APRIL 15 th --- What do you do?

United States
January 12, 2007 12:54pm CST
What do you think is the best way to do your taxes? Online filing or Accountant or Do you Do your own? Why? What is the earliest you file? Do you wait until the last possible moment? I used to do my own taxes and filing, when it was simply me and just a matter of filling out, attaching W2's. Now that I am and married and we have many deductions etc. we file through an accounting firm have been for the last 18 years or so, but every year they go up in fees, 10 or 20 dollars we pay now almost $125 to file taxes. Have you ever filed on-line? Is is difficult? Reliable and safe? I would like to keep the $125 and file directly, any one have any suggestions of experiences to share :)
7 people like this
26 responses
• United States
12 Jan 07
I have always filed online, using several different services including H&R Block and Turbotax. I have written about my experiences with both on another site if you are interested in checking it out: H&R Block: http://www.epinions.com/content_221586230916 Turbo Tax: http://www.epinions.com/content_221623193220 I had differing experiences with both services, and I have also used I direct form through the IRS. That form makes you do all the work, and these other types of programs try to help you along with your filing. Either way, if you can figure out what you are doing, you will save yourself those expensive filing fees.
4 people like this
• United States
12 Jan 07
Thanks - I will check out your other suggestions they help a great deal ;)
1 person likes this
• India
13 Jan 07
its my friends bday on april 15 i will b partyin...
1 person likes this
@sylvrrain (659)
• United States
13 Jan 07
I am a professional tax preparer. If you have an idea of how the system works, by all means, do them yourself. There are many websites that offer free e-filing. Very user friendly, and easy to follow directions. If you are a little scared, which most people are, then get help filing your taxes this year. Then take a class for next year. Learning to do taxes is not hard. I know of a couple of tax services that offer classes in the fall that would teach you to do them yourself. I know of one in particular that offers free tuition, you only pay for the book. I know by putting this information out there, I may be losing customers, but if you feel confident in doing your own taxes, do them. E-filing online is simple, safe, and free. You may have to pay a fee for filing state taxes, usually less than 20 bucks.
4 people like this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
13 Jan 07
For the past two years I have used- www.completetax.com I noticed their prices have gone up but it's still cheaper than most places you bring them. And alot cheaper than most accountants. I haven't had any problems at all. Check it out see what you think. It may or may not be what you are looking for.
3 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
13 Jan 07
I would like to be able to do my own tax filing. I really don't have enough to deal with that I should be able to, but every year I worry a bit that i might get something wrong, so the family keeps taking all of our taxes to H&R Block. They've done a great job so far, but boy do they charge you. *laugh*
3 people like this
@korek222 (701)
• Poland
13 Jan 07
Well when the times come for mine taxes i usually go to a friend of mine who (thank god) has it's own small comapny and he helps me fill up my papers which is i must say i difficult job. When i was first time making my tax sheet i tried to make it myself but after few hours spent on unsuccessful trying to make it right i decided to pay someone to do this but fortunately friend of mine was kind enough to help me with it :)
3 people like this
• United States
13 Jan 07
My mom usually prepares and then we have someone look them over and eFile. However, this year I'm heading up a free tax clinic for those who meet low income guidelines, in which we'll do their taxes for FREE, efiling. The government will let us. Pretty cool, right?
3 people like this
• United States
13 Jan 07
That is very cool -- My mother used to help every year with a Free Tax Clinic for Senior Citizens in Fla. The very best to you in this endeavor -- Happy Posting!
@annieroos (1845)
• United States
13 Jan 07
Well i have tried to do the turbo tax, but there were questions that we had problems with so now we take it to H&R block..they are good and reliable.. the last few years we hadn't gotten anything back.. and last year we actually got 22.00 back.. I know its not alot.. but its somthing.. at least we didn't owe.. so we bought pizza.. LOL.. But we do it early when we get all of our w-2's..usually in feb or march..
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Jan 07
I start getting my papers in order after I recieve all my statements. I have an accountant do it. I try not to wait until the last minute. My accountant charges $275. But I figure she knows her business better than I know it. So what she charges, I get a lot more back then if I did it on line on my own.
