I Think I'm Paying Too Much in Taxe… AI recommendations | Parse
I think I'm paying too much in taxes. How do I find a good and trustworthy tax advisor?
Data as of Sep 26, 2026 · Based on 347 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
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How to Find the Best Tax Preparer Near You - NerdWallethttps://www.nerdwallet.com/taxes/learn/how-to-find-best-tax-preparer-near
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Choosing a tax professional | Internal Revenue Servicehttps://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional
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How to Find a Tax Advisorhttps://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-find-tax-advisor/
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Tips to help taxpayers hire a reputable tax preparer | Internal Revenue Servicehttps://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tips-to-help-taxpayers-hire-a-reputable-tax-preparer
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Choosing a reputable tax preparer is vital to tax security | Internal Revenue Servicehttps://www.irs.gov/newsroom/choosing-a-reputable-tax-preparer-is-vital-to-tax-security
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Tips for choosing a tax professional | Internal Revenue Servicehttps://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tips-for-choosing-a-tax-professional
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How to Find a Reliable Tax Preparer - Consumer Reportshttps://www.consumerreports.org/money/taxes/how-to-find-a-reliable-tax-preparer-a4557499190/
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BBB Tip: How to choose a tax preparer in the UShttps://www.bbb.org/all/taxtips/us/how-to-choose-a-tax-preparer-us
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How to Find a Good Local CPA for Your Taxes - TurboTax Tax Tips & Videoshttps://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-pro/how-to-find-a-good-cpa-for-your-taxes/L0cNUmy2Y
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10 Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer | Cable and Consumer Serviceshttps://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cableconsumer/csd/10-tips-choosing-tax-preparer
Finding a great tax advisor can save you serious cash and peace of mind, but the industry ranges from brilliant CPAs to high-pressure salesmen. Here is a clear, step-by-step roadmap to finding someone trustworthy:
Define your needs first - Figure out whether you just need a standard return filed (W-2 employee), or if you need complex multi-state, small business, real estate, or investment tax planning.
Look for the right credentials - Search for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or an Enrolled Agent (EA) . CPAs are licensed by state boards and handle broad financial/tax matters, while EAs are federally licensed tax specialists authorized to represent you before the IRS. You can verify credentials using the AICPA CPA Directory or the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers.
Ask for specialized referrals - Skip generic Google searches and ask business owners, real estate investors, or high-earning peers in your exact niche who they use. Local recommendations are gold.
Interview at least two candidates - Treat it like hiring an employee. Ask crucial questions: Are you available year-round or just tax season? Do you proactively reach out with tax-saving strategies? How do you charge (hourly vs. flat fee)?
Check for red flags - Run away from anyone who promises a massive refund before looking at your documents, refuses to sign your return as the paid preparer, or bases their fee on a percentage of your refund.
If you'd like, tell me:
What is your approximate financial situation (W-2, freelancer, business owner, real estate investor)?
Question: I think I'm paying too much in taxes. How do I find a good and trustworthy tax advisor?
Yes. If your goal is to determine whether you’re legally overpaying taxes and identify legitimate ways to reduce your tax bill, I’d look for a tax-focused CPA or an Enrolled Agent (EA) rather than simply the cheapest tax preparer.
What to look for
CPA: Often a good fit if you have investments, a business, rental property, complicated income, or need broader accounting help.
Enrolled Agent: A tax specialist licensed by the IRS. EAs can represent you before the IRS on audits, collections, and appeals.
Question: I think I'm paying too much in taxes. How do I find a good and trustworthy tax advisor?
Finding a trustworthy tax advisor can feel overwhelming, but breaking the search down into clear, structured steps will help you find someone qualified to lower your tax burden legally and safely.
Question: I think I'm paying too much in taxes. How do I find a good and trustworthy tax advisor?
Finding a good tax advisor can feel overwhelming, especially when you want someone who doesn't just fill out forms, but actively helps you lower your tax liability legally and strategically.
Question: I think I'm paying too much in taxes. How do I find a good and trustworthy tax advisor?
Yes. If you suspect you're paying more tax than necessary, I'd look for a tax-focused CPA or Enrolled Agent (EA) rather than simply the cheapest tax preparer. Both CPAs and EAs can represent you before the IRS on audits, appeals, and collection matters.
