I pay a CPA 300-400 per year to do my taxes. This is a hangover from when my taxes were much more complicated. I generally consider it the good kind of expense, like paying to have my trees trimmed instead of spending two weekends per year on it myself. It's nice to help other people make a living while slacking. But since I haven't done my own taxes since college, I forgot what it's like and I don't know what I am getting at this point.
I am a sole breadwinner, I have wife and 3 kids, generally itemize due to charitable giving and mortgage interest. I contribute to an HSA, a 401k, and a Roth IRA. All my income is in one state which has state income tax and vehicle property tax. About how much work are we talking about for me to do my own taxes with the $35 softwares out there? Like a couple hours or a couple weekends? How do I know I did it right? What if I get audited; will I wish I had paid the CPA?