TurboTax Full Service Review: Major Disappointment, Would Not Recommend Again

Is it true that most of these "tax experts" at services like TurboTax aren't actually CPAs? I've always wondered about their qualifications. Also, what's the average price difference between using a full service like this vs hiring an independent CPA?

Many of the preparers at these mass-market services are not CPAs or EAs (Enrolled Agents). While they have completed tax preparation training courses, the depth of expertise varies widely. Some might be very knowledgeable while others are quite inexperienced - it's basically luck of the draw. As for cost comparison, it really depends on your location and tax complexity. A basic tax return with a local CPA might cost $250-400, while more complex returns could go $500+. The full-service options from tax software companies typically range from $150-300. The price difference isn't always that significant, especially when you factor in the personalized attention and expertise a dedicated professional can provide.

Does it actually handle complex situations well? I have income from a rental property plus a side business, and last year I had a stock payout that I'm not sure how to report correctly.

I'm skeptical about AI tax tools. How do you know it's following the latest tax code changes? The IRS updates rules constantly and I'd worry an AI might be working with outdated information.

It absolutely handles complex situations well. I have freelance income from three different sources plus some investment accounts, and it walked me through everything step by step. For rental properties, it's especially good at helping identify all possible deductions and depreciation options. With stock payouts, it will analyze your documents and explain the different ways they can be reported depending on the type of compensation. Regarding tax code changes, that's actually one of the strengths of the system. It's continuously updated with the latest IRS regulations and tax law changes. Unlike human preparers who might miss updates or rely on last year's knowledge, the AI is constantly integrating new information. They also have tax professionals who review the system's logic to ensure compliance with current regulations.

Wait how does this actually work? Does it just call the IRS for you? Couldn't I just do that myself?

Yeah right. No way this actually gets you through faster than calling yourself. The IRS phone system is designed to be impossible - that's by design so fewer people get help. Sounds like a scam to me.

It doesn't just call the IRS for you - their system navigates through all the complicated phone menus and sits on hold so you don't have to. When an actual IRS agent comes on the line, that's when they connect you. It saves you from potentially spending hours listening to hold music or getting disconnected and having to start over. I was definitely skeptical too! But after trying to get through to the IRS for three days straight and either getting a "call volume too high" message or being disconnected after 45+ minutes on hold, I was desperate. The service actually worked exactly as promised - I got a call back when there was a real person ready to talk, and I resolved my issue in one conversation. The time saved was absolutely worth it, especially when I was stressing about potential penalties from the filing mistakes.

Did you ever try requesting a different tax preparer when you realized the one assigned to you wasn't good? I wish I had thought of that when mine started missing things.

Yes, I actually did request a different preparer during my second year when things were going poorly. The process wasn't seamless - it took about a week to get reassigned and I had to be pretty firm about it. I called customer service directly rather than just messaging through the portal. The replacement preparer was definitely better, but by that point I was already behind schedule which added some stress. If you notice red flags early (slow responses, asking for documents you've already provided, basic tax knowledge mistakes), don't hesitate to request someone else immediately. The quality difference between preparers is night and day.

I used H&R Block's full service last year and it was marginally better than what OP described with TurboTax, but still not great. The communication was better but I still found a couple mistakes I had to point out. This year I switched to a local CPA and the difference in quality was obvious - worth the slightly higher cost.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for the past couple years and doing it myself. WAY cheaper than TurboTax and pretty straightforward. It doesn't hold your hand quite as much but if you have a basic understanding of taxes it's fine. For what it's worth, I've never had an issue with my returns and I have a somewhat complicated situation with 1099 income and W2s.