How do you process your income tax?

[Mike.357]

So I finally got all my W-2's and whatnot together and am ready to file.

 

What online software or website do you use to file?  Is there a fee or is it free?

[knewcomb]

Turbo Tax. You can get the software at walmart.

[LI0NSFAN]

Federal 1040 is free on turbo tax. It is really easy to use.

[Defender]

I paid 7.95 to use Tax Act online.

[dlm37015]

use a cpa you will be glad you did in the long run

[Caster]

1040EZ and a stamped envelope.  

I've been doing it the same way since I was 15 years old.  No sense in changin' now.  

Edited January 31, 2013 by Caster

[Mike.357]

I used to use a CPA,or at least one of his employees.  LOL.  At least he always came around while my forms were processed and shook my hand.

 

My taxes filing is basically simple.  No itemizing, I don't own anything worth anything other than the equity in my home.  Income is just from regular employment and a couple of months of the warden's unemployment benefits.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Mike.357

[Oh Shoot]

Tax Act. At taxact.com.  Free to do one return. I think it's free to efile one return with it too, maybe they went to charging 5 bucks or so, can't remember. Recommended by two tax folks I know, one is a CPA even.

 

Can do it online or download, I use downloaded version so have it on puter. Weak TN state module though, if you have to do that, doesn't walk you through which investment income is excepted and which is taxable, just gives you a link to state page for the scoop if you don't already just know. Or at least it didn't last year when I bought the TN add on. So I'll just do that one by hand this year. Can't efile the TN one anyway.

 

Used it last two years, I've bought the 7.95 version so can do more than one (Mom's too).

 

I'll do yours if you want.

 

There's also a freebie online one at irs.gov. Never used it, so it probably cheats you since it's their offering. :)

 

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free

 

edit: I see the above link walks you through some questions, then gives you recommendation for free file companies that meet your needs.

 

Did it for me (quite modest income these days) and it gave me:

 

 Online Taxes at OLT.com

http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http://www.olt.com/main/oltfree/default.asp

 

FreeTaxUSA® IRS Free File Edition

http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http://www.freetaxusa.com/freefile

 

FileYourTaxes.com

http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http://www.FileYourTaxes.com/alliance

 

TaxSlayer

http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http://www.taxslayer.com/americanpledge/default.aspx?source=ctbtmfy

 

TurboTax® Freedom Edition

http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http://taxfreedom.com

 

- OS

Edited January 31, 2013 by Oh Shoot

[Volzfan]

H&R Block online. These will walk you thru everything. They are very simple to do. I did mine 2 days ago. Gotta do my Dad's now.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Volzfan

[maroonandwhite]

I use turbo tax online and just pay online as well. I usually do a simple return with a standard deduction. The wife and I just went up another tax bracket  and while tithing 10% to our church and claiming 0 deductions still no sizable refund! I don't care to have a refund as I'd rather have it during the year but it burns me up for folks not doing much getting these large returns and breaks. Like this "earned income credit" mess. That's another topic though.

[Lumber_Jack]

I use H&R Block Online. It's free if you make less than $55,000 (or so I'm not sure exactly) otherwise there is a small fee (~$20). I like them cause they store your info from year to year and makes filing quick an easy, especially if you do t itemize deductions.

[BryanP]

My credit union has a deal with Turbo Tax.  I can link into it directly from my account.  Very handy.

[2.ooohhh]

I use a CPA, after being audited I'll never go back to using software again.

[kieefer]

+1 on H&G Block, local office has a CPA that has done ours for the past 4yrs.

 

 

 

.

Edited January 31, 2013 by kieefer

[1gewehr]

I've used TaxAct in the past.  We had some changes, so this year we're using Jackson-Hewitt.

 

I would caution against e-filing.  It's not secure and there has been a LOT of fraud associated with the IRS's insecure website.  If you use online software, just print out the completed forms and mail them in.

[Oh Shoot]

I use a CPA, after being audited I'll never go back to using software again.

 

My last two tax folks, one of whom was a CPA,  cost me at least $10K in TN state income tax. I didn't discover the boneheaded errors till the first year when I no longer had a business and was able to tackle them myself. Was able to file back 3 years worth and get about $1500 back, but the rest was a goner.

 

- OS

[canadienmike]

I use TaxAct.com.  I buy the $7.95 version which keeps past records and imports them into the new return.   TurboTax is owned by Intuit which appears to be anti-gun

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/59436-gun-dealers-having-problem-with-credit-card-processors/

[Guest Razz]

I use TaxAct as well. Works fine and is cheap. Got my w-2 in the mail at 11:00am (on Tuesday) and had everything done by the end of my lunch break at noon.

[2.ooohhh]

My last two tax folks, one of whom was a CPA,  cost me at least $10K in TN state income tax. I didn't discover the boneheaded errors till the first year when I no longer had a business and was able to tackle them myself. Was able to file back 3 years worth and get about $1500 back, but the rest was a goner.

 

- OS

 

 

I should specify, not just any CPA will do, I found a good CPA with references.

[Oh Shoot]

I should specify, not just any CPA will do, I found a good CPA with references.

 

Oh, they wuz recommended by several folks I thought well of, one by bunch of lawyers I used to know pretty well, real skinflints too, so figgered she was getting them every dime back possible. She seemed to pull every string possible on the federal stuff, damn return was like a tome, but somehow was just lax on the quite simple state part.

 

Sometimes, you just don't know, you know?

 

- OS

Edited January 31, 2013 by Oh Shoot

[Guest Broomhead]

I have used TaxAct for the past 3-4yrs. I just use the free version online. I'm thinking of using H&R Block this year though, even their free version has free audit protection/coverage. My return is almost complete, just waiting to pick up the stuff from my daughter's after-school care today. Turbotax, TaxAct, and H&R Block all gave me the same results so it's six of one or a half-dozen of another.

[Guest sL1k]

I've used tax slayer the last 4 year's.

[2.ooohhh]

Oh, they wuz recommended by several folks I thought well of, one by bunch of lawyers I used to know pretty well, real skinflints too, so figgered she was getting them every dime back possible. She seemed to pull every string possible on the federal stuff, damn return was like a tome, but somehow was just lax on the quite simple state part.

 

Sometimes, you just don't know, you know?

 

- OS

 

 

Yeah, I could see that. My taxes are confusing as all get out, so it's worth the small fortune that I get charged to just take care of them. If they screw 'em up. . . that becomes my attorney's problem. :)

[peejman]

I've used the H&R Block software for the past several years.  My taxes are fairly simple and its quick and easy. 

[Oh Shoot]

Yeah, I could see that. My taxes are confusing as all get out, so it's worth the small fortune that I get charged to just take care of them. If they screw 'em up. . . that becomes my attorney's problem. :)

 

Well, you don't go to Leavenworth for making mistakes. Matter of fact you generally don't even owe penalties on mistakes as long as you cough up the diff pert quick when they catch it. 'Bout the only thing that's deep do do is simply not filing at all, or not reporting actual gross income.

 

'Course, mistakes in their favor never get caught somehow or other, either, so if ya got big bucks at stake on complicated returns it's often worth paying a pro to protect them. ;)

 

- OS

Edited January 31, 2013 by Oh Shoot