PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – If you need help preparing your taxes this year, the time to call a pro is now.

Starting early can help you catch deductions you might have missed in the past.

Lots of people think they can file their own taxes, but keep in mind, you might be missing out on chances for tax deductions by doing it yourself.

“Hiring a professional can actually help you take some deductions you didn’t even know you were eligible for. A lot of times, people think mileage for work is a possible deduction. We had one member that was commenting on how she was required to stay up on the news, and because of that, she was able to deduct her cable bill because she needed it for work,” Angie Hicks from Angie’s List said.

“Having a CPA do my taxes has saved me hours and probably thousands of dollars in taxes,” Mike McManus said.

However, you don’t want to hire just anybody do to your taxes. Check credentials and going with a CPA or tax attorney is a good bet.

Your tax pro should be someone you can trust and develop a long-lasting relationship with. That way, they’ll know your financial situation and help you if you’ve missed out on deductions.

“Folks should set up an appointment as soon as anything changes in their financial situation from the year before. It’s never too late to educate yourself on what your situation is for that year. So, anytime during the year is the best time to schedule an appointment,” Jennifer Harris, CPA, said.

You should also know that your tax pro will take care of you in case of an audit.

“She told me and reassured me that I would never have to deal with the IRS; that that was her job in the case of an audit; that she would be the one going in between and asking me for exactly what she needed to help get through that time. So, don’t be nervous about audits,” Jim Cockrum said.

Many of us hate the idea of hiring someone to do something that we think we are capable of doing ourselves, but when it comes to taxes, laws change, and it’s hard for anyone but a tax pro to keep up with them.

If you think that you’re missing out or paying more than you should in taxes, hiring a tax pro might be money well spent.

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