[From the class of 09]

Well since it looks like they aren’t going to adopt my tax policy this year I guess I’ll have to file another one of the government’s complicated returns. So how do you guys do your taxes? Do them yourself, use any software, go to a tax-preparer, or CPA?

I’ve always done them myself with some help from Turbo Tax. But this year it will be more complicated for good reasons (small business). So curious what do you all do?

[LUconn]

taxact.com for the last 3 years. Before that I did turbotax for years, and my very first year of being on my own I went to H&R Block. That was a waste of money.

[jbock13]

I do Turbo Tax. I'm not rich enough to the point that my dividends and capital gains aren't too difficult to figure out.

[ATrain]

I use the accountant for the Town of Appomattox. Not sure she'd do your's tho.

[Cider Jim]

Figure and I both use H&R Block online. It's dirt cheap compared to going to their office.

[Sly Fox]

Annual taxes are a walk in the park since I started having to file quarterlies. But we do our oqn qith assistance of Mrs. Sly's mom who is a retired IRS agent.

[Purple Haize]

Since I'm not running for office I don't really care about taxes! Lol

I use Turbo Tax but buy the 'extras' so it's still about $200

[BJWilliams]

I usually do it by myself. As with jbock my taxes are pretty uncomplicated so I can have them all done in a couple minutes...

[PAmedic]

been going to the same cpa for 10 yrs, doing Turbo Tax online thru our credit union this year

still doing the long form w/ all deductions but seems like its very thorough.

[FigurinItOut]

Though Turbo Tax is supposed to be "Dummy Proof," I must be a bit dummer than the software designers planned for. I've made mistakes with it that's cost me hundreds.

Cider turned me on to "Best of Both" with H&R Block. You first do it yourself online, which costs about the same as Turbo. Then, for just a bit more, an H&R block reviewer will proof it for mistakes. It's worth the added expense to ensure it's done right, but it's still much cheaper than having H&R Block do the whole thing.

[RubberMallet]

all h&r offices do is plug your crap into the same software. we did it 1 year when my wife and i moved from ia to illinois. and i watched them. i was like, yeah never again.

i just do turbo tax and have never had an issue.

[jcmanson]

turbotax

LUconn, how is taxact.com?

[From the class of 09]

turbotax

LUconn, how is taxact.com?

and what does it run you?

[ALUmnus]

turbotax

LUconn, how is taxact.com?

I've used taxact.com the last couple years. It's exactly like turbotax. Can't remember how much it is, somewhere around $30 for state & federal, maybe.

I went to an accountant for a few years, just to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Then started doing it myself and found there really was no difference. Saves a ton.

Edit: okay, I just went to their website. Federal filing is free, state will run you from $8-18, depending on what service you sign up for.

[jcmanson]

So TaxAct is much cheaper. TurboTax costs roughly $50 to e-file.

[Humble_Opinion]

Can you file State Taxes with Tax Act too?

[Sly Fox]

State taxes ... what are those?

[ALUmnus]

Can you file State Taxes with Tax Act too?

Yes. But I'm not a very reliable source on anything, so go here: www.taxact.com
I'm sure you'll find all the answers to your questions.

[LUconn]

I started using Tax Act about 3 years ago I think. It was identical to Turbotax only it's web based. Although I'm sure turbotax has a web based version too, but they didn't at the time. Your federal is free unless you have some really obscure forms to fill out. And then each state is like $15 or so. And then there's costs if you want to e-file but that seems to be the same across the board. I like it because every year, all my info is already there and I just have to enter the new numbers. The only thing I've found that I don't really like is that if you want access to a previous years return you have to pay a few bucks for it. They prompt you to do that after you file, or you can just shell it out at the time that you need it in the future. But obviously you can just save a pdf on your hard drive for free instead. I actually had to use that service this past summer because I was refinancing and my copy didn't get tranferred over to my new computer. So it's a nice service I guess if you're an idiot like me.

[LUconn]

actually, it says e-filing is free too on the site. But it seems like there's always some reason you have to pay a few extra dollars at the end, I can't remember why. Either way, it's cheaper than the $40 or whatever turbotax software is

[jcmanson]

TurboTax has software? It's all about the online version. Although I'm going to have to try out this taxact since it's much cheaper.

[ALUmnus]

TurboTax has software?

Kids these days....

[thepostman]

State taxes ... what are those?

Seriously!!

[RubberMallet]

the only reason i stick with turbo tax is because it saves all my data from last year and i'm lazy.

[alabama24]

If you pre-pay before the new year, you can get both federal & state with tax act for $16.