Do you file your own taxes?
By maezee
@maezee (41985)
United States
January 18, 2010 10:10pm CST
Buy some kind of software for it (like TurboTax), take it to HR Block (or some other tax company), have a relative do it, or do it yourself?
I'm curious specifically about people who file their own taxes. I've seen instructional papers at the local library but I haven't been gutsy enough to try it on my own, so we pay this friend of my dad's $30 to do ours for us. I'm thinking, as an effort to save money, I might try to do them myself. But I fear that if I screw up..Well, it will be a costly mistake.
Have you ever done taxes by yourself? Is it hard? Is it worth it?
3 people like this
13 responses
@niara25 (147)
• United States
20 Jan 10
Actually, I do my own taxes. I've been doing them myself since the second year I've been working. My brother taught me how to do them the first time I filed. Now I use a software. It prompts you, so you don't make mistakes. My state has a free filing site and I use that as well.
@kaylachan (84736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jan 10
I file George's taxes every single year. I don't understand half of what is being said, but I use turbo tax to e-file online. Turbo tax has step-by-step guides and downloadable software to walk you through it. I've been doing it for years and quite frankly I can't wait to get it over with. George gets his refund, and I don't have to sweat it for another year.
That w2 needs to hurry and get here.
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
19 Jan 10
I haven't ever let someone else do it for me, I have been doing my own for a couple of years now. A friend of mine pays about $30 aswell to let someone do it for him and he says it can save you a big deal of money. His mother in law got help from the same man and instead of having to pay $300 or so she got $600 back!
So it can really make a big difference I guess but so far I've been able to do just fine on my own.
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
19 Jan 10
Hi maezee,I do my taxes myself. Unless you own property or run your own business then they are really easy to do. You can get your tax forms at the post office and they also have a step by step instruction book. It's not as difficult as you might imagine. Also, if you make a mistake either way, the IRS will find it and correct it for you. They will send you a letter explaining what you did wrong and they will send you a check for the right amount.
@robertjvan (289)
• United States
19 Jan 10
I've used turbo tax for years, just but in my deductions and turbo tax decides weather the 1040EZ or 1040A is better for the refund, atleast this year it'll be enough to paid the state taxes from the federal refund plus a little to use till the next job starts.
@vjypathania (312)
• India
19 Jan 10
in our company the HR take care of this so I never had a chance to file the IT return by my on.
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
19 Jan 10
Dear friend,
I never used these software. I would just give to the office account and the rest is done by them. More over here in India in my office we have it done by our accounts and we do just have to check it a copy of it is given to us after filing. I have never filed my taxes.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
19 Jan 10
It all depends on how complicated your taxes are if every thing is standard then you should have no trouble but if you can't file just a short form, then you may find your $30.00 well worth it. I don't think you can buy a software program for that amount. I have some investments so I have to file long form and to protect myself I use Turbo Tax. I worked as a tax preparer for H&R Block for 4 years and still don't try myself to keep up on the new laws and not get in trouble.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
19 Jan 10
I used Turbo Tax for the first time seven years ago, and I haven't looked back. However, before we used Turbo Tax, I would do my own taxes on paper, the EZ form was all that I and my siblings had to use (I did theirs as well) and I also did my mother's for her on papers as well and hers is a lot more complicated but I am happy to say that I never made a mistake and never got an audit from any of those. If you are willing to take your time, then I think it is fine to do your own taxes. If you want to invest in Turbo Tax, it is actually difficult to go wrong.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
Nope, my company files the taxes for us. They automatically deduct it every payday. And at year end, then just send us the annual tax filling form with the total amount of tax withheld and it only takes our signature for them to file it. Have to review it first though before signing for any clarifications, omissions and wrong declaration. Better on my part since I will no longer file it myself.