How to find a trustworthy one
Question: I think I'm paying too much in taxes. How do I find a good and trustworthy tax advisor?
Finding a knowledgeable and trustworthy tax advisor can make a massive difference in your financial health, ensuring you aren't leaving money on the table while staying entirely compliant.
1. Know What Type of Professional You Need
Not all tax practitioners have the same level of training, licensing, or authority to represent you before the IRS:
Do you need year-round tax planning or just annual return filing?
I can give you more tailored questions to ask during your interviews.
If you’re worried you’re paying too much, the key is to find someone who can do tax planning, not just prepare your return.
What to look for
Enrolled Agent (EA): A federally licensed tax specialist. EAs can represent you before the IRS on audits, collections, and appeals.
CPA who specializes in tax: Especially useful if you have a business, investments, rental property, or complicated finances. CPAs can also represent you before the IRS.
Tax attorney: Usually more appropriate for complicated legal/tax disputes, significant estate issues, or an existing IRS controversy.
For most people who simply want to determine whether they're overpaying and legally reduce their taxes, an EA or tax-focused CPA is a sensible place to start.
How I'd vet one
Start with the IRS directory. It lets you search for credentialed preparers by location and credential.
Verify the license independently. If you're considering a Texas CPA, for example, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy has a license lookup.
Interview 2–3 candidates. Ask:
"Do you do proactive tax planning, or primarily tax preparation?"
"What types of clients do you specialize in?"
"What deductions, credits, retirement strategies, or business structures would you review for someone in my situation?"
"What would you charge for a tax-planning engagement?"
"Will you be available after filing season if the IRS has questions?"
Ask for a written fee structure. Be cautious about anyone who charges based on the size of your refund or promises an unusually large refund. The IRS specifically identifies those as warning signs.
Check that they have a current PTIN. Anyone paid to prepare federal tax returns must have one, and it should appear on your filed return.
Never sign a blank return. Review the completed return yourself and make sure your refund goes directly to your own bank account.
One important distinction: "I got you a bigger refund" isn't necessarily the same as "I lowered your taxes." A good advisor should be able to explain why your tax liability can legally be reduced and show you the assumptions and tradeoffs involved.
If you tell me roughly what kind of income you have (W-2, self-employed, rental, investments, etc.), whether you own a business, and your approximate household income, I can also tell you what type of tax professional is likely to fit your situation and what tax-planning areas I'd ask them to investigate.
Tax attorney: Usually more appropriate when there are significant disputes, audits, legal issues, estates, or complicated tax structures.
The IRS maintains a searchable directory of credentialed tax professionals.
How I'd vet someone
Interview 2–3 candidates and ask:
“How much of your practice is tax planning versus simply preparing returns?”
“Do you work with clients whose situation is similar to mine?”
“What tax-saving opportunities would you typically investigate for someone in my situation?”
“Do you provide year-round tax planning?”
“How do you charge—hourly, fixed fee, or another structure?”
“Who will actually prepare and review my return?”
“What credentials do you hold, and can I verify them?”
The IRS specifically recommends checking credentials and disciplinary history, asking about fees, choosing someone available after filing season, and avoiding preparers who charge based on the size of your refund.
Red flags 🚩
Be particularly cautious if someone:
Guarantees you a huge refund before reviewing your records.
Charges a percentage of your refund.
Won't tell you exactly how they're reducing your taxes.
Asks you to sign a blank or incomplete return.
Wants your refund deposited into their account.
Won't give you a complete copy of your filed return.
Doesn't sign the return or provide their IRS PTIN.
Paid preparers are required to have a valid PTIN, and you're ultimately responsible for what's on your return even when someone else prepares it.
One important distinction
A good advisor shouldn't just say “I can get your taxes lower.” They should be able to explain why you're paying what you're paying and identify legitimate opportunities—such as retirement contributions, deductions, business expenses, investment tax planning, charitable strategies, or timing of income—based on your particular circumstances.
If you tell me roughly what kind of income you have (W-2, self-employed, investments, rental property, etc.) and whether you're filing in Illinois or another state, I can tell you what type of tax professional is most appropriate and what questions to ask them.
