Do you pay to have your taxes done?

[PennyPincher]

I'm thinking ahead here and trying to get prepared for next tax season. I've done my own taxes most years, but opted to go to a source last year and paid quite a bit. What do you all do/what do you recommend? I'm curious to know if paying a professional can actually help get a larger return... I bought a house last year, and along with some other things my taxes are starting to get more complicated. Any input is appreciated!

[terry1156]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

This is one of the best moves I have ever made. I used to be afraid of taxes and always had someone else do them. Then about 10 years ago, I took tax preparation course from H & R Block. The course cost about $200 (tax deductible), but I have never even thought of having someone else prepare my taxes since then AND I can get part time work during tax season from H & R Block anytime helping them prepare other people's returns!

[lieweheksie]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

I pay someone to do our taxes- he's a qualified accountant and also does our most of our investment planning. He charges a set fee, for doing both my and Dh's tax returns- we file separately in SA.
I've just banked DH's refund cheque and yes the fee was worth it- he is also reasnable.About 8% of our total refund. Unless you are prepared to go on a course, get someone else to do it- get recomendations from friends and family and don't go for the person who claims unrealistic refunds- get someone who will get you all the refunds legaly and ethically allowed

[sarah]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

I use tax soft ware. I've been extremely happy with it. The first year I used it the software caught a 1500.00 mistake that H&R Block had made. I use tax cut but there are other brands that are probably just as good

[Tree0164]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

I pay an accountant to do mine. I have home business so I work with my accoutant to do it. He is quite reasonable and I starting using him when I working in the tax department of a financial services firm. I hated tax season.

[DivaJen]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

We have an accountant, but we've had a series of businesses and such, so our taxes have been more complicated. What's great about our CPA is that we can go to him throughout the year for advice and suggestions on various money-related things and he's always there for us. He only charges us his fee at tax time. He's good guy. Before we had businesses to worry about, I/we did our own taxes.

[Bev S]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

My hubby took the H & R Block course a few years ago and has done ours ever since. He uses Turbo Tax I believe.

[seaar2000]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

My sister-in-law does it for me. Only charges me $25. She is a CPA and is up-to-date on all the new tax laws, naturally. When it comes to doing taxes I am very ignorant on this.

[Momtwo]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

No! I am an accountant. I do my own.

[amomof4]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

Our taxes are way too complicated to do them ourselves.

[Lori63]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

Every year they seem to get more complicated, but I do ours. I love math and numbers-should have gone into accounting.

[Luv2shop]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

I do my own It saves my over $100.

[Fern]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

I have an accountant who probably charges too much--$225--but i hate the thought of doing my taxes

[ender513]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

I don't pay to have my taxes done, but I have very simple taxes No mortgage, income from just one job. The only thing I have to adjust is my student loan interest. I'm sure at some point I might think of taking a course or going to an accountant, but for now I can do it easily myself.

[jmjj215]

Re: Do you pay to have your taxes done?

$225 isn't a lot to do taxes It's awful you know! (the tax part)

I used turbotax last year and didn't like it. I prefer to just do the paper forms and read the instructions and read the irs.gov website - you can learn a ton there! Also, two tax classes at the university have certainly helped me grasp underlying principles of taxation, and how to make sure you're not paying too much (most do).