If something about your tax return doesn’t sit right—or your gut tells you something was missed—you’re probably not wrong.
Each year, we work with clients across Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida who discover costly mistakes, missed deductions, or overpaid taxes—all because their previous tax preparer didn’t take the time to do a thorough job.
Whether your return was prepared by TurboTax, a national chain, or another local CPA, getting a second opinion can give you peace of mind—or reveal opportunities to save big.
🚨 Red Flags That Suggest You Might Need a Tax Return Review
Here are common signs that it’s time for a second opinion:
- You owed way more than expected with no explanation
- Your CPA didn’t ask many questions or review documents carefully
- You didn’t receive a tax projection or any year-round planning
- You own a business or rental property and your return looks overly simple
- You got an IRS letter and aren’t sure if your return triggered it
We frequently uncover errors, missed credits, and even IRS compliance issues during our second opinion reviews.
🔍 What We Look For During a Second Opinion
At Polaris Tax & Accounting, our second opinion service includes:
- Line-by-line review of your most recent tax return
- Cross-checking deductions, credits, and income sources
- IRS transcript review to verify what’s been filed and posted
- Entity and filing status evaluation
- Analysis of whether tax-saving strategies were missed (S Corp election, backdoor Roth, bonus depreciation, etc.)
If we find something off, we’ll let you know exactly what it is—and what you can do next.
🛠️ Common Mistakes We Catch
- Incorrect or missing depreciation on rental properties
- Failure to elect S Corp status for high-income LLCs
- Missed 199A qualified business income deduction
- Reporting errors on stock sales or crypto transactions
- Inaccurate self-employment tax calculation
- Not claiming available education, childcare, or energy credits
Even small mistakes can cost thousands—and often snowball into IRS notices or penalties.
🧾 What to Bring for Your Tax Return Review
To get started, all we need is:
- A PDF of your most recent filed tax return
- Any IRS or state notices you’ve received
- A brief overview of your business or income situation
- Any questions or concerns you had when your return was filed
We’ll review it thoroughly and explain the results in plain English.
🔄 Can You Still Fix It?
In most cases, yes. If we find issues or missed opportunities, we may recommend:
- Filing an amended return (Form 1040-X)
- Submitting corrections with the IRS or state
- Updating your tax strategy for the current year to avoid overpayment
📌 See also: https://polaristaxandaccounting.com/services/irs-tax-problems
📍 Why Second Opinions Matter More in South Florida
Unfortunately, South Florida has become a hotspot for:
- Unregulated tax preparers without credentials
- Fly-by-night seasonal shops that disappear after April 15
- Aggressive EITC and credit claims that trigger audits
If you’ve previously worked with Jennifer Moody, a national chain, or a preparer who didn’t explain your return—you owe it to yourself to verify it was done right.
📌 If you’re unsure who prepared your return or if it was rushed, check out our guide on switching tax firms in Florida
🎯 Ready to Get a Second Opinion?
Getting a second opinion doesn’t mean you’re committing to anything. It just means you want clarity—and possibly a better tax outcome.
📍 Polaris Tax & Accounting is based in Plantation, FL and serves clients statewide and beyond. We specialize in fixing past returns, cleaning up other preparers’ mistakes, and delivering tax clarity.