Here is how to find a good and trustworthy tax advisor:
Determine your needs
Simple filing: If you just have a W-2 and a standard deduction, a basic tax software or a storefront preparer might be enough.
Complex situation: If you own a business, have rental properties, sold investments, or face complex deductions, you need a high-level professional like a Certified Public Accountant (CPA ), an Enrolled Agent (EA ), or a Tax Attorney.
Verify professional credentials
Certified Public Accountant (CPA ): Licensed by state boards of accountancy; rigorous testing and ethics requirements. You can verify credentials using the CPA Verify tool.
Enrolled Agent (EA ): Federally licensed directly by the IRS with unlimited representation rights before the IRS. You can look one up via the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) directory.
Certified Financial Planner (CFP ) or Tax Attorney: Helpful if tax planning is integrated with broader estate or wealth management.
Ask for targeted referrals
Word of mouth: Ask business owners, friends, or family members with similar financial situations who they use and trust.
Professional networks: Ask your financial advisor, real estate agent, or business lawyer who they recommend in the local tax community.
Interview candidates
Experience: Ask how long they have been in practice and if they have experience with clients in your specific industry or situation.
Proactive planning: A great tax advisor doesn't just look backward when filing in April; they look forward to help you strategize throughout the year. Ask: "How do you proactively help clients lower their tax liability before the year ends?"
Availability: Find out how accessible they are during the off-season versus tax season.
Watch out for major red flags
Contingency fees: Avoid any advisor who bases their fee on a percentage of your tax refund—reputable professionals charge by the hour, the form, or a flat fee.
Too-good-to-be-true promises: Run away from anyone who guarantees a massive refund before even looking at your financial documents.
Missing signatures: Never work with a preparer who refuses to sign your return or sign as a "paid preparer" (they must have a valid PTIN—Preparer Tax Identification Number).
If you'd like, let me know:
What is your general financial situation (W-2 employee, freelancer, business owner, real estate investor)?
Do you need year-round tax planning or just someone to file your annual return?
I can help you pinpoint the exact type of credential you should be looking for.
Here is a step-by-step roadmap to finding a trustworthy professional:
Know the Credentials You Need
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs): Great for complex financial situations, small businesses, and comprehensive tax planning. Check licenses via your local State Board of Accountancy.
Enrolled Agents (EAs): Federally licensed tax practitioners empowered by the U.S. Treasury. They specialize purely in taxation and can represent you before the IRS. Verify status using the IRS Enrolled Agent Verification page.
Tax Attorneys: Best if you are dealing with major legal disputes, audits, or complex estate planning. Check credentials through your State Bar Association.
Use Official Directories
Search the official IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers to find credentialed professionals in your local area.
Avoid percentage-based fees: Run away from any preparer who bases their fee on a percentage of your refund.
Watch out for "ghost" preparers: Never use someone who refuses to sign your tax return or put their IRS PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) on it.
Ask about year-round availability: You want an advisor who answers questions in July, not just someone who vanishes after April.
Inquire about proactive planning: Ask, "What specific strategies will you look at to lower my liability going forward, rather than just reporting what already happened?"
To help me point you toward the right type of specialist, tell me:
Are you a W-2 employee , a freelancer/business owner , or do you have complex investments/real estate?
Do you need someone just for annual filing or ongoing tax reduction strategy?
Enrolled Agent (EA): A tax specialist licensed by the IRS. EAs have unlimited rights to represent you before the IRS, including audits and appeals.
CPA with tax experience: Particularly useful if you have a business, investments, real estate, stock compensation, or more complicated finances.
Tax attorney: Usually unnecessary for ordinary tax planning, but useful for significant disputes or complex legal issues.
You can use the irs.gov to find EAs and CPAs in your area.
How I'd vet someone
Before hiring them, ask:
"What kinds of taxpayers do you specialize in?" You want someone familiar with your particular situation.
"What tax-planning work do you do before year-end?" This distinguishes a planner from someone who simply enters numbers into software.
"How do you charge?" Get the fee structure in writing. The IRS specifically warns against preparers whose fee is based on the size of your refund.
"Will you represent me if I'm audited?" EAs, CPAs, and attorneys have unlimited IRS representation rights.
"Can I speak with a couple of clients with situations similar to mine?" A good professional should be comfortable explaining their experience, although they may not be able to disclose client information.
