MARCH 8, 2023 | THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Wall Street Journal personal finance reporter, Ashlea Ebeling, discussed when it makes sense to hire a tax professional to prepare your taxes instead of using tax preparation software programs. Ebeling suggested that using a tax pro might be necessary when dealing with complex issues that tax software might not be able to handle, such as working in multiple states, having restricted stock units that vest, selling a rental property, or having self-employment income that involves higher audit red flags. Additionally, having a tax pro might be useful for catching mistakes, and if you’ve been with them year-over-year, they get to know you and then they know what questions to ask to ensure that your returns are accurate. In this interview, Ebeling provided advice on when to use a tax pro, what to look for in a tax pro, and how to check their credentials. She also highlighted the types of tax situations that would require a tax pro’s help and the add-on services that tax software companies offer.
