Taxes
Understand your actual filing situation - self-employment, multiple income sources, deductions you're missing - before you file.
People whose taxes are more complicated than a single W-2, who don't want to overpay a preparer for a straightforward return.
A CPA for a moderately complex individual return commonly charges $300-$800 - every year.
Yes - self-employment adds forms (like Schedule C and Schedule SE) and quarterly estimated payments to track, but it's still very doable yourself once you understand which forms apply to your specific income sources.
Most honest mistakes are fixed with an amended return (Form 1040-X) and don't trigger penalties beyond any interest owed on additional tax. Catching errors before you file is always simpler than fixing them after.
It depends on your income types - a single W-2 is simple, but freelance income, investment income, rental property, or multiple state filings each add their own forms and rules.
Once your situation involves things like business ownership, significant investment activity, or a multi-state filing, a CPA's judgment calls can be worth the recurring fee - understanding your own return first still helps you evaluate their work.