Employees
W-2 employees
One or two W-2s, some interest, maybe a small side gig. Straightforward returns matched to a preparer who will not overcharge for simple work — and who catches the credits people miss.
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Independent referral service · Credentialed preparers
Get your taxes done right — matched to a credentialed preparer.
CrispFile Tax Prep is an independent information and referral service. Tell us your situation and we connect you with credentialed, independent tax preparers — CPAs, enrolled agents and licensed preparers — for accurate, on-time filing. We do not prepare or file returns ourselves.
- Matched with credentialed, independent preparers — CPAs, enrolled agents and licensed preparers
- Built for W-2 employees, 1099 and gig workers, and small businesses
- Email is the only thing we ask for — never your SSN, income, or tax documents
CrispFile is not the IRS and not a government agency. Information and referral only — not tax, legal or financial advice.
Matched, not muddled
Credentialed preparer · email only
The free reward
One email, one tidy filing-prep checklist
A short, printable checklist of what to gather before you file — plus the questions worth asking any preparer before you hand over a dollar. Written in plain English, no jargon, no upsell. When you are ready, reply and we will connect you with a credentialed, independent preparer.
- Credentialed preparers
- Email-only, nothing sensitive
- No pressure, no lead blast
- Not the IRS
- Free to get matched
The checklist is general information, not tax advice. Many taxpayers can also file free through IRS Free File at IRS.gov.
50 statesIndependent preparers listed nationwide — availability varies by state
CPAs & EAsCredentialed, independent preparers — CrispFile never files for you
W-2 · 1099 · bizSituations we help match, from a single W-2 to self-employed
$0Cost to get matched with a preparer
Figures are illustrative and shown for reference only. CrispFile does not prepare or file returns, and no refund, refund amount, or specific outcome is promised or implied.
How matching works
From “where do I start?” to filed
Four steps between telling us your situation and an independent preparer filing an accurate return. Scroll — the stamp follows along, and each step lights up as you go.
- Step one
Tell us your situation
W-2 employee, 1099 or gig worker, small business, or a big life change — a quick description is all we need. One email address, no tax documents and nothing sensitive typed on this page.
- Step two
Get matched with a credentialed preparer
We introduce you to a credentialed, independent preparer — a CPA, enrolled agent, or licensed preparer — suited to your situation and your state. Availability varies, and we will say so plainly if we cannot match you well.
- Step three
Work directly with your preparer
You share your documents with the preparer inside their own secure system — never on this page. They review your return, answer your questions, and tell you their fee before any work begins.
- Step four
File — accurate and on time
Your independent preparer prepares and files the return you approve. Timelines, results and any refund vary with your own situation; nothing here promises a refund or a specific outcome.
No tax information is collected anywhere on this page. Your documents, identity and filing are handled by the credentialed preparer you choose, inside their own secure system — never here.
Who it’s for
Matched to your situation, not a one-size template
A single W-2 and a side gig are not the same as an S-corp with payroll. We match each situation to a preparer who handles it every day — here are the four we see most.
Self-employed & 1099
Freelance, contract & gig income
Freelance, contractor, rideshare, delivery or creator income. Quarterly estimates, deductible expenses and Schedule C handled by a preparer who works on them every day, not once a year.
Small business
LLCs, S-corps & sole props
Partnerships, S-corp elections, payroll, expenses and owner draws. Matched with a preparer who knows small-business returns and can keep your books and your filing talking to each other.
Life changes
The year something changed
Marriage, a new baby, a home purchase, a move between states, or a first year of retirement — the years when sitting down with a human preparer tends to earn its fee.
Whatever your situation, the only thing CrispFile asks for is an email address. Your income details and documents go to the credentialed preparer you choose — never on this page.
What to gather & what to expect
Walk in prepared, file with less friction
A little organizing before you meet a preparer saves everyone time. Here is the general shortlist — plus what the process looks like once you are matched.
