Tax Preparation

[Ash]

So... It's that time of year! I had a question for you guys: How easy is it to prepare your own taxes? I normally go through Jackson Hewitt, but I really want to save as much money as possible this year, and would like to prepare them myself if it's not too hard to do. But I also don't want to screw anything up. So... Help? :wacko:

 

[Kalandra]

How hard depends on how complicated your tax situation is. They can be very simple to do. I have been doing mine for a long time now. If your tax situation isn't too complicated you may want to download the forms and instructions and read through them. If you start now you will have time to determine if you need help before businesses get too flooded with work.

 

[Ash]

I don't think it will be too difficult. I worked 2 jobs, both of which I had last year, haven't bought anything (cars, appliances, houses, etc). I'm thinking of using the free turbo tax option, since they say they provide support. However, so far I'm stumped on one question.

Choose the one that applied to you in 2009.


I was a full-time student and my parents or someone else provided at least half of my support.

I was a full-time student and and I provided at least half of my own support.

I supported myself.

None of these apply to me.

I live at home with my parents still, but am not in school, but I pay utilities for living at home. So would I choose "None of these apply to me"?

 

[alli713]

Are your parents claiming you as a dependent?

We use turbo tax and it makes it real easy. Well... that and my fiance was a financial adviser so he understands all that technical wording..

 

[threewingedfury]

I use Taxslayer each year. Never had a problem with it and it's really cheap.

 

[tunes]

Turbotax all the way. You have to be a complete idiot not to be able to use this program on line. They walk you through everything so thoroughly, you start to want to slap them. You can use their free program or pay to use their gold program if you have a buttload of deductions and stuff.

 

[brekai722]

DITTO!!! I agree with Tunes. I have used Turbotax for the last 5 yrs and I have never had a moments problem. I had to file 2 state taxes last year and even that was made simple with all the changes in John's status from Active to Retired Military. You can't go wrong -- even if you are a COMPLETE idiot - lol. I should know.

 

[brekai722]

I would put I supported myself or none of these. You can always go back and change it later.

 

[Ash]

They're not claiming me they can't because I'm not on school, so I suggested "None of the above" for the time being. Now all I need is my W2s and I'll be set!

 

[starleomach]

I use turbo tax..this year it is marshalls problem though LOL

 

[eroomlorac]

Turbotax all the way. You have to be a complete idiot not to be able to use this program on line. They walk you through everything so thoroughly, you start to want to slap them. You can use their free program or pay to use their gold program if you have a buttload of deductions and stuff.

So, do you think even I could use it?

 

[brekai722]

Anyone can use it just visit their website.

 

[Melissa]

So, do you think even I could use it?

LOL CAROL! Anyone can do it! I did mine last year in about 15 minutes! And the year before that I did in about 15-20min. Mom did them before then and she did them by hand. We have decided NEVER to waste that time AGAIN doing them by hand by ourselves.

Thank God for TurboTax though. This year with me buying the house we are doing them like 4 different ways to see how we get the most money back. Im still a student so I get all my taxes back anyways.. So that tax credit really doesnt help me. So we might have dad and mom still claim me this year with the house to get the most money back.. Thank God its quick so we have the time to do it several times..

ALSO I realized last year when doing mine.. That If you have done them the year before and you dont have a copy of your taxes fromthe year before TurboTax will actually store the previous year so when they ask you for your previous tax information its there. You dont have to freak looking for your info! Its great!

 

[eroomlorac]

I usually do them with pen and paper every year. I'll have to try Turbotax. Is there a website or do you have to buy the software?

 

[VolunteerChin22]

I like Taxslayer - super easy and it's free for active duty military

 

[Jenn]

my husband and I used to have our taxes done for us every year and forked out way too much money to have it done. We have been using TurboTax the last 2 years and it is simple and much cheaper.

 

[arf2184]

We do ours at http://www.taxact.com/ - free and easy as can be. I used Turbotax for a couple years, but then they wanted me to pay one year, so I switched to TaxAct. Takes me about 5 minutes to do my taxes once I have all the right papers.

 

[tunes]

http://turbotax.intuit.com/

The free filing is for if you don't have a ton of stuff to claim, deductions, property, etc.. If you have a super complicated tax return, then it can cost you, but it's still a heck of a lot cheaper than paying an accountant or a service to do it for you.

 

[beanjelly]

Yup, I've used turbo tax the past few years. The federal is free, but then I've always had to pay for the state return.

 

[Ash]

Keith's gonna look over my return anyway once i finish it to make sure I get as much as possible back, but turbo tax was flippin easy!