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I will probably use Turbo Tax again this year, but just wanted to know what everyone else will use? I know there are some free sites but are they worth it? Where are they at? Thanks in advance.
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Dawg Talker
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I did my state one through the Ohio e-file website and my federal through HR Block's website. I did them about two weeks ago and my returns were both in my account within a week. The state one was free and you can get the HR Block federal one for free too if you go through the IRS website.
Joe Thomas made Justin Timberlake change his name. He didn't want wusses to have the same initials...
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Are those sites pretty simple? Like do you just put your numbers in or do you need some charts? I've been spoiled by Turbo Tax for the last 3 years where all I have to do is put my info in and the program does the rest.
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Frenchy, Here's the link to the free version of TurboTax.. Do the Federal Free, skip the state return and do that for free on Ohio's website http://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/If you make too much.. there is a higher ceiling on the IRS's FreeFile website: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
SaintDawg™
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J/C Maybe someone has some experience with this. I'm using Turbo Tax and I came to the deductions part. This is the only place where I found to put my 1098-T form in from my scholarships (aka tuition waivers).
Line 1 has a big fat zero (money I paid for tuition) and line two has 15k (amount the waiver paid last semester). When all was said and done, absolutely nothing else was effected. Even though I had to claim it, is it really essentially free money? I have a hard time believing that it doesn't effect anything.
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Here's my advice...whatever you use to file, DON'T get scammed and pay for a quick refund. 
#gmstrong #gmlapdance
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Legend
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We take our to an accountant.  But we have charitable donations, rental property income and improvements, investments, retirement funds, etc. We tried it one year and it was a headache. our accountant charges us like $150 to do them (my wife organizes everything and does all kind of logs and ledgers, so it's easier than the typical shoe box full of receipts).
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Steeler
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Steeler
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Quote:
We tried it one year and it was a headache.
What was a headache? Turbo Tax?
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Legend
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Legend
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Quote:
Here's my advice...whatever you use to file, DON'T get scammed and pay for a quick refund.
I got my Ohio refund in a week ..... just by filing it theough the Ohio tax website .... and using direct deposit.
I just filed my federal last week, and the IRS estimates that I'll have my refund direct deposited during the 1st week of February.
How could anyone be so desperate for their refund that they pay some huge fee just to get it a week or 2 earlier is beyond me.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Legend
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Not sure what program it was, I think the one by quicken. The program itself was fine, it was just all the deductions and stuff we had to do, made it more of a headache than the savings of $150 was worth.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Steeler
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Steeler
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I've always had an accountant do mine....this will be the first time I'll be using Turbo Tax. 
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I've used an account for the past 5 years, or so. Too much paperwork and depreciation involved in owning your own business for me to worry about. It's well worth the money to have it done for me. 
#gmstrong #gmlapdance
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I took mine to HR Block the year the hubby and got married, bought a house and I changed jobs. I just wanted to make sure it was all done right. Sine then, I've used TurboTax. It's simple to use. However, if I had something unusual come up, I'd probably go back to HR Block. (like when I file for 2008 in 2009 with having a child)
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Steeler
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Quote:
However, if I had something unusual come up, I'd probably go back to HR Block. (like when I file for 2008 in 2009 with having a child)
I would think that Turbo Tax would still be easy to use after having a baby...at least that's what I've heard.
I don't know what to do...my situation was a little screwed up last year. I don't want to go into details about it, but it's a little complicated.
I guess I can always try it, and if I get stuck or anything, I'll just take it to an accountant. 
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Quote:
However, if I had something unusual come up, I'd probably go back to HR Block. (like when I file for 2008 in 2009 with having a child)
What for? All you do when Turbotax asks you if you have dependents, you say well duh!
Put your baby's name and social security number in, indicate that the child lived with you for 12 months out of the year and move on. Edit.. put the birthdate in too LOL..
Last edited by SaintDawg; 01/29/08 11:14 AM.
SaintDawg™
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If it's screwy, why not use the account anyway?
#gmstrong #gmlapdance
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Because for the first time, I'm going to owe taxes. And because shep keeps insisting that I can use Turbo Tax with no problem. And you know how argumentative he can be.  (just kidding, dear!)
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Ah, yes. Well, good luck...and like the commercial says, "tell the box you're stuck". 
#gmstrong #gmlapdance
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Steeler
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I've seen the commercial. 
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Legend
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I have done my own taxes for years (long form) It's not that hard, and Turbo is a waste of money IMO.
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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Rookie
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I use taxact.com. It's free and super simple. It walks you through the entire process and runs an 'alerts' process at the end to see if you made any mistakes or didn't catch something.
