"Though hiring an outside professional to do your taxes is by no means required, some taxpayers feel more comfortable relying on an expert. According to the National Society of Accountants, it costs an average of $261 to hire a professional to do your taxes, but if your return is complicated, paying for outside help could be a smart move.

And while nobody wants to spend more money than necessary to file a tax return, here's some good news: You may be eligible to claim tax preparation fees on your taxes.

That's right: The IRS allows taxpayers to claim what's known as the miscellaneous expenses deduction, and tax preparation costs -- whether in the form of purchased software or fees charged by a professional -- are included in that category.

But don't celebrate just yet, because unless your miscellaneous expenses exceed a certain threshold, they won't result in a tax break.
How to deduct tax preparation fees

While you're allowed to deduct your tax preparation fees, you're only eligible to do so if you itemize your deductions. Those who take the standard deduction can't double dip.

You can write off your tax preparation fees as part of the miscellaneous expenses deduction, which includes things such as unreimbursed business expenses. (Say you buy a subscription to a specific publication or journal to further your research for your job, and your company doesn't pay you back for it. You can deduct that, as well as the cost of job-required uniforms that are clearly distinguishable from regular attire.) The catch, however, is that you can only take a deduction for miscellaneous costs that exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). [...]" Read More

*Backman, Maurie, and The Motley Fool. "Can You Deduct Fees for Tax Preparation and Software?" USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 06 Apr. 2017. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.