Hey Everyone,

 So the tax time is upon us (here in the US) This will be the first time that I will file my taxes on my own, without the help of my parents. I have been living out on my own for a few years now, but have never done it myself. Now, I will have too and was wondering what the best way to do it would be? Should I do it myself with turbo tax? Is H&R Block a good option? I heard they are good, but their fee's are expensive. I appreciate any help/info.

Peace, Steve

I always use software. For the minimal amount of deductions that I put down it's worth it. Just look in any Best Buy or Circuit City ad and you'll find tax software that costs next-to-nothing and in some cases is even free after rebate. Then you pay an additional $7 or whatever it is to file electronically and you have your shit in about 2 weeks. Can't beat it.

if you dont make that much, like me, then i would use freefile, it gives you the choice of whichever online tax service you want (i use h&r block) and it is free, including direct deposit i think

[url]http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html[/url]

turbo tax. It is the easiest program to use. It is cheap to right after all the rebates.

i used turbo tax online last year.....it was alright took two weeks to get my check.

yesterday went to h&r block walked out with my check it was 50 bucks not bad

Re: Best Way to File Your taxes?

Your tax return was only $50? :ROFLMAO: Do you always drink douche light with your salad?

it cost 50 bucks jackie

[quote=sakio pod]i used turbo tax online last year.....it was alright took two weeks to get my check.

yesterday went to h&r block walked out with my check it was 50 bucks not bad[/quote]

local H&R Block charged my $37, but this year I will venture into the world of DO IT YOURSELF taxes

-e-

Re: Best Way to File Your taxes?

I use Tax Act. Pretty simple to use in my opinion. Got my return in two weeks. Plus, it helps me with my State return since I live in NY. They charge $7.99 for federal and another $7.99 for state. Government takes too much and gives back too little. :D

[quote=sak o shit]it cost 50 bucks jackie[/quote]:ROFLMAO: You missed all four jokes up there didn't ya? :ROFLMAO:

you are all nuts. go to a CPA. (my firm will do if your on east coast :wink: )> we can always find out what you are missing out on. so many little things around that you can apply to help yourself out. especially if you own your own business. NOL's etc, also, past things like student loans and mortgage interest for those own houses can be very valuable when preparing your returns. also, NEVER take the standard deduction if make anything more than 10k a year/.

good luck everyone.

[quote=thesightless]NEVER take the standard deduction if make anything more than 10k a year/. [/quote] You mean there's a choice in the matter? And how much does it cost (on average) for a CPA? I have a buddy that's a CPA and has told me he will do it but he's a couple of hours away.

sightless, now you got my $$ hormones on the run, how do I go about it ?

-e-

yeh, got me interested too [img]http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_huh.gif[/img]

[quote=thesightless]take the standard deduction if make anything more than 10k a year/.

good luck everyone.[/quote]

:!: Really? :!: please tell me more!!

I did Turbo Tax last year and didn't like it. I didn't find it much easier than pencil and paper, and I'm very suspicious about the results. I'm going to H&R this year at the very least, and now I'm seriously considering what thesightless is saying....

use an accountant... no matter what they charge you will save money

[quote=sakio pod]it cost 50 bucks jackie[/quote]

so it cost 50 and you get 50 back.... why didn't you just quickly do it yourself and get the whole 100 :?:

i think you are misunderstanding dude :wink:

thesightless, do my taxes for me? :lol:

I always had good luck with TaxCut. I tried the H&R block thing one year and will never do it again. I was better off with the software. If your going to have someone else do it I would definately do what Sightless is saying and see a CPA.

BTW Sightless- please elobarate on the standard deduction comment. I only bought a house this year so I will be able to clear the standard deduction this time, but in the past I wouldn't have been able to itemize enough to get over the standard so I really didn't see any other options. I'm really curious as to what other options exist.

Re: Best Way to File Your taxes?

:ROFLMAO: @ all the asshats.

:ROFLMAO:

One more request for elaboration here sighless. Get on it. :twisted:

turbotax.com

got money back in a couple weeks and it cost less than $20.

I think thesightless has left for the day.

[quote=thesightless]you are all nuts. go to a CPA. (my firm will do if your on east coast :wink: )> we can always find out what you are missing out on. so many little things around that you can apply to help yourself out. especially if you own your own business. NOL's etc, also, past things like student loans and mortgage interest for those own houses can be very valuable when preparing your returns. also, NEVER take the standard deduction if make anything more than 10k a year/.

good luck everyone.[/quote]

hey sightless, I work in media and I have cable just so I can keep watch of all the news shows. I obviously watch other things, but is my cable bill something I can write off? It's over $1200 a year.

You pay more then 100$ a month for cable? What the hell do you smoke that makes you want to get raped by the cable company??

I thought that was common. We pay $104/month. Of course it includes the cable and the internet service.

We pay $90 at my house. For 4 Mbps cable modem and cable TV. But I was thinking he was referring to just the cable. Besides, I think I need to switch to satellite, cheaper, more channels

My parents went to Dish Network and have never looked back. Granted they're now on dial-up which works for them. I would die without a high speed connection and without cable it costs an arm and a leg.

[quote=thesightless]you are all nuts. go to a CPA. (my firm will do if your on east coast :wink: )> we can always find out what you are missing out on. so many little things around that you can apply to help yourself out. especially if you own your own business. NOL's etc, also, past things like student loans and mortgage interest for those own houses can be very valuable when preparing your returns. also, NEVER take the standard deduction if make anything more than 10k a year/.

good luck everyone.[/quote]

MY 2 Cents: I'm with you! Every year I get them done by a CPA and you'd be surprised what you can deduct and how much more you can get back/not owe. It's definately worth it!! H&R Bozo's are gonna do the very LEAST amount of work to help you out.

^^ are there any online CPA firms that will file your taxes for you ? I hope the gain in taxes is not lost by their fees..... H&R block has been the one I've gone to since 2001

E, your probably going to have to sit down with your CPA to figure out what things you can and can't write off. Its also best to find one and stick with them since that way they become familiar with your situation for the following years.

About H&R, your far better off even using the software stuff that is out there, including TaxCut which is made by H&R. I went to them one time and the guy had no clue. I gave him one of my 1099 forms and he had to go and ask someone else what to do.

Another note: regardless of who does your taxes, be it a CPA or H&R, you are the one held responsible. I've heard stories of some shady CPA's getting their clients in deep sh.

Re: Best Way to File Your taxes?

i used to file online cause i pretty much didnt have shit for deductions.. easiest & fastest.

this year with mortgage interest & other deductions, my wife wants to use a cpa she works with..