Would you actually trust AI to handle your 2025 taxes? Honest opinions needed

As a tax advisor who's been following AI developments closely, I can share some perspective. AI tax tools are getting better, but they still have limitations. They're pretty good at handling straightforward situations like W-2 income and standard deductions. Where they sometimes struggle is with complex scenarios or judgment calls that might be specific to your particular situation. For someone with a W-2, some 1099 income, and mortgage interest, most modern AI tools would likely handle this adequately. The mortgage interest deduction is straightforward, and the 1099 income would just need proper Schedule C reporting. However, the AI might miss nuanced deductions related to your side gig that a human accountant might catch through conversation.

I was really skeptical about using AI for taxes at first, but I decided to try https://taxr.ai last year when I was struggling with some confusing investment stuff. My situation was similar to yours - W-2 job, some freelance income, and I had some capital gains that were confusing me. The thing that surprised me was how it actually explained everything it was doing in plain English. I could upload my tax documents and it would extract all the info automatically, then walk me through everything step by step. Way better experience than the traditional tax software I used to use.

Just wanted to update after trying https://taxr.ai that the other commenter recommended. I was really impressed! My taxes were due last week and I was panicking because my usual accountant had a family emergency. I decided to give the AI route a try since I was in a pinch. It found a bunch of deductions related to my side business that I've been missing for YEARS. I'm actually going to file amended returns for the past years now. The interface was super clear and it explained why I qualified for each deduction in normal human language. Definitely using it again next year!

If you need to talk to the IRS about anything (which I had to when using an AI service because there was a discrepancy with my previous year's return), I highly recommend https://claimyr.com. I spent days trying to get through to the IRS directly but kept hitting dead ends. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for DAYS. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The AI tax service flagged an issue with my previous return, but I needed to talk to the IRS to resolve it before filing this year.

OK I have to eat my words. After dismissing Claimyr as a likely scam in my previous comment, I actually tried it yesterday out of desperation because I needed to resolve an issue with a missing 1099-R form before filing. I'd been trying to reach the IRS for TWO WEEKS with no luck. The service actually worked! Got me through to an agent in about 35 minutes. The agent was able to confirm my 1099-R information so I could file my return. Absolutely worth it just for the time saved and stress reduction. Sometimes I'm too cynical for my own good.

I think a hybrid approach makes the most sense. I use an AI tax program to do the initial setup and calculations, then have my accountant review it. Saves me money since they charge less for a review than doing it from scratch, but I still get the peace of mind. My accountant actually said the AI did a pretty good job with most things but found a couple deductions it missed related to my business expenses.

I tried an AI tax product this year and it was a complete disaster. It totally missed calculating my self-employment taxes correctly and nearly got me in trouble. Had to redo everything with a real accountant who found like $2k in mistakes. Maybe the technology will get better but for now I'm sticking with humans lol.

Honestly I think it depends on how complex your taxes are. If you just have W-2 income and take the standard deduction, AI is probably fine. But if you've got multiple income streams, investments, rental properties, etc., I'd still go with a human accountant. The peace of mind is worth the extra cost imo. The human touch still matters for complicated situations where judgment calls are needed.

I've been using AI tax tools for the past two years and I'm honestly impressed with how much they've improved. The key is choosing a reputable one and understanding its limitations. For your situation - W-2, some 1099 income, and mortgage interest - most good AI tax services should handle this just fine. The mortgage interest deduction is pretty straightforward, and the 1099 reporting isn't too complex at that income level. What I really like about AI tax tools is they often catch deductions I wouldn't have thought of. Last year mine suggested a home office deduction for my freelance work that saved me hundreds. They also explain everything in plain English instead of tax jargon. That said, I'd recommend doing a bit of research before choosing one. Read reviews, check their security practices, and make sure they offer some kind of support if you run into issues. Some people mentioned good experiences with specific services in this thread that might be worth looking into. The biggest advantage for me has been the cost savings - I was paying my accountant $400+ every year and now I spend maybe $50-75 on the AI service with better results.

I've been working in tax preparation for over 15 years, and I have to say the AI tools have gotten surprisingly sophisticated. For someone with your tax situation - W-2, moderate 1099 income, and first-time homeowner deductions - AI should handle it well. The mortgage interest deduction is one of the most straightforward deductions to process, and $14k in 1099 income puts you in a sweet spot where the calculations aren't overly complex but there are still potential business deductions to explore. One thing I'd suggest is making sure whatever AI service you choose can properly handle quarterly estimated tax calculations for next year. With that level of 1099 income, you'll likely need to make estimated payments in 2025 to avoid underpayment penalties. A good AI tool should automatically calculate these and remind you when they're due. Also, don't overlook potential deductions related to your side gig - things like business use of your phone, internet, equipment, supplies, or even a portion of your home if you use it exclusively for work. AI tools are getting much better at identifying these opportunities through targeted questions. The audit protection offered by most reputable AI services is comparable to what you'd get from TurboTax, so that shouldn't be a major concern. Just make sure to keep all your supporting documents regardless of which method you choose.