As a Certified Public Accountant, I’ve spent time doing taxes for a living. So when I say, “You should totally try doing your own taxes,” I get why you might raise an eyebrow. Isn’t that me talking myself or fellow tax preparers out of a paycheck?
Maybe. But please read on…
As a CPA, I’ve been paying attention to the ins and outs of personal finance for more than a minute, and here’s the truth: for a lot of folks, preparing your own tax returns isn’t just doable—it’s smart. Whether you’re a small business owner, a W-2 employee, or someone trying to make sense of your first 1099, filing your own taxes could be the best thing you do in the next year (besides finally canceling that gym membership you haven’t used since 2022).
So grab a coffee, maybe a calculator, and let me walk you through 10 solid reasons why doing your own taxes might just be your next power move, next to getting your budget under control.
1. You’ll Actually Learn How Taxes Work
Most people treat taxes like a black box: you feed in your W-2s and 1099s to your tax preparer, out comes either a refund or a bill, and you pray it’s the former. Although, when you learn to do your own taxes, you finally see how the system works. You’ll pay attention to tax due dates, and tax rates.
You’ll understand what a deduction is versus a credit (one lowers your taxable income, the other your tax bill), how withholding affects your refund, and why your friend who made the same salary as you got a way bigger refund (spoiler: it’s probably because of dependents or deductions, not the universe being unfair).
That kind of knowledge doesn’t just help you at tax time—it helps you make smarter money moves year-round.
2. You Might Be Overpaying a Tax Pro for Basic Stuff
Look, if you own five rental properties, day trade crypto, and run an alpaca farm on the side, you might not want to prepare your own taxes. It can be time consuming and require extensive knowledge, so you might hire yourself a CPA.
But if you’re a single W-2 employee with a student loan and a side hustle that made $2,000 last year? You’re paying someone hundreds of dollars for data entry and a printer. That money could go toward something important—like your emergency fund, investing, or finally upgrading from your college futon.
Modern tax software (I’m looking at you, TurboTax and H&R Block) walks you through everything like a mildly enthusiastic robot tax buddy. It’s not 1997 anymore. You don’t need to be a wizard to file your own return.
3. It Forces You to Organize Your Financial Life
Filing taxes makes you gather up all your financial loose ends: your income, expenses, investment accounts, charitable donations, that random $17 interest from your credit union.
It’s like a spring cleaning for your finances.
Preparing your own taxes should make you feel serious about being organized, tracking receipts, understanding where your money goes, and reviewing how you earn your income. And that is the inspiration for better budgeting, smarter investing, and finally achieving financial peace of mind.
4. You’ll Catch More Deductions and Credits Than You Think
Believe it or not, I’ve seen people miss deductions and credits when they blindly hand off their paperwork to a tax pro. Why? Because no one knows your financial life better than you, and you may not be asked all the right questions. That’s why every tax preparer (including you) should be using a Tax Organizer.
Did you pay student loan interest? Work from home? Take classes? Buy health insurance through the marketplace? Have a kid? Start a side business? All of these could lower your tax bill—if you know to look for them.
DIY tax software usually asks the right questions, and when you’re doing it yourself, you should be more likely to take the time to answer thoughtfully.
5. It Builds Financial Confidence
Being honest—Having to deal with taxes once a year (maybe paying quarterly) feels like one of those things that make you want to crawl under a rock and procrastinate until April 15th passes, with the possible consolation of filing an extension.
But the confidence boost you get from doing your own taxes? Massive. It changes your brain, like acquiring any new skill will. And that spills over again, into other areas—budgeting, investing, maybe even negotiating a raise.
You don’t have to become a tax expert overnight. You just need to be willing and resourceful.
6. You’ll File Faster (and Get Your Refund Sooner)
CPAs and tax preparers get busy. During tax season, I’ve had a queue a mile long, and that means your return might sit around for a week or two before I even look at it.
