Where do you suggest going to files your taxes?

Question

What place feels most comfortable to you and really seems to look out for your best interest and charges a reasonable fee?

Answer 1

H&R Block. They have a great reputation and are widely known.

Answer 2

This depends on how complicated your tax situation is and how comfortable you are handling your own return. If your taxes are simple and you're comfortable then use turbotax or TaxAct. They are pretty good softwares that guide you through to do your own return. If you are either complicated or uncomfortable than where you go depends on the level of expertise you need. H&R Block is good for simple stuff, but personally, you'll never get the same help as a CPA can give you. Someone off the street can go in, take a 6 week course, and prepare your taxes. Your mechanic could be your tax preparer! Bottom line, if you have some complicated stuff like K-1's or a growing schedule C, go to a CPA.

Answer 3

Ok... you've gotten a lot of answers that say "Get Turbo Tax". I was a tax preparer for years, and have gotten a lot of questions from people that are similar to, "Hi, my friend says you do his / her taxes and I bought Turbo Tax because I want to do my own, but I don't understand what they mean when they ask me _______."
Depending on how simple your return is, you may be fine with Turbo Tax. Although it's possible you could file for free with the IRS. I would stay away from Jackson Hewitt, they have a bad rep. H & R Block is somewhat better, but if you want genuine, personal attention and are sure you're getting every legal deduction you deserve, then you can always go to a professional CPA. Get references! Just because someone has CPA behind their name doesn't mean they're going to be any good. You can also see an Enrolled Agent. I know a lot of people might think I'm being a little demanding with that "get references" comment, but just remember... this is YOUR money that you're trusting them with. During my career I helped many people who had been swindled by bad accountants. Many of them even claimed to be CPA's. Some of them actually were.
You can also go to your states Board of Professional Regulation to make sure that they are what they say they are.

Answer 4

I strongly advise against going to a "tax boutique" that sets up in the mall, etc. Their people are paid by piecework (every form is so much money in their pocket).

Speed is of the essence with them, too. Consequently, there is an incentive to just go along with you when you want to deduct something that is improper.

I worked for the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for three years. I can't tell you how many people would get upset with me when I told them they couldn't deduct college books (the rule is that college expenses must be a fee payable to the institution as a condition of attendance). They'd get cranky and say "[Famous Tax Preparer] let me do it for 3 years!"

Sorry, Famous Tax Preparer was wrong. He was also wrong when he said you could deduct your internet connection fee because you take an online correspondence course.

Famous Tax Preparer just knows most people don't get audited, and when they do...oops, sorry. Cost of doing business.

There is a list of online tax filing services that the IRS approves (note: APPROVES, not endorses). I have put the link below. Depending on your income level, they may charge nothing.

The more complex your tax situation (investments, etc) the more you should consider having an accountant or other professional BESIDES [famous tax preparer] do your return.

Good luck, and don't miss your deadline!

Answer 5

I love H&R Block Online and have used it since 2000. It's the best of both worlds in my opinion -- the expertise and, depending on the option you choose, personal touch of H&R Block, but the ease, convenience, and privacy of using tax software at home whenever you have the time...as well as the ability to stop, save where you are, and come back when you're ready.

The price is reasonable, generally cheaper than personal service, and mostly cheaper than the tax software you can find.

NOTE: If you have an income of $25K or less per year, you can file for free through your choice of providers by visiting IRS.com. Look for that, too.

Answer 6

If you made less than $52 K please go to the IRS website. You can file for free. You have a choice of prgrams to choose from. I chose Turbo Tax because I am familiar with that tax program. I purchased the program for the last three years but then I was browsing the IRS website and found out that I could file for free! I was so happy because I really didn't want to spend the $40 for the program this year. It ask the same question that other tax programs ask. Why pay when you can do it free mail it in or file rapid. It is great.