3 people like this
• United States
13 Jan 07
Well, I usually end up doing it at the very last minute. I have been filing online for the last few years, this has worked out well for me, but I don't have many deductions. If you have numerous deductions and expenses, I would continue using the accounting firm, at least you know that if there are any questions or problems, you have the support of that firm. That $125 is indirectly paying for that 'peace of mind'.
2 people like this
@venshida (4836)
• United States
13 Jan 07
I use Tax Cut software. I find the software to be easy to use, and you avoid careless errors. My refunds are normally minimum so paying a professional is not worth it. I usually wait until the 15 because I hardly ever receive a refund. I prefer to hold on to my money until the very last minute.
2 people like this
• United States
13 Jan 07
I go to an accountatn.... i feel it is the safest and most trustworthy way... plus i cant do math so i wouldnt do it myself
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jan 07
I have filed my taxes online for the last two years. I was tired of going to places and paying $100 and more. What I do is go onto the IRS site and select free file companies. I usually us HR Block. I go through the IRS site because it takes you to the free file part of HR Block. It is extremely easy. It ask you question you answer them and at the end it creates the forms for you. You can also file rapid and get a refund within 10 days I believe. Also I have my check go direct deposit into my bank account. Hope this helps.
• India
13 Jan 07
April the 15th is my birthdate......so i celeberate!!!!!!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jan 07
That's great -- Early Birthday Wishes to you! :)
@asteriskec (1074)
• Philippines
13 Jan 07
I run a business that requires attention and a lot of time so as much as I want to learn how to do my taxes, I just can't. I have my own bookkeeper/accountant
@hcprasad (1012)
• India
13 Jan 07
We donot file any return of income. We adjust with the raiders of income and pay them.
1 person likes this
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
13 Jan 07
I always go to the IRS site, it has a huge list of tax sites. If you make a certain amount that year, you can do your taxes for free, even free e-file. The 16th is when the IRS will be giving out the list.
@bbs2007 (28)
• China
13 Jan 07
i always is online
1 person likes this
@wesderby (178)
• United States
13 Jan 07
My wife and I used to go to H&R Block; we figured "They're professionals; it's worth the peace of mind we get"...That all changed last year. When it was just my wife and I, I noticed the price was around $55 to have our taxes done. Here in Washington State, we don't have state income tax, so no fees for having that done...Just Federal. Last year, since it was our first year doing taxes after our daughter was born, I called to see if the price would be radically different to have H&R do our taxes...I was told it would not be. Wrong. When we finished, the lady told us it'd be $107 and change. I refused to pay and said we weren't satisfied with the job they'd done...We left, and the next night, logged onto the TurboTax website, filled in the forms, got the exact same refund result H&R would've gotten us, and for about $22 after sales tax, my taxes were done, e-filed, and I had my refund deposited to my bank account in about thirteen days. We tned to file at the beginning of February, as soon as my wife's W-2 comes in...Mine always comes with my second paycheck in January, but my wife's company waits until the last possible day allowed by law to send theirs. This year, we'll probably at least meet with an accountant to determine what's deductible and what is not, as my wife has started a side business here at home, doing scrapbooking, customing framing, greeting cards, and stuff like that. Depending on what the costs would be though, we'll probably still do our actual taxes with Turbo Tax again. It was very easy to use; my wife and I started on a Friday night after we put our daughter to bed, and we were done in twenty minutes...It would've been less, but we had to look for last year's tax returns to get some information off them. :)
@adnanmd2 (830)
13 Jan 07
Is there any special day on april 15th?? well its as usuall. sitting online ..studying for sometime and having a chat with me friends..
1 person likes this
@thekiwi (588)
• United States
13 Jan 07
Honestly it didnt even cross my mind until i seen this topic!! I usually have my boy friends aunt do it..She "loves" to do it, or so she says, so shes been doing the family for years, i need to make her teach me how to do it, cause shes not going to be around forever...
1 person likes this