemed really surprised but happy. I figured he probably drinks a ton of coffee during tax season! My situation was super complicated with a divorce and business sale and he saved me thousands. Seemed worth it to me.

Instead of a tip, if your preparer did an amazing job, PLEASE leave them a good online review. I'm married to a CPA and trust me when I say those Google/Yelp reviews mean way more to their business than a $20 tip ever would. New clients from good reviews can mean thousands in revenue vs a small one-time tip. Also, refer your friends! Many tax pros have referral bonuses they'll even share with you if you send new clients their way.

As someone who just went through my first year with a professional tax preparer, I really appreciate all the advice here! I was leaning toward a small tip but now I understand that's not really the norm in this industry. I think I'll go with the coffee gift card idea and definitely leave a detailed Google review. My preparer found so many deductions I didn't know about and really took the time to explain everything - that deserves recognition that will actually help her business grow. For anyone else in a similar situation, it sounds like the best "tip" is being a loyal returning customer and sending referrals when you can. Way more valuable than cash!

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat - first time using a professional preparer after years of doing my own taxes with TurboTax. My situation got complicated with some freelance income and I was totally lost. My preparer was amazing and found several business deductions I had no clue about. I was definitely thinking about tipping since that's my instinct when someone provides great service, but reading all these responses from actual tax professionals really opened my eyes. I love the idea of a coffee shop gift card - that feels like the perfect middle ground between showing appreciation and staying professional. And I definitely need to write a detailed Google review. She spent almost an hour explaining estimated quarterly payments to me which probably saved me from underpayment penalties next year. Thanks everyone for the education on proper etiquette here! It's so different from other service industries but makes total sense.

As a tax professional myself, I really appreciate this whole discussion! It's refreshing to see people wanting to show appreciation appropriately. The gift card to a local coffee shop is honestly perfect - we absolutely run on caffeine during tax season and it shows you put thought into something we'd actually use. The $25-50 range mentioned earlier is spot on. But I have to echo what others have said - detailed Google reviews are pure gold for us. When you mention specifics like "found business deductions for my freelance work" or "explained quarterly estimated payments," that tells future clients exactly what kind of expertise we offer. Those reviews bring in clients who are actually a good fit for our services. One more thing - if your preparer offers year-round tax planning consultations (many of us do), that's another great way to show appreciation. Coming back for mid-year check-ins or planning sessions shows you value the relationship beyond just the annual filing. Plus it often saves you money in the long run!