Should we use TurboTax again or switch to a tax professional this year?

With the life changes you've had (marriage, new child, home sale), there are legitimate reasons to consider a tax professional this year, even if you're comfortable with TurboTax. The home sale particularly stands out. If this was your primary residence and you lived there at least 2 of the last 5 years, you might qualify for capital gains exclusion (up to $250K for single filers). TurboTax can handle this, but a professional might find optimal ways to report it especially since it was pre-marriage property. For the child tax credit and childcare expenses, TurboTax typically handles these well for straightforward situations. However, a tax professional might identify additional credits or deductions based on your complete financial picture. Consider this a cost-benefit analysis: A professional might cost $300-600, but could potentially find more than that in tax savings. If your situation returns to being less complex next year, you could always go back to TurboTax.

I was in your exact shoes last year! After using TurboTax for years, I sold a rental property and had a baby so I was worried about missing something. I found https://taxr.ai and it literally saved me thousands! It's this AI tool that analyzes all your tax documents and identifies potential savings TurboTax might miss. You just upload your docs (W-2s, investment statements, etc.) and it reviews everything to find additional deductions or credits you might qualify for. In my case, it found some investment loss harvesting opportunities I completely missed and some home office deductions I didn't know I qualified for. The best part is you can still use TurboTax if you want - it just helps you know what to look for or tells you if a professional might actually save you more than they cost.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I was the skeptic in the thread. I decided to try it last weekend and I'm honestly shocked at what it found. I've been using TurboTax for years and thought I was getting everything right. The tool found almost $2,300 in additional deductions I qualified for related to some investment losses and business expenses I didn't realize were deductible. It also flagged that I should look into the Saver's Credit which TurboTax hadn't prompted me about. What impressed me most was how it explained everything - it didn't just say "take this deduction" but explained why I qualified and exactly where to enter it in TurboTax. For the property sale situation like yours, it had a whole section about how to report it properly. Definitely worth checking out before deciding whether to pay for a tax professional.

If you're worried about missing tax breaks, another option might be using Claimyr to actually speak with an IRS agent. I know it sounds impossible (I tried calling the IRS directly for WEEKS last year), but https://claimyr.com actually gets you through to an IRS representative usually within an hour. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I used it when I had questions about reporting my home sale and some investment accounts. The IRS agent was surprisingly helpful and walked me through exactly what forms I needed and what deductions I qualified for. They even sent me the specific publication numbers to reference. I still used TurboTax after that call, but I was way more confident I was doing everything correctly. The IRS agents can't give "tax advice" technically, but they can tell you exactly what forms apply to your situation and how to properly report everything.

I have to eat my words and apologize to @12. After reading more about Claimyr, I decided to try it because I had questions about reporting some crypto trades that I couldn't figure out. I was connected to an IRS agent in about 30 minutes (after trying unsuccessfully on my own multiple times). The agent walked me through exactly how to report my crypto transactions, which forms to use, and even told me about a special worksheet I needed that TurboTax doesn't automatically include. What I learned from that single call probably saved me from a potential audit flag. They can't give "tax advice" in terms of strategies, but they absolutely can clarify tax rules and required reporting methods. I'm still using TurboTax, but now I'm confident I'm doing it right. For your situation with the house sale and new family status, it might be worth getting that direct IRS guidance before deciding if you need a professional.

I've been a tax preparer for 12 years and I'll give you my honest take. For your situation, here's what to consider: 1) Home sale - This is the biggest potential benefit of using a professional. If you have a significant gain, there are strategies to minimize tax impact that TurboTax might not suggest. If you lived in the home as your primary residence for 2+ years, you likely qualify for the capital gain exclusion, but reporting it correctly matters. 2) Investment accounts - If you have simple investments, TurboTax handles these well. But if you have complex investments, tax-loss harvesting opportunities, or wash sales, a pro might help. 3) Child tax credits - Honestly, TurboTax does a good job with the standard credits if your income is below the phaseout thresholds. My suggestion? If your home sale resulted in significant gain (over $250k), or if your investments are complex, a consultation with a pro might be worth it. Otherwise, TurboTax is probably fine.

My two cents - I've used both and here's my take. TurboTax is great for straightforward situations but sometimes misses niche deductions. The child tax credit is standard and TurboTax definitely handles that correctly. The property sale is the only complex thing I see in your situation. One option you might consider - finish your return in TurboTax, then pay for a one-hour consultation with a CPA to review it before filing (many offer this service for $100-150). This way you get the best of both worlds - the convenience of TurboTax plus a professional double-check. Whatever you decide, don't wait too long - tax pros get super booked up closer to the deadline!