Where can I find a tax preparer offering sign-up bonuses for new customers?

Hey all, I'm looking to get my taxes done professionally this year instead of doing them myself. I've seen some ads for tax services offering bonuses for new customers, but I'm not sure which ones are legit or worth the money. Has anyone used a tax preparer that gives incentives or bonuses to new clients? I've got a pretty straightforward return - just W-2 income and some student loan interest, but I want to make sure I'm getting every possible deduction. Any recommendations on services that might give me a little extra cash back along with good tax preparation? Thanks in advance!

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18 comments

Zoe Papadopoulos

•8M

I've been preparing taxes for about 8 years now, and yes, several national chains offer sign-up bonuses or incentives, especially during early tax season. H&R Block frequently offers a "refund advance" which isn't technically a bonus but gives you access to some of your refund immediately. Jackson Hewitt has had similar offers. TaxSlayer and TurboTax sometimes give cashback or gift cards for new customers. Just be careful - sometimes these places charge higher preparation fees that offset whatever bonus they're offering. Always ask about ALL fees upfront before committing. With a simple return like yours (W-2 and student loan interest), you might actually save more by using one of the free filing options rather than paying for service just to get a bonus.

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Zoe Papadopoulos

•8M

For a simple return with just W-2 income and student loan interest, you could probably handle it yourself using free filing software. The IRS Free File program lets you file for free if your income is under $73,000, and many tax software companies participate in this. Those pop-up tax places in malls can be hit or miss. Some offer decent promotions to attract customers, but quality varies widely. The preparers often have minimal training and experience. If you do choose one, ask about their preparer's credentials and experience, and definitely get a clear breakdown of all fees before proceeding.

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Mei Wong

•8M

I had the same question last year and ended up trying taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after my friend recommended it. They have this thing where they analyze your previous tax returns for free to see if you missed any deductions or credits. That analysis actually found $840 I missed on my 2022 return! They don't advertise a "bonus" exactly, but finding money you already deserved feels better than a small sign-up incentive. The service was super easy - just uploaded my old returns and their AI checked everything.

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Mei Wong

•8M

Their system is surprisingly accurate. They explain exactly what they found and why you qualified for it. They're not finding things "the IRS missed" - they're catching deductions or credits that YOU might have missed when filing. They back everything with actual tax code references, so it's legit. For complicated returns, they actually seem to work even better. Their site says they specialize in self-employment, small business, and investment property scenarios because that's where people tend to miss the most deductions. I only had W-2 income when I used it, but my cousin who has a side business said they found several business expenses he hadn't claimed.

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PixelWarrior

•8M

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and holy crap, they found over $2,200 I missed on my 2023 return! I was skeptical because I use a paid preparer for my small business taxes, but they identified three business deductions I qualified for that my guy completely overlooked. The analysis was free and super detailed, showing exactly what I missed and how to fix it. Definitely better than any sign-up bonus I've seen. They helped me file an amended return and the whole process was painless!

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Amara Adebayo

•8M

If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about issues with past returns or refunds (which is basically everyone these days), I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They're not a tax prep service that offers bonuses, but they DO solve the nightmare of waiting on hold with the IRS for hours. I was trying to sort out a issue with my 2022 return where a bonus was incorrectly reported, and couldn't get through after days of trying. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

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Amara Adebayo

•8M

It's not magic - they basically use technology to wait on hold for you. They have a system that dials into the IRS and navigates the phone menus, then waits on hold. When they finally get an agent on the line, they connect the call to your phone. So you don't skip the line, they just wait in it FOR you. They're definitely not a scam. The IRS is actually aware these services exist. Think of it like hiring someone to stand in a physical line for you - the line still exists, you're just paying someone else to do the waiting. The video demo shows exactly how it works step by step if you're curious.

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Fatima Al-Mansour

•8M

OK I feel like I need to apologize for calling Claimyr a scam. I was SO skeptical but I was desperate after trying to reach the IRS for 3 weeks about my missing refund. I tried their service yesterday and got connected to an IRS rep in 22 minutes! The agent was able to see that my refund had been flagged for review because of an address change. Got it all sorted out in one call and my payment should arrive next week. Saved me hours of frustration and probably days of continued attempts. If you're struggling with IRS phone lines, it's absolutely worth it.

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