Do you have to pay just to talk with someone at LibertyTax, H&R block, etc?

Question

I am going to be paid $50 a month through cash or check for a family to do some light housecleaning and watch her children. How do I go about filing taxes and how much would I have to pay? And I have a child

Answer 1

I work for H&R Block. We will answer general tax questions at no charge. Most of us would also be happy to sit down and discuss your situation with you at no charge, providing you don't wait until we're at our most busy. Call an office now, and ask if there's someone you can talk to who does returns for people in your situation. If you go in now, and just ask about what you're going to have to do come tax season, you'll get good, unhurried information. If you wait, and call an office in, say, late January, you're likely to get someone who is trying to do just one more return for the day, witha waiting room full of clients, and an office manager asking them to please stay for just one more hour. Not that we shouldn't give you our full attention, but everyone else wants it, too. So, in short, yes, you can get some good advice for free, just do it now, rather than later.

Answer 2

If you are receiving $50 in Oct, Nov, Dec, and this is your only income, you do not have to file a tax return.

If you receive $400 or more from this job then you have to file a tax return as a self-employed person. You may not owe income taxes but you will owe Social Security and Medicare.

If you have a child you may receive Earned Income Credit by filing your tax return. This credit is considered payment toward the Social Security and Medicare taxes you have to pay, plus you will receive a small refund of what is left.

If you compose your questions and they are concise, there should be no charge if you ask the questions at a commercial tax preparation place.

Answer 3

Ok first of all this is considered self employment because they are not witholding taxes. So you are responsible for paying your entire Social security tax and that is about 29.7% of your wages. Then you will need to pay your local and state taxes, with this income your taxes will be 0 for federal on about $100 for State depending on where you live with one child.
So you will need to set aside $36.00 a week to cover taxes.
But once you figure you expenses, like gas to and from, cleaning supplies, clothes and work supplies you won't really owe any taxes. By Federal standards that amount of money is not even required to be reported, if you make less then $5000 dollars a year you do not have to file, althought you would benefit from the child tax credit.
What ever you do keep a seperate book for mileage and gas for work and personal use. And keep all reciepts for anything you purchase like clothes and office supplires.
That way at tax time you have these deductions for filing and you should be tax free and have some money back for a earned income child credit.

Answer 4

If you walk in and ask for advice, yes.

In your situation, keep good records of your income and any associated expenses to use when filing your taxes.

Actually, assuming you are performing all of these duties in HER home, not yours, you would be an employee and she should be deducting taxes, paying employer taxes, and giving you a W-2 at the end of the year. But if that isn't done, you are still responsible for reporting it on a tax return and paying taxes.

Answer 5

You would report it as self employment income which is subject to a higher tax rate ( you have to pay both the employer paid taxes and your own portion).

And generally you do not have to pay to talk to someone at Liberty Tax, H&R Block, or Jackson & Hewitt.

Answer 6

It depends. If its short and to the point, they will probably answer your questions... If it gets too long, they may want you to become a client and bill you.

I'm a CPA and I run my own tax practice. I don't charge for talking to people or giving advice. I figure if I give someone good advice, maybe they will send business my way.

Answer 7

H&R Block NEVER charges for advice. Even if you are not planning to do your taxes with them. You can call them or walk-in they have year round offices in every major city.

Answer 8

Usually information is free, but they will not do your taxes for you free. H & R Block gave me several options on my taxes.
I picked the best one and I was FAXED my refund 24 hours later. It worked for me.

Answer 9

Yes and no. They will talk to you IF they are going to do your taxes. If you need advise they may be able to help, again if you are doing your taxes with them. What do you need to know?

Answer 10

Generally, "No".

If you keep it short and to the point, any tax preparer should be able to part with some free advice......at Liberty, it just may not be correct advice thought.......