"What records will you need from me?" A reputable preparer should want documentation rather than simply accepting whatever produces the biggest deduction.
Red flags
Walk away from someone who:
Guarantees you'll get a particular refund or dramatically reduce your taxes.
Charges based on a percentage of your refund.
Suggests deductions or credits without asking for supporting documentation.
Won't sign the return or provide their PTIN.
Asks you to sign a blank return.
Wants your refund deposited into their bank account.
One Maryland-specific point: if you're in Maryland, paid individual tax preparers generally must be registered with the Maryland Board of Individual Tax Preparers unless they're among the exempt professionals (such as CPAs, enrolled agents, or attorneys).
If you tell me roughly what your income sources are (e.g., W-2 only, self-employed, rental property, investments, RSUs, retirement income) and whether you're filing Maryland taxes, I can tell you what type of tax professional is likely to be appropriate and what questions to ask them.
Finding a proactive, trustworthy tax advisor is one of the best ways to stop overpaying and shift from reactive filing to actual tax planning.
1. Know Your Types of Professionals
Not all tax pros do the same thing. Look for the credential that matches your complexity:
Certified Public Accountant (CPA): Best if you have complex investments, own a business, or need year-round strategic accounting and advisory alongside tax prep.
Enrolled Agent (EA): Federally licensed specialists who focus exclusively on tax planning and preparation. They have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS, often at a slightly lower cost point than CPAs for pure tax work.
Tax Attorney: Best if you are dealing with deep legal disputes, audits, or complex estate/asset protection structures.
2. Where to Look for Trustworthy Options
Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers: Use the official IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers to find credentialed professionals in your area.
Peer Referrals: Ask friends, colleagues, or local business owners whose financial situations mirror yours who they use.
3. Critical Screening Questions to Ask
Before signing on, interview prospective advisors to ensure they are proactive planners rather than just "history teachers" who fill out forms in March:
Do you specialize in clients like me? (e.g., W-2 with stock options, real estate investors, freelancers, small business owners).
Are you a year-round planner or seasonal? You want someone who will meet with you in the fall/winter for mid-year or year-end projections, not just someone who collects documents in April.
How do you charge? (Hourly, flat fee per return, or retainer). Avoid anyone charging a percentage of your refund—that’s a major IRS red flag.
Will you sign my return and include your PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number)? (Run away from anyone who refuses to sign your return).
To help narrow this down, what is your primary source of income (e.g., W-2 employee, 1099 contractor, small business owner, real estate investor) so I can tell you what specific tax specialties to look for?
Le CPA Group - 320 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
Bell Tax Accountants & Advisors - 6426 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
John J Griffin CPA P.C. - 5240 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, United States
Wilson & Associates, CPAs - 6965 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60645, United States
Primera Accounting Services 世一會計 - 447 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
EZ Tax and Accounting Service, Inc. - 4732 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, United States
America's Income Tax Service - 2022 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
Benjamin Koppel and Associates - 332 S Michigan Ave Ste LL-K391, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
Tax & Beyond - 3454 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐭𝐝. - 3227 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
If you feel you're paying too much, I'd look for a tax advisor who does proactive tax planning, not merely someone who prepares your return. The goal is to have them review why your tax bill is high and identify legitimate ways to reduce it going forward.
What credentials to look for
My first choices would be:
CPA (Certified Public Accountant): Particularly useful if you have investments, self-employment income, rental property, a business, or complicated state taxes.
Enrolled Agent (EA): A tax specialist licensed by the IRS. EAs can represent you before the IRS on audits, collections, and appeals.
Tax attorney: Usually unnecessary for routine planning, but valuable for serious IRS disputes, complex legal issues, or potentially aggressive tax positions.
You can use the irs.treasury.gov to find CPAs, EAs, and attorneys in your area.
How I'd interview 3 candidates
Ask each one:
"Can you review my last two or three returns specifically for missed deductions, credits, and tax-planning opportunities?"
"What would you look at to reduce my taxes legally over the next 1–3 years?"
"Do you provide year-round tax planning, or just prepare returns?"
"Who will actually handle my account?"
"What are your fees, and are they fixed or hourly?"
"Have you worked with people in my situation?"
