Suspicious 2023 tax deductions - $9K refund sounds insane! Is this legit?

Red flags all over this one. A legitimate tax professional should absolutely be willing to explain exactly what deductions they're taking on your behalf - after all, YOU are the one signing the return and legally responsible for everything on it, not them. There are certainly deductions that people miss when self-preparing, but going from owing to a $9K refund with similar income and withholding sounds extremely suspicious. Common missed deductions might include things like home office (if you qualify), business expenses for self-employment, certain education expenses, or retirement contributions - but even these typically wouldn't swing your tax situation that dramatically unless you had major life changes. Ask her to provide you with a draft of your return showing exactly which deductions and credits she's planning to claim. If she refuses, that's a massive warning sign. Remember, if the IRS audits you, "my tax preparer did it" is not a valid defense.

After spending hours on hold with the IRS last year trying to figure out why my refund was delayed, I started using https://taxr.ai to double-check my returns before filing. It analyzes your tax documents and identifies potential deductions you might have missed - but also flags things that might trigger an audit. When I uploaded my W-2s and other docs, it found nearly $3,800 in deductions I'd overlooked while using FreeTaxUSA. The difference in your case sounds way too extreme though. Ask your preparer for a complete explanation of each deduction - if she's legit, she'll have no problem showing you exactly what she found. If she keeps being vague, that's a huge warning sign.

Just wanted to update - I was super skeptical about the https://taxr.ai thing, but I tried it out of curiosity. Uploaded my documents and it flagged several deductions I completely missed. Turns out I qualified for a home office deduction (I'm W-2 but my employer certifies I work from home 80% of time) and had some medical expenses that pushed me over the threshold for deduction. Found about $2,700 in legitimate deductions I'd missed. Not $9K like OP's situation, but definitely worth checking!

If anyone's struggling to get through to the IRS to verify deductions or refund status, try https://claimyr.com - you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I used it last year when I had a similar situation with a questionable tax preparer claiming weird deductions. Got connected to an IRS agent in under 20 minutes when I had been trying for WEEKS on my own. The agent was able to go through previous year returns and explain what would be considered legitimate deductions vs what would trigger audit flags. Saved me from a potentially nasty situation with a shady preparer who was trying to claim business expenses for my regular W-2 job.

I need to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about potentially fraudulent deductions claimed by my previous tax preparer, so I tried it anyway. Not only did it work, but I got connected to an IRS representative in 35 minutes when I had previously spent DAYS trying. The agent actually flagged several suspicious deductions on my previous return and helped me understand what documentation I would need if audited. Honestly worth every penny for the peace of mind.

From what you've described, it sounds like this preparer might be doing one of these things: 1. Claiming false business expenses (like saying you have a side business that doesn't exist) 2. Making up charitable donations 3. Claiming education credits you don't qualify for 4. Creating fake dependents All of these are straight-up fraud and will absolutely get you in trouble with the IRS. The penalties for tax fraud can include fines up to $100,000 and even jail time. Not worth it for a temporary $9K.

I had a similar experience last year where a preparer promised a huge refund that seemed too good to be true. Turns out she was claiming I operated my home as a daycare (I don't) to get a massive home business deduction. I reported her to the IRS using Form 14157 (Tax Return Preparer Fraud). The IRS takes this seriously because shady preparers cost them billions.

This is a huge red flag situation. A legitimate tax preparer should ALWAYS be transparent about what deductions they're claiming on your behalf. The fact that she's being vague and won't explain the specifics is extremely concerning. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Don't sign anything until you get a complete draft of your return 2. Ask her to walk through each deduction line by line - if she refuses, walk away 3. Compare the draft to your previous year's return to see what's different 4. Consider getting a second opinion from a CPA or EA (Enrolled Agent) With your income level and typical tax situation, a $9K swing without major life changes (new business, significant charitable donations, major medical expenses, etc.) is highly suspicious. Remember, YOU are legally responsible for everything on that return, not the preparer. If she's committing fraud, you could face penalties, interest, and even criminal charges. Trust your instincts - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Better to pay what you actually owe than deal with an IRS audit and potential fraud charges.