OT- Anyone use a CPA for taxes?
I file our taxes each year using one of the free online sites. Its pretty easy, just inputting numbers, etc. I refuse to go to an H&R Block type place because they way overcharge and I feel like they are just inputting the numbers, the same way I am.
I know a few people who use a CPA. I know they have a lot more items they write off. So it's worth it.
Here are the items that we have:
W-2
MIP
Ttudent loan interest
Daycare costs
401K interest (or something like that)
Injured spouse form
I'm not sure if there is more that I can claim/deduct, etc, that I am just missing because I'm not a tax expert.
Someone at H&R Block may know better, but I dont want to risk going there, not finding something I am missing and having to pay the fees.
Any thoughts or feedback?
Thanks!
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I havent been there in a few
I havent been there in a few years, but it was like $300. And I know we have way may deductions, credits, etc now.
I usually use Turbo Tax. I
I usually use Turbo Tax.
I just keep thinking... what if I am missing something... LOL
i used to do my own, then
i used to do my own, then when dh and i got married we went to a tax service a time or two. wasnt impressed, wasnt disappointed. just..... Meh.
since then we've used turbo tax and havent had any problems with it. i like the step-by-step simplicity.
I've been doing my taxes by
I've been doing my taxes by myself for at least the past 5 years, maybe longer. A lot has changed in the past few years though, so I dont know if I am missing anything. I dont think so, but I thought it might be worth it to go to a CPA to just double check??? Idk... LOL
^^^EXACTLY. i was trying to
^^^EXACTLY.
i was trying to explain this to dh the other night, he was going on about medical expenses. i'd tried that before, and our expenses were not even HALF of what was needed to qualify as a deduction. same with donating.
i still enter in property taxes and what not, but it doesnt change the amount we owe.
This is helpful. Thank you!
This is helpful. Thank you!
We've always used a CPA. Our
We've always used a CPA. Our taxes aren't as complicated as a lot of people, but they're actually not that easy either. (Last year I did them myself online just to see how easy it was. Took me about 10 hours, it was ridiculous. But we have a lot of supporting forms, not just the main one, that we have to do.)
Anyway, looking at your list, here's some other things you might be able to write off:
Car taxes
Property taxes
Interest paid on mortgage
Charitable contributions
Anything purchased specifically for work
Mileage accrued while driving FOR work (not "to" work! That's important. So if you're at the office and you have to drive to a customer site using your car, you can deduct the cost of the mileage from your taxes as long as your company doesn't compensate you for mileage. You can not deduct mileage accrued during your commute from your home to a work site.)
Isn't someone's BM a CPA? I
Isn't someone's BM a CPA? I heard it's her busy season, but maybe she could squeeze you in.
We always use a CPA. He
We always use a CPA. He charges about $300 for our rather simple return (some supporting forms).
He is amazing and can make money do things I never thought of. LOL. I would absolutely recommend using one (get a good word of mouth referral from sone one you know who is financially successful).
Best advice I was ever given: don't take money advice from broke people.
"don't take money advice from
"don't take money advice from broke people"
And now that may be the best advice *I've* ever been given!
I can't take credit for it.
I can't take credit for it. It's Dave Ramsey.
Me too. Been working on debt
Me too. Been working on debt these last few years. Only a small amount to go!!!
DR has changed the way I do a lot of things.
I'm a CA which is the
I'm a CA which is the Canadian equivalent of CPA. I'm always surprised by the number of people who pay hundreds of dollars to have a relatively simple tax return done by a professional rather than do it themselves for a fraction of the cost. Yours doesn't sound overly complicated but I'm not sure what some of the acronyms are because we don't use them here. I've heard some of the tax software programs you can buy are very user friendly and walk you through each step.
I use TaxAct which is pretty
I use TaxAct which is pretty much the same as Turbo Tax. It's pretty easy to do. We have Income, 401K, Daycare Costs, Student Loan Interest, 1099-I, Mortgage Interest, and I live in 1 state but work in another. I have to file 2 state returns. But it's all pretty simple as the software steps you through the process.
We use a CPA. She charges us
We use a CPA. She charges us $175.00, which in the past I have thought a bit ridiculous, because we have been going to her for years, so she has all of our info already in her system. So she basically just asks us a few questions, inputs numbers for the current year and bam.. we're done in like 5 minutes. It's worth it to me because we have income properties, home business.. stuff that she knows better how to list and, well, I am basically clueless when it comes to preparing taxes and want to be sure we are getting the most back possible.
However when I was talking to my mom the other day, she said she went to H&R (or one of those places) last year and they charged her $350.00!!! AND her return is pretty simple! I don't think she has any deductions other than medical/dental.
I always use a CPA. I have
I always use a CPA. I have tried Turbo tax before when they were simple. But, for the last 15 years or so, I have been using someone. About 350 and worth every penny. Drop it off and pick it up. Easy!