Why I Need a Tax Preparer — and You Do Too
It’s time for one of the most dreaded and stressful seasons that many Americans face: tax time. Plenty of people procrastinate on their taxes because they just don’t want to face the numbers, missing receipts and overall anxiety that tax season brings. But my husband and I learned early on in our marriage — almost 19 years ago — that tax preparation doesn’t have to be stressful.
Related: Why You Shouldn’t Do Your Own Taxes Anymore
One of the best things that we ever did was hire a tax professional. Not only did our decision relieve unwanted stress in our lives, but it really saved us time and money along the way. Here are some of the top reasons why you should hire a professional to do your taxes.
1. Time Is Precious
We are all crunched for time, these days; the last thing I want to think about at the end of a long day is my taxes. Letting a tax professional do your taxes will save you so much time. You’ll need to keep track of your required receipts, bills and tax forms to give to your tax professional, but in the end, they are still doing the majority of the work for you.
See: These Are the Receipts To Keep for Doing Your Taxes
2. Save on Your Taxes
When my husband and I started having a tax professional do our taxes, we were amazed at how much strategy and time went into it. A good tax preparer understands the tax code and will make sure you get as many deductions and credits as possible. Throughout the years, our tax preparer has helped our family claim so many deductions and credits that we would have never found on our own. The software programs that many people use might not always find every deduction like a tax professional can.
3. Keep Up With Life Changes
As our lives have changed — whether it’s through marriage, having children or buying a new home — we’ve found that these life events can have a significant impact on taxes. A tax pro can help guide you through life’s changes. My husband and I were excited to find out that once we started adding kiddos to our family, we would save even more money on taxes — and I’m more than happy to keep some green in my wallet than to spend it any day of the week.
Find Out: The 4 Best Free Tax Software Options To Use Now
4. Safeguard Against Audits
Unfortunately, audits do happen. I feel good knowing that if we are ever audited, our tax professional will be there with us every step of the way to help with the necessary paperwork and even deal with the IRS on our behalf. Having professional help filing taxes — right by our side, if needed — definitely makes me feel at ease. For me, my husband and our family, hiring a tax professional has been a great investment.
More From GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why I Need a Tax Preparer — and You Do Too
