[Kitty]

I've always had H&R Block do my taxes....but they are getting so expensive that each year I say I'm going to attempt to do them myself but always end up going back to them. I'm scared of making an error and getting audited (although I've never been audited before).

I found a website (www.taxact.com) where you can e-file your federal taxes for free by preparing them yourself. The state form is a minimal cost. For the Deluxe version it's $19.95 I believe and you get some assistance with that choice.

I'm seriously thinking about downloading the program and doing them myself this year. Last year it took everything I got back from my state return to pay for having both returns prepared! It cannot be that hard....I think I'll try it myself this year!

[lady_express_44]

I have always done my own taxes, even when I owned a business. Personal taxes are a piece of cake.

The last 5 yrs or so, I've done them online. In Canada, the service is free of charge for those on disability, but even when I paid, "basic" filings were only something like $9.99 or $14.99 through a company called U-File. (I don't know if they are in the US though ...).

They walk you through an interview, just like H&R block, then apply your answers to the right places on the forms. Again, I don't know about the US, the government will correct anything you make a mistake on (to your advantage or disadvantage, whatever is applicable) because they get copies of all your employer/bank, etc. forms too.

Cherie

[Blessings2You]

I do ours. We're so basic. No business, no investments. Easy-peasy. Well, sorta. The federal is easy, the state is a nightmare.

[kicker]

I lucked out, my brother is a CPA. He does all the family members' taxes at no charge. I usualy l send something to his whole family, fruit basket, Mix of good eating stuff, etc.

[Jomar]

I've always done ours, on paper in the old days and now the online and e-file. I do them for my grown sons too.
ours are all pretty simple and basic.

I use the gov e-file site to find the free federal e-file programs.
{income limits apply etc}
I really hate messing with the paper forms and stamps LOL.

I've used Tax Act online for ours the last few years and if you stay with them you can access the previous tax years information and they have an option to hold all your tax yrs for a small fee.
{I haven't looked at it yet this year, so there might be changes}

But I would guess all the bigger tax preparing names would do the same or a similar thing.

[Jomar]

kitty ,
you can use your previous forms as a guide to do them yourself.

You don't even have to buy or download the programs- you can do it all online and it will save where you stop at if you don't get it all done at one time. plus you can go back and make changes or do comparisons etc.

The only downside is if you have a slow connection or possibility of spyware or keyloggers on your computer..

I used to buy a program each year but now that I've used the online ones for 5 yrs now - I'm sticking with that.
they let you print everything out at the end so you still can have the paper copies, and you can choose to e file or send the paper copies.

more info and free e-file info/links-
http://www.irs.gov/efile/

[freeinhou]

I do ours. I got jipped. My wife's an accountant, and I still have to do ours...

We got gigged by the IRS twice and I won both times. The IRS pays great interest rates if they withhold your refund and you prove them wrong.

I use TurboTax. It's too expensive, but since we still have to file an Ohio state income tax return, the service is worth it to me.

Tom

[tkrik]

Um, Kitty, I do my own online but based on income I don't have to pay anything doing them online or in person. I just go through the IRS site links to get to them done free. There is also a local service that does them for free for low income/disabled people.

Also, I really don't have to file at all. Last year I did because of the stimulus package.

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by tkrik

Also, I really don't have to file at all. Last year I did because of the stimulus package.

How do you know if you're required to file or not? Is it based on income? I know I'll have to file for 2008 because I had income from my employer during the year. 2009, though, I won't have anything but disability income.

I wish they'd just do away with income tax. It's such a headache.

[ewizabeth]

Mine are too complicated with all the corporate stuff so I have the accountant do them. I probably could do them but why suffer needlessly? DH does his. We have to file separately to take advantage of all our deductions.