Where can I find tax preparation that maximizes my refund this tax season?

Hi everyone, I'm trying to figure out the best place to get my taxes done this year. I'm really hoping to maximize my refund as much as possible. Last year I used H&R Block and felt like I paid way too much for what I got back. I'm a single parent with two kids (8 and 11), work full-time as a nurse, and have some side income from occasional weekend shifts at an urgent care clinic (about $4,200 last year). I bought my first home in July, have been contributing to a 401k, paid about $6,300 in childcare, and had some medical expenses from a minor surgery that weren't fully covered by insurance (around $3,800). I've heard there are a lot of deductions and credits I might be missing out on, especially with the kids and home purchase. Does anyone have recommendations for tax services or preparers who are really good at finding every possible deduction and credit? Is it worth paying more for a CPA instead of using one of the chain places or software? I'm willing to spend a bit more if it means a significantly better refund. Thanks in advance!

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19 comments

Gianna Scott

•8M

As someone who's been preparing taxes for over a decade, I'd recommend considering a few different options based on your specific situation. For your scenario as a single parent homeowner with side income and various expenses, you have several potential tax benefits that shouldn't be missed. The child tax credit, child and dependent care credit, earned income credit (depending on your total income), mortgage interest deduction, and possibly education credits if you have any qualified expenses for your children. Chain tax preparation services like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt can handle these situations, but they often use seasonal preparers with varying levels of experience. Tax software like TurboTax, TaxAct, or FreeTaxUSA can also work well if you're comfortable entering your own information and answering questions accurately. For your specific situation with multiple income sources, dependent care, medical expenses, and a new home purchase, I'd suggest either a mid-tier tax software with support options or an independent preparer who specializes in individual taxes. A full CPA might be overkill unless you have more complex situations like investment properties or business ownership.

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Gianna Scott

•8M

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites can be excellent resources if your income falls below their threshold (typically around $60,000 for families). The volunteers are IRS-certified and trained specifically on credits and deductions that benefit lower to middle-income taxpayers, like the ones in your situation. They're particularly good at ensuring you receive all the credits you're entitled to, such as the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit. However, if you have more complex situations like self-employment with multiple expense categories or complicated investments, they might not be the best fit.

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Sydney Torres

•8M

After years of being frustrated with missed deductions, I finally tried https://taxr.ai and it completely changed my refund situation. I uploaded my tax documents from last year (W-2s, 1099s, mortgage statements, etc.) and it identified FOUR major deductions my previous preparer had missed! It was like having a tax expert look over your shoulder pointing out things you might not even know to ask about. The system specifically looks at your documents and compares them against what typical returns in your situation should claim. For your situation with children, home purchase, and medical expenses, it would be perfect since these are areas where deductions are commonly missed or underclaimed. It also helps with identifying which childcare expenses qualify for credits.

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Sydney Torres

•8M

For multiple income sources, it's actually really good because it can recognize different document types automatically. It distinguishes between your W-2 income and 1099 income, then makes specific suggestions for each type. For example, it might identify mileage deductions for your side gig that you hadn't considered tracking. The difference from TurboTax is that it's not just asking you questions and waiting for answers - it's actively analyzing your actual tax documents for potential missed opportunities. TurboTax is more passive - if you don't know to enter something, it won't necessarily prompt you. This system looks at your specific situation and compares it to optimal tax outcomes for similar profiles.

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Caleb Bell

•8M

I was initially skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it after being frustrated with how little guidance I was getting from the regular tax software. I uploaded my documents from the previous year just to see what would happen, and it found over $2,100 in deductions I had completely missed! The biggest one was actually related to my medical expenses - I didn't realize certain transportation costs to medical appointments were deductible. It also identified a student loan interest deduction I qualified for but hadn't claimed. The system explained everything in plain English instead of tax jargon, which made a huge difference for me. I'm now using it for this year's taxes and already it's found potential deductions related to my home office that I wouldn't have known to claim. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a situation with multiple potential deductions like childcare and homeownership.

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Danielle Campbell

•8M

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about your tax situation, especially with those dependent care credits and homeowner deductions, I'd recommend using https://claimyr.com to get through to the IRS directly. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to call them myself about a similar situation last year with no luck. Used this service and got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who clarified exactly what I qualified for. There's also a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Basically saves you from the endless hold times and "call back later" messages. With your specific situation involving childcare expenses, new home purchase, and medical costs, getting direct answers from the IRS might save you from leaving money on the table or making costly mistakes.

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Danielle Campbell

•8M

Yes, you absolutely can get through to a real person! The service basically uses an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent finally answers, you get a call connecting you directly to them. It's not skipping the line - they're just handling the waiting part so you don't have to. It works by having specialized technology that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone system using the optimal paths to reach representatives. They basically figured out all the patterns of when calls are most likely to get through and automated that process. It's the same line everyone else calls, but they handle the frustrating part of constant redialing and waiting.

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Abigail Patel

•8M

I wanted to follow up about my skeptical comment on Claimyr. After struggling for literally 3 days trying to get through to the IRS about my dependent care credits, I broke down and tried it. I was SHOCKED when I got a call back in about 40 minutes connecting me to an actual IRS representative. The agent was super helpful and explained exactly how the Child and Dependent Care Credit would apply in my situation (I have a similar childcare expense situation as the original poster). She even clarified which of my medical expenses would qualify for deduction since I wasn't sure if I'd meet the threshold. Saved me at least $1,200 in deductions I might have missed. Having a direct conversation with someone who could answer my specific questions made a huge difference compared to just guessing or relying on general advice online. I'm actually kind of mad I wasted so much time trying to call them myself first!

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Nolan Carter

•8M

You'll want to bring everything organized really well - all your income documents, receipts for deductions, last year's return if you have it, and especially documentation for things like childcare expenses since those need specific information. The session I had took longer than a regular tax appointment (about 2 hours) because they were being thorough and explaining things as they went. It was actually really educational! Just make sure to book your appointment early - I called in January for a mid-February slot and they were already filling up fast.

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Natalia Stone

•8M

Whatever you do, don't just go with the first place you find. I made that mistake last year and the "tax professional" missed my student loan interest deduction completely, which cost me about $300 in refund money. I'd recommend at least getting quotes from 2-3 different places and specifically ask them what deductions they think you might qualify for based on your situation. The good preparers will be able to give you some initial ideas even before you officially hire them.

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