[onewhippedpuppy]

If there's one thing I've learned from my wife, the accountant, is that you WILL GET BACK everything you pay an accountant, and then some. That is, if you have the right accountant. Just an example, her aunt and uncle tried to DIY this year with Turbo Tax, because they're too damn cheap to pay someone. They were *****ing about how little they were getting back, so she started asking questions. Turned out they failed to file for the child tax credit (3 kids), and a number of other things they weren't aware of, and the program doesn't prompt for. She ended up getting them back an additional $3000 or so. If they had paid $150 for a tax appointment, there wouldn't have been a problem, it was just basic stuff. If you have the deductions to itemize, pay an accountant, you'll come out ahead in the end.