Time to get a CPA?

How can you tell when you should get a CPA to do your taxes for you?

There are a number of indicators, really.  Here are just a few:

1) If you start a business for yourself, get a CPA to make sure you are doing everything right.  You want to make sure you're getting all your deductions, and (maybe more importantly), you want to make sure you're not deducting things you shouldn't (like a friend of mine who used to live down the street).  It's a lot cheaper to do it right the first time rather than getting audited.

2) If you're a year or two behind in filing your taxes, a CPA can usually help you get back on track.

3) If you feel you have better things to do with your time than filling out a tax return, then you might want to get a CPA to do it for you.

4) If you've ever written this on your tax return form that you have filed with the IRS:

If you can't read what this person wrote it says, "I don't know what they are?"  If you've ever written this -- or something like this -- probably it's a good idea to get a CPA to help you.  The IRS doesn't like to read notes like this, because it makes them realize that you have no idea what you're doing, and probably your return would be an excellent return to audit.  (Oh, and to answer your questions before you ask them... this is not from a client of mine, and I have no idea who wrote this note.  And yes, it was actually filed with the IRS.)

Wow.  Two posts in a row about taxes.  Sorry, but that's my life right now.