Should You DIY Your Business Taxes or Hire A Tax Pro?

Preparing your own business taxes saves you money and keeps things simple. Or does it?

The Reality: Sure, when you prepare your own taxes, of course, you'll save on accounting fees. But here's what you're missing out on, and it's costing you way more than you're saving.

When you DIY your business taxes, you're leaving money on the table. Not because you're doing anything wrong, but because you don't know what you don't know. Tax pros spend years learning the deductions, credits, and strategies that could save you thousands, usually tens of thousands, year after year. As a Virginia-licensed CPA, I must complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education every year to keep my license current.

Here's what you're missing when you file your own taxes:

Strategic tax planning. A CPA doesn't just file what has already happened; more importantly, they help you plan for what's coming. Should you buy that equipment in Q4 or Q1? How should you structure that new revenue stream? What entity structure will save you the most in taxes as you grow? DIY software can't answer those questions. This is precisely why I named my firm “FutureView CPA” because I am always looking toward the future and planning for my clients.

Deductions you didn't know existed. Home office expenses, vehicle depreciation, retirement contributions, health insurance, education, travel—there are dozens of ways to reduce your tax liability legally. Most business owners miss half of them because they don't know how to verify when a tax deduction is legitimate and allowed, and when they are deducting expenses that technically are not allowed. And please, for the love of all things keeping you out of jail, please, don’t rely on advice by googling tax questions, asking Chat GPT to give you tax advice, or listening to aggressively illegal tax advice from “fluffluencers” on social media. I regularly test ChatGPT and other AI large language models for tax advice and rarely is it up to date or accurate.

Audit protection and peace of mind. If the IRS or state tax authorities come knocking, DIY software won't represent you. A CPA, Enrolled Agent, or Tax Attorney will. And more importantly, a good CPA structures your taxes correctly from the start, so you're far less likely to get flagged in the first place.

Time back in your day. How many hours do you spend hunting for receipts, figuring out categories, and second-guessing whether you're doing it right? That's time you could spend growing your business—doing the work only you can do.

When DIY makes sense: If you're a solopreneur doing under $100K with super simple financials, DIY might work for now.

When you need a CPA: If you're over $100K, have employees, own property, or plan to grow—don't miss out on the strategic advantage a great CPA brings.

Make the Shift: Stop leaving money on the table. Work with a tax pro who turns your taxes into a growth tool, not just a compliance headache. A qualified tax pro is an investment in your future, and your business. And as a bonus, our fees are tax deductible as a business expense! When you hire us for your Stress-Less Accounting & Tax & Cash Flow service, you’re investing in a three-fold peace of mind!