What Your Tax Preparer Would Tell You If They Didn’t Have To Be Polite

Laura BogartWed, March 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC

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It’s time to stop being polite and start getting real. Old-school reality TV fans will recognize the slogan from MTV’s The Real World, but it’s also the unspoken wish of many professionals — including your tax preparer. Every year, they see clients making the same mistakes or shortchanging themselves for avoidable reasons. They wish they could say what they’re really thinking — even if it didn’t sound polite.

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Curious what tax preparers would say if they could drop the filter, MoneyLion asked several tax experts to weigh in.

Your Friend Is Not a Tax Expert (No, Really)

There are a lot of things you’d trust your friends with, like babysitting your pets or your children — or even coming in clutch on trivia night. But if you’re relying on friends who aren’t trained tax professionals to give you tax advice, you may be setting yourself up for costly consequences.

Brennan Kolar, founder of Atlas CPA Index, has seen this trend more than he’d like.

“Every tax season, someone tells me their buddy said they can write off their home office,” he said. “The home office is a laptop on the couch. The buddy is a guy they golf with.”

You can trust your buddy’s advice about a smooth golf swing. That doesn’t mean you should trust them with guidance on credits, deductions or IRS rules. Remember, they won’t be the ones paying penalties, interest or fees if that advice turns out to be wrong. You will.

In the Name of All That Is Good, Don’t Delete Your Crypto App Because You’re Upset

Who knew that cryptocurrency could be so emotional? Yet Kolar regularly sees crypto day traders make impulsive, emotion-driven decisions that end up complicating their taxes.

“Many crypto day traders will have transactions like purchasing Ethereum for $3,800 and then panic-selling it for $1,400,” he said. “Out of anger or shame about their hastiness, they then delete the app in an attempt to forget about it or pretend it never happened.”

Unfortunately for these traders, the Internal Revenue Service has a very long memory, and it doesn’t really care about the emotional fallout from their terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad trades. If you sold or otherwise disposed of crypto at a loss, you’re still required to report that transaction on your tax return.

Here’s the kicker: Reporting capital losses can actually work in your favor. Those losses can offset capital gains and, in some cases, reduce your overall tax bill.

“I want to tell them, ‘This is the one time the IRS will actually help you,’” Kolar said.

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Tax Advisors Are Not Mind Readers

For the average layperson, anyone who can navigate tax forms and crunch numbers seems almost magical. That sense of awe can lead to unfair — and unrealistic — assumptions, including the idea that your tax preparer already knows everything about your financial life.

Gene Bott, CPA, tax advisor and partner at Tax Hive, wishes people would realize that, no, he doesn’t have powers of telepathy, so, yes, they need to come to their appointments prepared and share all germane information.

“If I ask you a question, don’t respond with, ‘You’re my accountant. You should know,’ or anything similar,” he said. “We aren’t mind readers, and we don’t ask questions just for fun. We’re busy enough already. If we’re asking, we truly .”

Likewise, your accountant can’t factor in major life events unless you tell them — whether that’s getting married, having a baby, starting a business, selling property or changing jobs. Unless you’ve invited them to your baby shower or grand opening, they’re relying on you to speak up.

Your Finances Matter During the 364 Days That Aren’t April 15

Daniel Roccanti, CPA, a real estate and construction advisor at James Moore & Co., understands why the lead-up to tax season inspires people to be more aware of their finances. He just wishes they’d remember that the other 364 days of the year that aren’t April 15 also matter.

He frequently sees clients blindsided by “surprises” that aren’t really surprises at all: a large tax bill in April, quarterly estimated taxes, insurance renewals, major home or car repairs, medical bills or HOA assessments. With preparation and awareness, many of these don’t have to be surprises.

If you only look at your finances once a year, review investments sporadically or speak with your CPA only during tax season, you’re more likely to make reactive tax decisions, miss withholding adjustments and lose opportunities to plan ahead for retirement contributions or income deferrals.

As Roccanti puts it, you’re reacting instead of leading.

“If your CPA could be completely blunt, they’d say, ‘I can’t help you strategically if I’m only seeing the past,’” he said.

Reviewing your bank balances, upcoming bills and paychecks weekly can reduce stress, prevent surprises and help you make smarter decisions about spending, saving and withholding.

The Bottom Line

If your accountant could stop being polite and start getting real, they wouldn’t ask you for much. Mostly, they’d want you to take advice from actual experts, resist impulsive financial decisions and remember that they can’t read your mind.

And while you’re at it, pay attention to your finances all year — not just in April. After all, that’s not just smart. It’s polite.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice.

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Source: “AOL Money”