The only downside is you have to pay $10, I think, if you want direct deposit.
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Quote:
I have done my own taxes for years (long form) It's not that hard, and Turbo is a waste of money IMO.
And I have done my own taxes for years with the help of TurboTax, and it's slicker than snot.
Especially after you do it one year and the basic info is saved for following years.
Each person's situation and preferences are different, so it's difficult to say what another person should or should not do, but back in the day when I assisted my mother when she was working as a tax preparer I saw/heard too many horror stories about HR Block and other "expert" services.
TurboTax is da poop.....
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Legend
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I dropped H&R blockheads when they were not using all my deductions years ago, and I had to show them what to do  I had to do the same thing the following year with a CPA, so I gave up and started doing them myself.
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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Ive been doing mine and other's for years. it can be a headache sometime's , but what the hay.
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I've used H&R block's Tax Cut for years. Never had a problem. A few years ago, we took our taxes to the local H&R Block office and they were nice enough, but didn't take any time to figure out our situation, just punched numbers into the machine. After I got home, I figured I'd try the box and I actually wound up with more deductions cause the box asked questions the lady at the office never bothered with. I'm gonna try Turbo Tax this year and see how I like it. If nothing else, I'll buy both and see which is better.
KeysDawg
The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. - Carl Sagan
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Legend
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Quote:
I dropped H&R blockheads when they were not using all my deductions years ago, and I had to show them what to do I had to do the same thing the following year with a CPA, so I gave up and started doing them myself.
Perhaps I'm wrong, and if so correct me. Don't many of the "H & R Block" people work only seasonally? I've heard that most of them get 2 to 4 weeks of training, and then boom - they are tax experts doing your returns.
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Quote:
Quote:
I dropped H&R blockheads when they were not using all my deductions years ago, and I had to show them what to do I had to do the same thing the following year with a CPA, so I gave up and started doing them myself.
Perhaps I'm wrong, and if so correct me. Don't many of the "H & R Block" people work only seasonally? I've heard that most of them get 2 to 4 weeks of training, and then boom - they are tax experts doing your returns.
I believe you are corect on that? Not 100% on that , but seem's like ive heard that some place.
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Both sites are extremely easy to use and both are free. They tell you the number or letter of the box on your W-2 to find the number in and the rest is done for you and if you get direct deposit, it only takes about a week. Both of them combined take me about 20 minutes to finish.
Joe Thomas made Justin Timberlake change his name. He didn't want wusses to have the same initials...
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Legend
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yes that is true... ask anyone who works there... they will tell you they don'thave a job or they are seasonal. some have experience and most dont
Hunter + Dart = This is the way.
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Legend
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since I purchased a rental property i did a bunch of upgrades to it and I just started my own biz... there is no way that i am going to do it myself this year especially since not to mention i'm in outside sales. I found a good tax guy who does it inexpensively and is really good. I'll take him any day of the week over me doing it this year lol
Hunter + Dart = This is the way.
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Quote:
Quote:
I dropped H&R blockheads when they were not using all my deductions years ago, and I had to show them what to do I had to do the same thing the following year with a CPA, so I gave up and started doing them myself.
Perhaps I'm wrong, and if so correct me. Don't many of the "H & R Block" people work only seasonally? I've heard that most of them get 2 to 4 weeks of training, and then boom - they are tax experts doing your returns.
I was actually going to post the same thing - I took H&R's tax class in the fall this past year and they pretty much just offer you a job after taking the classes. The classes were good for information, but by no means should you be doing someone's taxes.
And the pay was terrible imo - $8/hr to start plus some bonuses if you meet certain quotas. When someone in the class asked why they should work there vs. going across the street to McD's and make more, I knew I would never get my taxes done there. I was at the class to learn, but many were there b/c they knew it was a ticket to a job.
Jackson Hewitt is the same way. My step brother 'took' the classes there and is now working there. By 'took' I mean he maybe showed up to 2 or 3 out of 10+. Apparently a 20% show up rate is good enough to then know how to do taxes. I don't talk to him much but when he told me this, I knew I would never go there either. He was telling me about a day recently where it was him and another new person in the office and that was it! 2 brand new people doing all the taxes that day in the office... They pay a little better at $11/hr.
Bottom line IMO is that you should learn the basics to do it yourself (and I would recommend the H&R course) or pay a real accountant to do it for you. The H&R, Hewitt, and now Fast Tax or whatever are run by very mismanaged people.
It's too bad you don't need a license to do taxes like you do with stocks, real estate, etc. Something would be better than nothing.
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