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Alright, this IS relevant, as most of us have to file tax returns, right? OK, maybe I have an advantage because my real job is as a personal income tax auditor for the state of WV.

Personally, I've found that doing your own federal income taxes is pretty easy IF you don't itemize and don't own a business.

If you can avoid it, do NOT pay anyone else to do your taxes for you.

The reason I say this is that I see thousands of errors each year from tax preparers, and this is just in this small state. I can only imagine what the error-rate might be nation-wide.

The number one error I see -- make absolutely sure that your social security number is correct on your return, OK? You wouldn't believe the headaches and delays caused by a simple transposition error.

Number two -- if you owe, please pay BEFORE the due date (April 17 this year). This avoids interest and additions to tax, in most cases. Filing an extension of time to file does NOT mean an extension of time to pay.

I know I'm really stretching the boundaries here, folks, but if you file a paper return, it means that an individual at the receiving end has to audit it.

Filing electronically or online is the way to go, but PLEASE double-check your return for accuracy before you click "transmit".

(This is a public-service announcement from a harried government worker). [X(]

I've been doing my own taxes all my life. For the past two decades I've used various forms of TurboTax (starting with my old Mac 128K). Most recently I've just used their online version and quit paying to buy and install their tax software on my computer.

Now here's the money link:

www.turbotax.com

This gets you to their FREE online version. They will try to sell you upgrades for advice and so forth, but you can just say no and do your taxes for free (including the electronic filing). They do get to charge for doing your state return if you want that added service. It seems that the Feds mandated that all such tax preparers offer a free service (which they do), but they don't have to make it particularly obvious. Intuit was providing free filing for anyone making less than $28,000 for years, but they "hid it" so you wouldn't find it if you weren't looking for it. This year is no different except that there is no longer a cap on income - everyone can file free.

Anyone can do their own taxes. This software takes you right through it step by step, even if you are itemizing. The free version doesn't explain things (it's an extra $4.95 for that feature to be activated) but I've never needed it anyway. You can download any instructions you need from the IRS web site if you have some tricky tax situation that needs detailed explanations). I've done some really complex returns in my career too and never had a problem.

The Navajo out here on the rez are often paying $100 or more to get their taxes done. I've been putting people online to do it themselves and save the money.

I've used Turbo Tax for the last 5 years to file my taxes. The software walks you through all the process and asks the questions in plain english. I think the others out there are pretty similar. If you buy the deluxe or premier versions it usually comes with a ton of tax guides and extra features to answer questions and help with planning for future tax issues. Electronic filing is easy and you get your return faster. I have yet to have an issue doing it this way.

That is except one year when I filed and someone had accidently used one of my daughters social security numbers in their return and I was forced to send mine in via paper as it would not allow an electronic return due to the "error" on someone elses return.

So yes please check the accuracy on all the social security numbers in your returns.

"Gunny"[8|] is a stoolie who works for the IRS.  Who would have guessed?
 
Do you get bonuses for putting people out on the street?

ORIGINAL: Doggie

"Gunny"[8|] is a stoolie who works for the IRS.  Who would have guessed?

Do you get bonuses for putting people out on the street?

Dog-man, the IRS is a federal agency. I work for the state. There IS a difference. However, in the end, we ALL work for Uncle Sam, do we not?

Watch it, Dog. There might be a revenuer hiding in your backyard. How DO you make a living, anyway?

I would suggest that when a country's Government is the largest employer in the country, there is a problem.

I would let you do my taxes but you would have to guarantee that my return would be larger then with my present tax preparer.[:D]

Hah, I just logged into my internet bank, clicked a few times and the tax forms were filled. Took less than 3 minutes.

Go e-stuff \o/

I think for your regular income tax preparation the offered software for consumers is pretty good in assisting you. If you are self employed like me and run your own mini company then a tax accountant is invaluable. Sure he wants his part of the caked, but I can assure you the money he gets me back is well worth the extra pay (and if you would count the manhours you have to put into preparing your taxes then even more). And you can put him on the taxes too of course (at least if you run a business).

This is from my experience in Germany of course. I have no idea if US tax software is any good. Or if you actually need an accountant for the US tax system (ours is a little bit "confusing" to say the least )

Ya if you have a complicated condition. But in "Gunny's" defense it is clear about NOT being complicated.

I used to always do my taxes. Now I pay to have it done because of problems I have. better safe then sorry.

My wife handles the finances now and has for at least 8 years. I simply cant do it anymore. She doesnt feel comfortable doing the taxes, so even though we have an easy filing situation we pay.

The money is only wasted if YOU think you wasted it. Thats like complaining about the cost of something or spending money on what some consider frivilous things. As long as YOU think it was worth it, it wasnt a waste. In that case you got the value you wanted out of the expenditure.

I do my own taxes but I studied accounting for 2-1/2 years because it was "practicle" kinda like learning to cook for yourself: eating, death and taxes are the -unavoidables- in life so I thought its best to understand them.
The software out is very good, very easy in laymens terms. I reccomend Turbo Tax w/ Its Deductible, easy as cheese.
Also keep your eyes open this year for the Telephone Tax Credit. Anyone who has ever tried to "understand" there phone bill will appreciate this but, this year there is credit for taxes paid on phone usage.
Get a shoe box and save every receipt.

ORIGINAL: robpost3

I do my own taxes but I studied accounting for 2-1/2 years because it was "practicle" kinda like learning to cook for yourself: eating, death and taxes are the -unavoidables- in life so I thought its best to understand them.
The software out is very good, very easy in laymens terms. I reccomend Turbo Tax w/ Its Deductible, easy as cheese.
Also keep your eyes open this year for the Telephone Tax Credit. Anyone who has ever tried to "understand" there phone bill will appreciate this but, this year there is credit for taxes paid on phone usage.
Get a shoe box and save every receipt.

Yep, clicked a single box in TurboTax and got a $30 tax credit immediately applied. Didn't need to specify exact amounts, just to certify that I had a phone last year.

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn

ORIGINAL: robpost3

I do my own taxes but I studied accounting for 2-1/2 years because it was "practicle" kinda like learning to cook for yourself: eating, death and taxes are the -unavoidables- in life so I thought its best to understand them.
The software out is very good, very easy in laymens terms. I reccomend Turbo Tax w/ Its Deductible, easy as cheese.
Also keep your eyes open this year for the Telephone Tax Credit. Anyone who has ever tried to "understand" there phone bill will appreciate this but, this year there is credit for taxes paid on phone usage.
Get a shoe box and save every receipt.

Yep, clicked a single box in TurboTax and got a $30 tax credit immediately applied. Didn't need to specify exact amounts, just to certify that I had a phone last year.

Yeah, there's a simplified table for the Phone Excise Tax Credit, based on the number of personal exemptions. For a family of 3, it was $50. It maxes out at $60, unless you really wanna add up the amounts from previous phone bills.