Gather these
- Income forms your employer or clients send you (for example, W-2s and 1099s)
- Records of any self-employment income and business expenses
- Last year's return, handy for reference
- Details on big life changes — a new dependent, a home, a move between states
- Any letters you have received about your taxes
What to expect
- A match to a credentialed, independent preparer suited to your situation and state
- The preparer reviews your documents inside their own secure system, not on this page
- You review and approve the return before anything is filed
- Clear pricing from the preparer before work begins — set by them, never by us
You may be able to file for free. Many taxpayers can file a federal return at no cost through IRS Free File at IRS.gov, and the IRS VITA and TCE programs offer free preparation for eligible taxpayers. We would rather point you there than refer you somewhere you do not need.
Why CrispFile
Fewer names in your inbox. Better ones.
Plenty of “free” tax sites sell your details to whoever bids highest, then the calls start. We built the opposite: one credentialed preparer, matched to you, and an email box as the only field on the page.
Credentialed preparers only
We match you with CPAs, enrolled agents and licensed preparers. You can verify any preparer's credentials and IRS preparer identification number (PTIN) before you commit to anything.
Email is the only field
Nothing sensitive is typed on this page. No Social Security number, no income figures, no bank or account numbers, no W-2 or 1099 data — just an email address if you want to be matched.
No pressure, no lead blast
One introduction, not a phone tree. We never sell your email address, and reading our free filing-prep checklist without ever talking to anyone is a perfectly good way to use this.
Plainly not the IRS
CrispFile is an independent referral service — not the IRS, not a government agency, and not a tax firm. The credentialed preparer you choose does the work and is solely responsible for it.
CrispFile Tax Prep is an independent information and referral service. We do not prepare or file tax returns ourselves — we help connect you with credentialed, independent tax preparers (such as CPAs, enrolled agents and licensed preparers). Any preparer you choose is independently credentialed and solely responsible for the work they provide.
Composite stories
What matching can look like
Illustrative examples of the kinds of situations we help people match — shown for reference.
I had been avoiding my 1099s for weeks. CrispFile matched me with an enrolled agent who sorted three years of gig income and set up my quarterly estimates. I gave this site an email address and nothing else.
We formed an LLC last year and had no idea how to file it. The preparer we were matched with knew S-corp elections cold and walked through every line. No surprise bill either — the price was on the table up front.
New baby, new house, and a move across state lines in one year. The CPA they connected me with untangled the part-year returns. CrispFile itself never asked me for a single tax document.
Composite testimonials are illustrative examples, not statements from identified clients; individual experiences vary. No refund, refund amount, or specific outcome is promised or implied.
Free official resources
Real, free help — straight from the source
Before you pay anyone, these public resources are worth a look. They are official and free, and a good referral service should tell you they exist.
IRS.gov
The official U.S. taxes site — forms, instructions, refund status and official guidance.
Visit IRS.govIRS Free File
Many taxpayers can prepare and file a federal return for free through IRS Free File.
See if you qualifyIRS VITA / TCE
Free, in-person tax preparation for eligible taxpayers through IRS-certified volunteers.
Find free prepTaxpayer Advocate Service
A free, independent service inside the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems. Call 1-877-777-4778.
Get free helpCrispFile is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS or any government agency. Links are provided for your convenience; the resources above are operated by the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
Straight answers
Before you hand over an email address
No. CrispFile Tax Prep is an independent information and referral service. We do not prepare or file tax returns ourselves — we help connect you with credentialed, independent tax preparers (such as CPAs, enrolled agents and licensed preparers). Any preparer you choose is independently credentialed and solely responsible for the work they provide.
Last step
Ready to file it right? Get matched, free.
Grab the free filing-prep checklist now, and when you want a credentialed, independent preparer, reply and we will connect you. One email, no obligation, unsubscribe in one click. We never ask for your SSN, income, or tax documents here.
- Matched with a CPA, enrolled agent, or licensed preparer
- Email only — nothing sensitive typed on this page
- Free to get matched, unsubscribe anytime
Prefer to talk it through? Call (877) 555-0148. No script, no call center.