Answer 7

If you're looking for someone else to do your taxes try a local LICENSED tax preparer. Stay away from places like jackson hewitt and h&r block. Very overpriced and most of their employees don't really understand the tax laws. They just input data without really understanding why they are doing it. A local smaller firm is your best bet. They will almost always be way cheaper than those other guys. Most of their business comes from referrals so they need to know what they are doing and do it at a reasonable cost. Just make sure whoever does them for you is licensed . They will have to have a bond on file just in case they do make a serious error and you are held liable to the IRS. At least you'll be able to how your preparer accountable.

Answer 8

Many CPA's offer this service. You might want to check with the better business bureau about the firms history. A great deal depends upon the complexity of your return. If you are filing a 1040 -EZ or 1040-A, the charge should be minimal. If you are filing a 1040 and have business or partnership income, you definitely need a professional. You want to avoid the rapid refund scam as that really is a high interest loan. I use the Turbo tax software. This requires a computer and the program will interview you and prepare your return.

Answer 9

dont go anywhere. Do it online. Turbo tax. They charge a fee but it isnt that much. You answer questions and it helps you fill it out and you can even Electronically file your taxes! Over the internet. No paperwork to mail in. www.turbotax.com
by the way I know people who had bad problems with H& R block. Some of the people who work there dont know anything. And the news in my area even did an investigative report on it last year and the H& R reps were so stupid and INCORRECTLY filed the undercover reporters taxes and said they could claim things they couldnt claim which was illegal!

Answer 10

I would recommend TaxAct. Their website addresss is www.taxact.com.

As a new customer, you get everything for just $10. That's the Federal free, and the state at $10. In the following year, you can get the full package (Fed and State) for $19.95, or if you don't mind ordering early in the year, then it's for only $17. That's the route I go because they don't charge my credit card account until the software is available. It's available by January 15th, they bill my credit card then, and I download it then. If something goes wrong with the download, or I accidentally erase it, I just go back to the site and download it again for free.

You can also get it mailed to you on a CD for an extra $5.00. I download it every year because it's cheaper that way.

When I first started to do my taxes with software, I used H&R Block. Did it for two years in a row. It was ok, but I just hated that insane rebate thing they put me through. I had to pay around sixty or seventy bucks, and then after filling out forms and sending them to two different addresses, I'd get my money back. What a hassle--an unnecessary hassle in my mind.

During my second year with H&R Block, they told me I didn't qualify for the rebate. I argued with them via email for months, and they never gave in, but eventually I received my rebate in the mail. Too late then. The damage had been done. I was pissed off to no end. That's when I found out about TaxAct from a friend in the payroll office where I had a part time job. I've never looked back. I use TaxAct every year now, and it costs me only $17.00 each year. It also lets me do what if scenarios. For example, I've already done my 2006 taxes (the one I need to mail or email by April 2007) and my projected taxes for 2007 (the one I need to mail or email by April 2008).

I recommend them very highly. No rebate hassles. No games. And your first year is just ten bucks. Check them out. You won't regret it.

I notice that someone suggested going to the IRS site and getting to do it completely free if your income doesn't exceed $52K. Well, I personally don't think that's a good idea, simply because your income will exceed that amount soon enough (if it doesn't already), so better off, in my opinion, getting used to using software that you'll be able to rely on in future years too.

In the end, the choice is yours, but I doubt you'll ever regret trying out TaxAct. My first year, I accidentally dowloaded the wrong stuff, and went back in to download the right stuff, and then realized I'd gotten my credit card billed twice. This was on a Sunday; so I sent an email to them explaining what had happened. On Monday, the very next day, I got an email back telling me that my accound had been credited to show only one charge. That's how well TaxAct people treat you. No freaking games. If that had happened to me with H&R Block, I would probably have been arguing with them for months.

Answer 11

TurboTax, you get step-by-step lesson of learning how to do your taxes yourself, and you get all the money refunded for you ONLY for you, you won't have to pay ANYONE a fee. Also, you don't have to wait in a long line to get it done, all you have to do is upload it to your computer, and get started, and should be completed within an hour. I suggest getting the Deluxe kind, as you can do the federal and state with it (city counts as the states). It's sold at most office and computer stores. (I'm talking about the disk, I know someone that uses it annually and has no problem with it).