MW 'He didn't seem very alert': Our new CPA said we owe a $443 tax refund, but we're actually due $637. Do we fire him?
By Quentin Fottrell
'We're both concerned about the accuracy of our returns'
"It's a good thing we brought a copy of last year's return so he could review the paperwork." (Photo subjects are models.)
Dear Quentin,
We had our taxes done today by a new CPA.
Our previous CPA retired after decades of handling our taxes, but he didn't notify us. We were surprised when we showed up for our appointment and realized someone else would be doing them. At first, we thought it might be a temporary arrangement, but we soon learned otherwise.
We were not impressed with the new CPA. He didn't seem very alert, and there was a form we've used in the past that he had never seen before. It's a good thing we brought a copy of last year's return so he could review the paperwork.
After entering all the numbers into the software, he told us we would receive a federal refund of $443 and $135 from the state. A few minutes later, he looked at the screen again and said he had read it incorrectly - we actually owe $443. We were disappointed, but we can live with that.
After we got home, I reviewed the paperwork more and noticed that it showed we have a state refund of $637. I told my husband, and now we're both concerned about the accuracy of our returns. He thinks we should have them done somewhere else to double-check.
This CPA cost us $355. He used tax software. Do you have any advice or suggestions on how to proceed? While we were driving home, we discussed using a different CPA next year, but now we're wondering if we should consider doing that this year instead.
Tax Client
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If necessary, redo your taxes yourself, putting in the correct data. Then, compare the results.
Dear Client,
Next year, think twice about using a CPA.
Don't file your taxes if you are not 100% sure they're accurate. That can cause a lot of headaches later on. Check your W-2 and 1099 amounts, your filing status, and any deductions or credits. Take another look at that unfamiliar form you mentioned.
If necessary, redo your taxes yourself, inputting the correct data. Then, compare the results. If the numbers match, you're probably home free; if they don't match, something could be wrong. This is the fastest - and cheapest - way to get a second opinion.
There are new forms for 2025 income taxes: The IRS introduced Schedule 1-A, a new two-page form for claiming specific deductions, including for service tips, overtime pay. Plus, a 1099-DA for crypto transactions and 1098-VLI for vehicle-loan interest.
You will need pay stubs for overtime. Taxpayers may also be required to show proof of state and local taxes (SALT deduction) paid. Trump Accounts require a valid Social Security Number for any child, including newborns, to receive the $1,000 government-backed pilot contribution.
If the CPA was using tax software, it's pretty hard to get it wrong - unless he inputted the correct numbers.
If the new guy were using software like TurboTax, H&R Block or FreeTaxUSA, it would be cheaper, less hassle and less time-consuming to do it yourself. Take more agency over your tax affairs, rather than relying on someone to give you misinformation during the process.
Given you have such a small tax refund, it does not seem worth it to spend hundreds of dollars every year; if you hire a second person, it will effectively wipe out your tax refund. If the CPA was using software, it's pretty hard to get it wrong - unless he inputted the correct numbers.
FreeTaxUSA offers free federal tax filing for all tax scenarios. State tax returns cost just $15.99. It is a low-cost option, with few mandatory fees unless you choose premium services like Deluxe Support ($7.99) or refund processing fees ($24.99).
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has been operating since 1968 and has helped over 80 million taxpayers. Volunteers are IRS-certified every year, so they understand the latest changes to the tax code. It's the nation's largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation service.
Before abandoning this CPA, you could circle back and ask him about the state refund difference ($135 versus $637). Was he looking at the wrong line in the report? Or was it something else? Request a walkthrough of the return. A competent CPA should be able to answer your questions.
Adjusting your withholding
One thing you have done right: Your withholdings are quite accurate, give or take a few hundred dollars. A large tax refund is not free money to pay down your credit card or an annual bonus so you can take a holiday; it's an interest-free loan you have given the government.
By adjusting your tax withholding to make sure your refund is close to zero, you can increase your monthly net income - and benefit from that extra income to pay bills or even put in a savings or investment account. Over 30 years, all that interest will add up.
You can check your tax returns by making sure that the information this CPA inputted is correct; the software will do the rest. Whether or not he misread the numbers he was seeing on the screen is another matter, and should not impact your refund.
Tax software from H&R Block, TurboTax and others will automatically import last year's data, import W-2s and 1099s, calculate deductions, check for errors, and transfer federal data to state returns. So the ability of this CPA to screw things up is limited.
You do not need a CPA if you have a simple tax return like a standard W-2 income and use recommended tax software.
You do not need a CPA if you have a simple tax return such as a standard W-2 income and use recommended tax software. A CPA is better for complex financial accounts for business owners, high-volume investments, rental properties and/or significant life changes.
Make sure you have all the data to input: A W-2 form from each employer in the past year, records of additional income or interest, such as details of charitable contributions and deductible expenses, including mortgage interest, plus income and renovations on rental properties.
If you do use a CPA next year, book them in early before tax season takes off and perhaps have a phone conversation with them to find out whether they are right for you. "What are your qualifications? What are the big changes this year? Will you be the one handling my account?"
My final advice: Do your taxes in January when everyone else is recovering from their Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year celebrations. Taxes are anxiety-producing, which is why good people like you use CPAs when they probably don't need to pay for them.
It also means you can do them over more than one day or even a week without feeling that a deadline is looming. If there's an important document missing, you have time. It will empower you to know how the software works and actually how easy it can be to file.
It's stressful enough without a CPA asleep on the job.
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-Quentin Fottrell
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March 27, 2026 05:44 ET (09:44 GMT)
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