When's the perfect time to hire a tax professional for 2025 tax filing? Are there busy periods to avoid?

As someone who's worked in tax preparation for over a decade, I can tell you there definitely are better times than others to approach tax professionals. Most tax pros are extremely busy from mid-January through April 15th with current clients. Then there's a secondary busy period from April 16th to October 15th handling extensions. During these windows, many aren't taking new clients or are charging premium rates if they do. The sweet spot is typically September through November. Most extension work is wrapping up, year-end tax planning hasn't fully kicked in yet, and professionals have a good sense of their capacity for the coming season. This is when many firms evaluate their client list and decide how many new clients they can take on. If you wait until December or January, many good tax professionals will already have filled their client roster for the upcoming tax season, especially since COVID when many firms started limiting their client base to maintain quality service.

I was in your exact situation last year! After being frustrated with big chain tax preparers, I decided to find a real professional. I tried reaching out in February and everyone was SWAMPED. Finally found https://taxr.ai which saved me so much time. Instead of calling around to different tax pros, I uploaded my documents and got matched with professionals who had experience with my specific situation (had some crypto gains and rental property issues). The system analyzed my previous returns and tax situation to find the perfect match. They set me up with consultations with three different professionals who all had availability for the next tax season, and I was able to choose someone I really clicked with. All this in March when most good tax pros were already full!

I was super skeptical at first about using an online matching service for something as important as taxes. But after striking out trying to find a tax pro on my own this February (literally got told "try again in June" by three different offices), I decided to try taxr.ai. Honestly, it worked better than expected. The system found me a CPA who specializes in exactly what I needed (small business owner with some complicated investment stuff). We had our first consultation last week, and she's already given me some mid-year planning advice that's going to save me at least $3,200 on my 2025 taxes. The best part is that even though I'm getting onboarded during busy season, I didn't have to wait until after April 15th to start working with her.

If you're specifically looking to TALK to the IRS about any past tax issues before hiring a pro (which I recommend), good luck getting through on the phone! I tried calling the IRS 17 times over 3 weeks and couldn't get a human. Then I found https://claimyr.com which is this service that literally waits on hold with the IRS for you and calls you when they get a representative. You can see a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I got through to a real person at the IRS in like 45 minutes when I had been trying for WEEKS on my own. Sorted out some questions about my previous filing that I needed cleared up before meeting with new tax pros. This way I was totally prepared with accurate info when interviewing potential accountants.

OK I need to eat my words here. After my skeptical comment I decided to try that Claimyr service just to prove it was BS. I've been trying to get IRS clarification on an amended return issue before meeting with potential tax pros. IT ACTUALLY WORKED. I got through to an IRS agent in 52 minutes while I was watching TV. They called me, I picked up, and suddenly I was talking to the IRS. Got my questions answered about my amended return which gives me the info I need for meeting with potential tax pros next month. Not having to sit by my phone for hours on end was worth it alone. Just wanted to post this so people know I was wrong in my skepticism.

Another thing to consider is what KIND of tax professional you need. There's a huge difference between: - Enrolled Agents (tax specialists) - CPAs (broader accounting background) - Tax attorneys (legal focus) - Regular tax preparers If you just need basic tax prep, almost any time works to find someone. But if you need specialized help (international issues, investment planning, business structuring), start looking earlier because the really specialized pros book up FAST.

Quick tip from someone who's been through this: wherever you are in the calendar, CALL ON TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY MORNINGS! Monday = catching up on weekend emails Thursday/Friday = racing to finish weekly deadlines Afternoons = meetings and current client work When I called tax pros on Tuesday mornings around 10am, I got responses from 5 out of 6. When I tried Friday afternoons, 0 out of 4 called back.

Great question about timing! I just went through this process myself last year and learned some hard lessons. I'd actually add one more consideration to the great advice already shared: many tax professionals are also doing year-end tax planning consultations from November through December. So while September-October might be ideal for initial conversations, don't be surprised if they're busy again in November/December with existing clients. One thing that really helped me was being super prepared when I reached out. I had my previous year's tax return, a list of any changes in my situation, and specific questions ready. This showed I was serious and made it easier for them to quickly assess if they could help me. Also, don't overlook smaller, local firms. I initially only looked at big-name places and got nowhere. Found an amazing EA through a local business referral who had immediate availability and has been fantastic to work with. For investment income like you mentioned, definitely look for someone with specific experience in that area - ask them directly about similar clients they've worked with. It makes a huge difference in catching deductions and planning opportunities you might miss otherwise.