Tax Pro or Do It Yourself?

Most working people with one or two W-2 jobs can file with software in an evening. Some years are different — a side business, a house, a move across a state line, a letter from the IRS — and the cost of a pro in those years is small next to the cost of getting it wrong. This checkup asks six questions about your year and tells you which kind it was.

It doesn't sell either answer. MoneyBricks doesn't prepare returns and doesn't refer you to anyone who does. If the answer is 'do it yourself', it also tells you where the free options are.

Common questions

• What does a tax pro cost?+

  It depends on the return and the region, so ask for the price before you commit — a straightforward return costs far less than one with a business schedule or rental. Enrolled agents and CPAs are both licensed to represent you before the IRS; a storefront preparer with no credential may not be. A price quoted only after the work is done is a reason to walk.

• Is the free software really free?+

  IRS Free File is free for people under its income limit, through the same commercial software companies. Some products also offer a free tier outside that program, usually only for the simplest returns, and upsell once your return needs an extra form. If you qualify for Free File, start there.

• Can I switch halfway?+

  Yes. Starting in software and handing the half-done return to a pro is common, and a good preparer would rather see your organized inputs than a shoebox. The reverse is also true: a year with a pro is a good year to watch what they did, so you can do the next simple year yourself.