What happens if an accountant messes up my taxes and I pay more than I should?

The good news is you might not be completely out of luck! You generally have 3 years from the filing date to amend a tax return and claim a refund for overpaid taxes. Since you're talking about your 2023 return, you have plenty of time to fix this. What type of error will affect how you proceed. For items 1-3 in your list, those are clear mistakes that can be corrected through an amended return (Form 1040-X). For item 4, "sub-optimal choices" are trickier because some tax positions involve legitimate judgment calls where either approach is technically correct. First, I'd recommend getting a detailed written explanation from the new tax professional about exactly what was done incorrectly. Then, consider approaching your original accountant with this information - they may be willing to fix their mistake by preparing an amended return at no cost. Many accountants carry professional liability insurance precisely for situations like this. If they're unwilling to help, you can file the amended return yourself or hire someone else to do it. Just know that the amended return will need to include specific explanations of what's being changed and why.

I went through something similar last year and was freaking out just like you. I tried talking to my accountant but they kept insisting they were right even though I was pretty sure I overpaid by like $4k. I was getting nowhere until I used this AI tax review service at https://taxr.ai that literally saved me thousands. All I did was upload my return and answer a few questions, and it found three major deductions my accountant missed. The report showed exactly what was wrong and even outlined how to fix it. I printed their analysis, filed an amended return, and got a refund check about 8 weeks later. What surprised me was how it explained everything in plain English - I actually understood what went wrong instead of just feeling confused and angry.

I was totally skeptical about AI tax tools (as you can see from my previous comment) but I decided to try that taxr.ai site and I'm completely eating my words now. I uploaded my return from last year that my "expert" accountant prepared and the system found over $3,200 in missed deductions! The report showed that my rental property depreciation was calculated incorrectly and I had eligible business expenses that were completely ignored. What impressed me most was how it explained exactly which IRS forms needed correction and even generated amendment instructions. I took those findings to my accountant who initially dismissed them until I showed him the specific tax code references from the report. He eventually admitted the mistakes and filed an amended return for me at no charge. Just got my refund last week! Sometimes being proven wrong feels pretty damn good.

I was totally skeptical about AI tax tools (as you can see from my previous comment) but I decided to try that taxr.ai site and I'm completely eating my words now. I uploaded my return from last year that my "expert" accountant prepared and the system found over $3,200 in missed deductions! The report showed that my rental property depreciation was calculated incorrectly and I had eligible business expenses that were completely ignored. What impressed me most was how it explained exactly which IRS forms needed correction and even generated amendment instructions. I took those findings to my accountant who initially dismissed them until I showed him the specific tax code references from the report. He eventually admitted the mistakes and filed an amended return for me at no charge

If your accountant is completely stonewalling you, another approach is to try calling the IRS directly to discuss amendment options. Good luck though - I spent LITERALLY 4 hours on hold last month trying to get someone to answer a basic question about my amended return. I finally discovered this service called Claimyr at https://claimyr.com that got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. They basically navigate the phone tree for you and wait on hold, then call you when an actual human agent is on the line. The IRS agent I talked to was surprisingly helpful and walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for my amendment. Saved me hours of frustration and guesswork.

I need to publicly eat crow here. After posting my skeptical comment about Claimyr, I decided to try it because I was desperate to resolve an issue with a missed stimulus payment that was affecting my 2023 return. I expected it to be a waste of money, but about 20 minutes after signing up, my phone rang and there was an actual IRS agent on the line! The agent was able to confirm that my amended return was processed correctly and my missing stimulus payment would be included in my refund. I've been trying to get through to the IRS for MONTHS with no success. Just knowing my issue is actually resolved took a huge weight off my shoulders. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good!

One thing nobody's mentioned - if your accountant is a CPA, they should have professional liability insurance for exactly this situation. When my CPA messed up my S-Corp return in 2022, I approached them with documentation of the error, and their insurance actually covered the difference in taxes I had paid plus the cost of fixing everything. Don't be confrontational about it, just present the facts clearly: "Here are the specific errors that were made, here's what it cost me, and I'd like you to make it right." Most reputable accounting firms will work with you rather than risk damage to their reputation or a formal complaint to the state board.

Wait I'm confused about the amended return process. Does filing an amended return increase your chances of getting audited? I'm in a similar situation but worried about drawing attention to my return.

I've been through this exact situation and it's so frustrating! Here's what I learned: you definitely have options, but you need to act relatively quickly since you have 3 years from the filing date to amend and get a refund. First, get everything documented. Have that new tax professional write up exactly what errors were made and what the correct approach should have been. This documentation is crucial whether you're trying to work things out with your original accountant or need to take other steps. Then approach your original accountant professionally with the documentation. Don't go in guns blazing - just present the facts: "I had my return reviewed and these specific errors were identified. How can we resolve this?" Many accountants will fix their mistakes once presented with clear evidence, especially if they're worried about their reputation. If they refuse to help, you still have several options: - File the amended return yourself or hire someone else - File a complaint with your state board of accountancy (if they're a CPA) - Pursue compensation through small claims court for larger amounts The key is staying organized and keeping detailed records of all communications. You signed the return, yes, but that doesn't mean you're stuck with an accountant's professional negligence. Good luck!