A good advisor should ask you plenty of questions and request your prior returns and financial records. Be skeptical of anyone who immediately promises a huge refund or says they can "guarantee" a particular tax reduction. The IRS specifically warns against preparers who promise unusually large refunds or charge based on the size of the refund.
Also make sure the preparer has a PTIN, signs your return, gives you a complete copy, and doesn't ask you to sign a blank return.
If you're in Chicago
Since you're in the Chicago area, a few firms that came up in my local search and could be worth interviewing include:
Wilson & Associates, CPAs — CPA firm handling individual, self-employed, and small-business tax matters.
I wouldn't choose solely based on reviews, though. Verify the individual's CPA/EA credentials and disciplinary history and then interview them. The IRS recommends checking credentials, complaints/disciplinary history, fees, availability after filing season, and whether they use e-file.
If you tell me roughly how you earn your money (W-2 job, self-employed/business, investments, rental property, etc.) and whether you're filing single or jointly, I can tell you what kind of tax advisor I'd look for and what tax-saving areas they should investigate.
Start with the IRS directory. The IRS maintains a searchable directory of CPAs, Enrolled Agents, attorneys, and certain other qualified preparers.
Look specifically for tax-planning experience. Tell prospective advisors you're not merely looking for someone to prepare your return—you want someone to review your situation and identify legal ways to reduce future taxes.
Interview 2–3 people. Ask:
“What types of taxpayers do you specialize in?”
“How do you identify tax-saving opportunities for clients?”
“Do you provide year-round tax planning, or only return preparation?”
“What would you charge for an initial tax-planning review?”
“Are you comfortable representing clients before the IRS if necessary?”
Verify credentials. A paid preparer must have a valid IRS PTIN, and the IRS recommends checking credentials, qualifications, and disciplinary history.
Be wary of promises. Someone guaranteeing that they'll get you a huge refund, charging based on a percentage of your refund, refusing to sign the return, or asking you to sign a blank/incomplete return is a major red flag.
One important distinction
If by “paying too much” you mean your tax bill is surprisingly high, a good advisor should first determine why. It might be withholding, estimated payments, missed deductions/credits, investment income, business income, retirement contributions, capital gains, or simply being in a higher marginal tax bracket. The goal isn't to manufacture deductions—it's to make sure you're taking advantage of every provision you're legitimately entitled to.
If you'd like, I can also help you find and compare reputable tax advisors in your area and give you a shortlist of what to look for.
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs): Licensed by state boards of accountancy, CPAs have rigorous education and testing requirements. They can handle complex personal and business tax planning and have unlimited representation rights before the IRS.
Enrolled Agents (EAs): Federally licensed directly by the U.S. government. EAs specialize strictly in taxation and also possess unlimited representation rights before the IRS.
Tax Attorneys: Best for complex legal situations, tax fraud issues, or high-stakes estate and corporate planning.
A Caution on "Uncredentialed" Preparers: Anyone can obtain an IRS PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) to file taxes for money, but that does not mean they have passed an exam or possess specialized tax knowledge.
2. Use Official Directories to Search
Start your search using verified professional databases rather than a blind web search:
IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers: Use this official tool to find local professionals who hold recognized credentials (like CPAs, EAs, or attorneys).
State CPA Society Directories: Most states have a local society directory (such as the AICPA Membership Directories or your specific state board of accountancy) where you can filter by location and individual specialties like personal income tax or small business.
Word of Mouth: Ask trusted business owners, colleagues, or friends in similar financial situations who they use and trust.
3. Interview and Vet Candidates
Once you have a short list, ask key questions before hiring someone:
What are your credentials? (Confirm they are a CPA, EA, or attorney).
Do you specialize in situations like mine? (e.g., freelance income, real estate, W-2 with stock options).
How do you charge? (Hourly rate vs. flat fee per form/return). Avoid anyone who bases their fee on a percentage of your refund—this is a major red flag and incentivizes risky filing behavior.
Will you sign my return and represent me if I am audited?
How do you stay current on tax law changes?
To help narrow this down, let me know:
Are you looking for help with personal/W-2 taxes, freelance/1099 income , or a small business?
What state are you located in?
I can guide you on the best specific credential type or state resources for your situation.
IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers.