When you file yourself, you can often wrap it up in a couple of hours (or less if your stay organized all year), hit submit, and get your refund started right away. That’s money back in your bank account sooner.
Plus, if you file electronically and opt for direct deposit, you could see your refund in as little as 10–14 days. The IRS told me within 21 days when I filed with TurboTax for 2024… I filed on April 14th and received both federal and state refunds on the 28th. I thought that was pretty fast.
7. It’s Cheaper (Sometimes Free!)
One of the most obvious reasons: it’s budget-friendly.
If your income is under a certain threshold (usually around $79,000), you can file for free. Through the app, IRS2Go from the Internal Revenue Service you can take advantage of the free tax help, check your refund status or even make a payment. Even if you don’t qualify, most DIY platforms charge way less than hiring a professional.
Example: filing a simple federal and state return using DIY software might cost $0–$50. Hiring a CPA? Expect to pay $250–$500, minimum.
That savings adds up—especially if you’re doing this every year.
8. You’ll Know What NOT to Do Next Year
Ever look at your tax bill and think, “How the heck did I owe that much?”
When you do your own taxes, you can trace back the issue yourself. Maybe you under-withheld on your freelance income. Maybe you didn’t take that retirement contribution deduction. Maybe your dependent turned 18 and stopped qualifying you for the Child Tax Credit (thanks a lot, Kevin!).
Whatever it is, knowing the “why” gives you the power to fix it next year. You can adjust your W-4, track expenses better, or contribute more to your IRA. It’s like a feedback loop for financial growth.
9. You Can Still Get Help (Without Giving Up Control)
Doing your taxes doesn’t mean going it alone in the tax wilderness.
Most DIY software includes live help from pros, upgrade options for expert review, and community forums for troubleshooting. So if you get stuck wondering whether that $87 printer ink purchase is deductible, you don’t have to wing it.
Think of it as training wheels for taxes. You’re steering the bike, but there’s help if you wobble.
And if one year your taxes get too complicated—new baby, home sale, LLC, whatever—you can always bring in a professional.
10. Because It’s 2025 and the Time is Now
Let’s be real: doing your own taxes used to mean pencil, paper, and a trip to the post office. But now? You can file a federal and state return from your phone, in your pajamas, while watching reruns of Parks and Rec.
We live in a world where people run businesses from their bedrooms, buy real estate from apps, and automate their savings. Doing your own taxes fits right into the DIY personal finance movement.
Plus, you’ll earn bragging rights. “Yeah, I do my own taxes.” Boom. Instant financial street cred.
Bonus: You’ll Appreciate CPAs More (When You Do Need One)
Here’s the plot twist: doing your own taxes will actually help you value professional tax help more—because you’ll know enough to recognize when you’re in over your head.
When that happens, you’ll walk into a CPA’s office informed, organized, and way less likely to hand over a shoebox of receipts and pray for the best.
And that makes our jobs easier—and gives you more value for your money.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This
I’m not here to convince everyone to break up with their tax preparer. But I am here to say: if your return is straightforward, your finances are reasonably simple, and you’re ready to level up your money game, doing your own taxes could be a game-changer.
You’ll save money, gain confidence, and unlock insights that can help you earn more and keep more of what you earn. In the end you actually want to owe just a bit, getting a large refund just means you’ve been loaning the government money interest free all year. You’ll need to make adjustments.
So even you if give it a try and don’t appreciate it, you can always come back next year, and we’ll keep the calculator warm for you.
Recommended Tools for DIY Taxes
(Affiliate links support this blog—thank you!)
- TurboTax – Easy, intuitive, and includes help from tax pros.
- H&R Block – Reliable and user-friendly with in-person options.
- IRS Free File – For qualifying incomes under $79,000.
- QuickBooks Self-Employed – Great for tracking freelance income.
Have you filed your own taxes before? Would you do it again? Let’ us know in the comments!
And if you need a CPA to double-check your work—or help you out when you realize you forgot a 1099—I’m just an email away.
R. A. Goldston, CPA at Large
Next post
