Tax Time

[gmzone]

And the cheapest place to get your taxes done would be...? (Other then doing them yourself).

[greendj27]

And the cheapest place to get your taxes done would be...? (Other then doing them yourself).

HRBlock.com has a program online that you can use that is very simple to understand and allows you to eFile for around $20 I beleive. That what I do every year. It just asks you questions and does your return for you.

[gmzone]

Hmmm... Thanks for the info. :cool:

[ZForce915]

This year I'm taking mine in. I got married this year and I don't want to have to deal with the headache of splitting up the info.

[johnnyoski]

H&R Block is ok, but they charged me more one year because they had to fill out extra forms for my stock sales and the lady really didn't know her stuff that well. She just followed the prompts on her computer.
Call around. Believe it or not a lot of the smaller mom&pop shops are the cheapest for filing your taxes.

[Javery]

Turbo Tax! It is a DIY but it is oh so simple...

[Starky27]

I second the HRblock.com e-file. The form is very user friendly, it keeps track of your past tax forms (so no digging for old numbers), it gives you a running update on your return and it auto-checks for errors. The e-file is quick and you can direct deposit it into you account. Normally takes about 1-2 weeks to get a return, if that. Definitely a good alternative if you normally buy TurboTax or Quicken or whatever programs they have now.

[doubledown]

Yeah, I've used TurboTax for the past couple of years....My dad always buys the program, so I don't have to pay anything except the cost to E-File.

[Backlash]

Unless you are using form 1040EZ I recommend TurboTax. You can usually get it with some sort of rebate or something (it's cheap anyway) and it includes the cost of e-filing.

[Backlash]

Also, public libraries often have programs where law students volunteer to help people with their taxes and it's free! I did this the first year I was married because I thought my taxes would be more complex.

[Admiral Ackbar]

I just shell out fifty bucks and let a professional do it.

[maccabee72]

I've used Tax Cut Deluxe for about the past 5 years. It is an extremely user friendly program put out by H & R Block and only costs $19.77 at wal-mart. The E-filing comes free with a rebate. You can also import all your info from the previous year, which is nice.

[The Shiznit]

H&R Block does mine

[Cornfedwb]

Turbo Tax! It is a DIY but it is oh so simple...

Agreed. Unless you have serious investments, capital gains or other such worries.. just use Turbo Tax, its cheap, easy and works wonders.

And if you can file a 1040EZ and need help... :roll:

[mcwilliams132]

TaxAct is free they also have free downloadable offline application.

I personally do mine through HR Block on-line (have for the past 4 years or so)

Really...it's not that hard to do your own taxes..unless you have a lot of assets, tax shelters, stock dealings, and other complicated income.

[Indonesia]

I always fo to H&R block.

[ryanbph]

I go to H&R block, but I find their employee's idiotic

[PsyClerk]

I'm not sure I can do mine online this year. I work in one state and live in another, plus spent exactly 6 months as an independent contractor. I also want to see if I can get a deduction for gas mileage, since I averaged about 85 miles a day during those six months. Not sure if the online services will cover me properly.

[roland13x]

I used to go to an HR Block office to get mine done (they were fairly complicated, with full-time employment combined with work-from-home independant consulting as well), and I always got some decent returns. However, they would normally charge me $150-$200 to do this. I tried TurboTax Pro last year ($20 investment), but only got back a fraction of what I used to get back through HR Block. Anyone else have similar results? Debating on whether letting a professional do it is worth it.

[gaelan]

taxcut and i use the rebates for other goodies like taxcut state and free filing

[The Gifuto]

I'm not sure I can do mine online this year. I work in one state and live in another, plus spent exactly 6 months as an independent contractor. I also want to see if I can get a deduction for gas mileage, since I averaged about 85 miles a day during those six months. Not sure if the online services will cover me properly.

As an independent contractor I'm assuming you got issued a 1099. That being said, you most likely didn't have any state tax withheld. Which will make your return quite a bit easier (but could cause you to have to pay more in).

If you did have state tax withheld, then hopefully the state you worked in and the state you live in have a reciprocal agreement (any wages earned in another state would be treated as if you worked in your home state meaning you just have to file in your home state). Of course, there are many different variations that could come into play.

Without knowing your situation, I'd think you'd be able to take mileage. Normally, commuting miles are not allowed. However, once you arrive at work, and then you have to depart to continue your course of work, then the standard mileage deduction begins to kick in. Again, all of this could change though, depending on your exact situation.

[gmzone]

I just shell out fifty bucks and let a professional do it.

And you call yourself a cheapass?

[PsyClerk]

My understanding is that while working as an independent contractor, driving to the work site was a tax write off. Once I became a full employee with the same company, that no longer applied because it would be considered a regular commute (since I choose to work there, it's understood that I also choose to accept the expense of getting there).

As far as state taxes, when I did them last year under a similar situation, I think I ended up paying little or no tax to NC, due to a credit taken from 'tax paid on income to other states/territories.'

Still think I'm headed to the accountant this year.

[The Gifuto]

My understanding is that while working as an independent contractor, driving to the work site was a tax write off. Once I became a full employee with the same company, that no longer applied because it would be considered a regular commute (since I choose to work there, it's understood that I also choose to accept the expense of getting there).

As far as state taxes, when I did them last year under a similar situation, I think I ended up paying little or no tax to NC, due to a credit taken from 'tax paid on income to other states/territories.'

Still think I'm headed to the accountant this year.

It might be for the best, since everyone's case is different. If you itemize your deductions, you'll be able to deduct the cost of the tax prep on Schedule A (the following year).

[dwsscs]

I've used Tax Cut Deluxe for about the past 5 years. It is an extremely user friendly program put out by H & R Block and only costs $19.77 at wal-mart. The E-filing comes free with a rebate. You can also import all your info from the previous year, which is nice.

I use this also, it asks the same questions as H and R Block. I have taxes that are a little more complicated and it costs a arm and a leg at a accountant.

This way I save the money and get to learn more about my taxes and finances. Microsoft Money is free every year after rebates. I highly recommend this program over the quicken one on price alone, and it does the same stuff.

[Moxio]

TurboTax. 8-)