C
Cyclone42
Guest
taxact.com. I usually pay about $10 in fees to electronically file both staye and federal. It's also done totally online, no software to install.
Tax Return- Who do you use?
- Thread starter jaretac
- Start date
For large complex personal returns and business returns I recommend the CPA firm I work for.
For relatively easy returns I recommend me, lol.
For really easy returns I recommend TaxAct, it's a really easy program to follow.
Like someone above said for as much as H&R and Liberty charge you could pay a real CPA to do your taxes. But of course I am biased.
For relatively easy returns I recommend me, lol.
For really easy returns I recommend TaxAct, it's a really easy program to follow.
Like someone above said for as much as H&R and Liberty charge you could pay a real CPA to do your taxes. But of course I am biased.
My cousin. He works for a local tax place and does forms and the electronic filing for us for free. :smile:
I think you're throwing the word "pro" around a bit loosely. In the tax prep world, a pro would be a CPA who does taxes for a living. 99 times out of 100, a person at H&R (or numerous other tax prep firms) do tax prep part-time, during tax season as a second job. It is not their profession. The quality of their work varies tremendously depending on the individual. I know, as I used to be one of those preparers (although for a different firm).
I've use Turbotax (premium version since I have a rental property and also a side business). Has worked great for me for probably 15 years. If I ever felt my taxes were getting too complex, I'd ask around to find a good CPA to handle for me.
Last edited:
The H&R people are usually seasonal and if you're a college grad, you're probably going to do a better job than they will. Unless you graduated from Iowa, then you'll definetely want to get a CPA, b/c the IRS gets mad when you fill out your forms with crayon.
H&R Block is the worse company to do your taxes. They get their people off the street and just give them a quick run down on how to file taxes. You ask them questions and they look dumbfounded.
You will get your questions answered and save more money if you go to a CPA. Plus I call my CPA for all questions I have.
You will get your questions answered and save more money if you go to a CPA. Plus I call my CPA for all questions I have.
Most on this board wouldn't grasp the amount we pay our tax guy. A pretty basic tax session is $575. We pay waaaaaaaay more than that. OUr family owns a large ag business, farm 1000 acres, have 3 different corporations, raise cattle and have employees.
The difference between him and H/R blocks of the world is about $500 and a good tax guy can easily make up the diffence.
We were to be audited once and told our tax guy. He called the IRS and the dropped the audit, worth every penny we pay him.
The difference between him and H/R blocks of the world is about $500 and a good tax guy can easily make up the diffence.
We were to be audited once and told our tax guy. He called the IRS and the dropped the audit, worth every penny we pay him.
100% spot on. Why you would pay someone $150 who has no real tax experience is beyond me. Hopefully in the next couple years with some tax preparer requirement changes it will fix this. I am a CPA and I do some taxes on the side and my rates start at $50 for relatively easy returns and that includes state and federal efiling.
Most of the tax software on the market today is fairly straight forward and addressess the questions that are applicable to a majority of Americans. I would recommend a professional CPA to those who are self-employed (just for the advice on how aggressive you can/should be for your "business" expenses), you are involved in multiple partnerships or businesses, or involved in large business or farm operations.
Most software even handles rental properties and other "side businesses" that may seem complicated at first, but through a straight forward Q&A session, gets addressed fairly easily.
I use the Taxact professional addition for mine and a few friends returns because of the multiple states involved.
But yes, most of the people preparing returns @ H&R Block are not typically CPAs and probably hired off the street. They complete the returns using a Q&A format similar to those used by software on the market.
Most software even handles rental properties and other "side businesses" that may seem complicated at first, but through a straight forward Q&A session, gets addressed fairly easily.
I use the Taxact professional addition for mine and a few friends returns because of the multiple states involved.
But yes, most of the people preparing returns @ H&R Block are not typically CPAs and probably hired off the street. They complete the returns using a Q&A format similar to those used by software on the market.
maybe us CPA's on this board should pool our resources and have Williams start a new forum for tax advice!!!
Probably could make some $$ from those on here who use H&R Block by charging them $75 and actually understand and have answers for the questions they may have.
Probably could make some $$ from those on here who use H&R Block by charging them $75 and actually understand and have answers for the questions they may have.
$150 for H$R Block is cheap. They want extra money for each form...they charged me $325 and I was just out of college. The explanation I got was because my taxes are very complex...bs I was poor had very little in my name. I would hate to see what they charge today for my taxes.
Exactly, I know my firm usually starts in the $350 - $400 range but we have approx. 5 partners who are tax specific and numerous other tax professionals who are at your disposal.
I recommend me. :wink:
But if you want to do them yourself (and most people probably can) then Tax Act has pretty good software. You can also check the IRS website for a listing of "partners" that let you use their software for free and even file for free if you meet their varying criteria.
But if you want to do them yourself (and most people probably can) then Tax Act has pretty good software. You can also check the IRS website for a listing of "partners" that let you use their software for free and even file for free if you meet their varying criteria.
