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When to hire a tax professional
Deciding whether to pay for an online service, hire an accountant, or use the IRS Free File system depends entirely on how complicated your 2025 was. FOX 13's Craig Patrick reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - Deciding whether to pay for an online service, hire an accountant, or use the IRS Free File system depends entirely on how complicated your 2025 was. Filing your own taxes makes sense if all your income is on a W-2 form, you plan to take the standard deduction, and you had no major life changes last year.
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However, if you were self-employed, did freelance work, or run your own business, your taxes can get complicated quickly. A Certified Public Accountant may find enough hidden deductions to cover the cost of their preparation fees. You should also consider a professional if you had investment income, rental properties, or experienced a major life change in 2025, such as a divorce, inheritance, home sale, or death in the immediate family.
For households earning less than $89,000 in adjusted gross income, the IRS Free File option or basic software is available and often makes the most financial sense.
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There is a distinct difference between general tax preparers and CPAs, which are licensed, heavily tested and held to strict professional standards by state boards of accountancy.
The Source: Income thresholds for tax programs are provided by the IRS Free File guidelines. Distinctions between tax preparers and CPAs are outlined by the American Institute of CPAs and state licensing boards.