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A Free Review of the Tax Return You Already Filed
Most returns are never looked at by anyone except the person who filed them. The review costs nothing, carries no obligation, and sometimes finds nothing, in which case that is what we tell you.
Reviewed by LaToya Clark-Thompson, FounderLast updated
What the review is
It is exactly what it sounds like: a no-cost review of the return you already filed, whether you did it yourself or paid someone else. If something was missed, an amended return can often still recover it.
There is no obligation to file with us afterwards. It works for returns from DIY tax software, from a national chain, or from another preparer.
What we look for
What the review turns up, when it turns up something, is rarely exotic. It is usually one of these:
- An ordinary business cost that was never recorded
- A filing status that no longer fits, such as single where head of household applied
- A credit you were eligible for and did not claim, often around children, education or childcare
- Income reported on the wrong schedule, or self-employment income treated as something else
- A carryover, such as depreciation or a capital loss, that was dropped from one year to the next
- A life change that the return did not reflect: a marriage, a new dependent, a move, a home sale
What happens next
There are three honest outcomes, and we tell you which one you have:
- The return looks right. We say so, and you can file this year with confidence about last year
- Something was missed, but recovering it is worth less than the cost of amending. We tell you that too
- Something was missed and it is worth acting on. An amended return on Form 1040-X is usually the route, with the South Carolina return amended as well when the change flows through
There is a time limit on claiming a refund through an amended return, which is why the review is worth doing sooner rather than later. If the review shows earlier years were never filed at all, back tax filing is the next step.
What to send us
- The complete filed federal and South Carolina return, with every schedule and form
- The income documents behind it, if you still have them: W-2s, 1099s, Form 1098
- Any letters you received from the IRS or SCDOR about that year
- A note of anything that happened that year which you are not sure was reported
Upload them through the secure portal from get started, or bring them to the Easley office. Please do not email them. If you also want a quote for this year, the Best Rate Guarantee works from the same return plus last year’s invoice.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone review my tax return for free?
Yes. Our prior-year review is free and carries no obligation to file with us afterwards. We look at the return you already filed, whether you prepared it yourself in software or paid someone, and tell you what we find. That includes telling you when the return looks right, because a review that always finds a problem is a sales process, not a review.
How do I know if my tax return was done wrong?
Common signs include a refund much smaller or a balance much larger than you expected without an explanation, a letter from the IRS proposing changes, a filing status or dependent that does not match your life that year, or self-employment income with no Schedule C. None of these proves an error, but each is a good reason to have the return looked at.
How far back can I amend a tax return?
Generally, a refund claim on an amended return has to be filed within a limited window measured from when the original return was filed or the tax was paid, whichever is later. The exact rule depends on your circumstances, so check the IRS guidance for Form 1040-X or ask us. This is the main reason not to put a review off.
What if the review finds I owe more?
We tell you, because it is better to know than to wait for a notice. Filing the amended return and paying the difference stops further interest from building on that amount. We explain what changed and why, prepare the amended return if you want us to, and walk through the options for paying any balance.
Not the question you had? The full tax FAQ covers more ground, and our client reviews say what the work is actually like.
Related pages
Switching tax preparers
What to bring, what carries over, and how the Best Rate Guarantee works.
Learn moreUs vs. DIY tax software
When software is enough, where it falls short, and what a preparer adds.
Learn moreHow we quote
What drives a quote, when you get it, and how the Best Rate Guarantee works.
Learn moreYour first appointment
Booking, what to bring, and how the return is prepared, reviewed and filed.
Learn morePart of Working With Us. Not sure which service fits? Answer a few questions.
Tell us what you need
Send a short note about your situation and we’ll come back to you with a straight answer — whether that’s a quote, a next step, or a referral if it isn’t something we handle.
Prefer to talk it through first? Book a consultation and we’ll find a time, in the Easley office or virtually.
Ready when you are. In the office or virtually.
Call (864) 781-4035 or book a consultation, in the Easley office or virtually.