How can we get our taxes done cheaply??

[Athena]

I got my W-2 forms in the mail a couple of days ago. This year I want to get my taxes done *cheaply*, but how? Last year, I paid the Jackson Hewitt people $125 to do my taxes. That seems like robbery. Please give me some tips if you know how to get it done more cheaply! Thanks!!

[winneythepooh7]

Do you know someone who is an accountant or knows someone who knows an accountant? My dad's friend and fellow-bandmate always does my taxes. I don't think he EVER charges me because they are good friends, and if he does, I think he takes out something like $25.00. Anyone my family recommends he charges a cheap rate. My boyfriend's sister is an accountant and she usually charges referrals $50.00 or a nice dinner out, if they are a sorta-friend she would like to get to know better.

[Ederratic]

Free?

http://www.taxfreedom.com/

The best way? Not necessarily. Anything on the web has a certain degree of flakiness that I inherantly can't trust. It can't hurt to try the tax freedom project because you aren't forced to file if you feel the numbers aren't right. The biggest snag is that you'll have to pay if you want to file state through the service.

I prefer getting 4 other people to chip in on a copy of Turbo Tax(You can file 5 returns electronically) and churning out the returns myself. If you've never done your own taxes you will feel a little uneasy but it's really quite easy if you read each question thoroughly as it interviews you. I've prepared the tax returns of friends and family and have beaten H&R Block 5 out of 5 times in getting a larger tax return for them.

FWIW all the tax programs are the same, I just trust Turbo Tax because I worked for the company for 7 years and my roommate practically runs their tech support department. :heehee:

/edit

If you have a small business and/or a lot of investments then get an accountant or use one of the chain services. It's just not worth it to try and figure out the code yourself for these kind of returns.

[Morgan81]

I don't know if they still do this but I had mine done for free at www.hdvest.com a few years back. If you can find a good CPA they'll do them pretty cheep, I go to one for $50 but I've known him forever. If that's too much, maybe some Tax Prep software would be good. That can't be more than $50.

[ce607]

I too recommend Turbo Tax - I've used it for several years and have never had a problem with it. Glad to hear they have a Tech Support recommendation as well!

[uscuba2]

get tubrotax and do it yourself.

[yankeeyosh]

if you make below a certain amount, H & R block has a tax program online you can use for free.

[coll214]

You can also use TurboTax online and pay a fee that way. My bank charges me around $10 to file federally through TurboTax through their site...

[sunshine79]

Has anyone tried going to an H&R Block office? How was your experience? I've always filed online myself, but this year I have some capital gains to account for and I'm so confused about those forms. Unfortunately, I don't know any accountants.

[tartytwenty]

Has anyone tried going to an H&R Block office? How was your experience? I've always filed online myself, but this year I have some capital gains to account for and I'm so confused about those forms. Unfortunately, I don't know any accountants.


I did. For the first time last year, because I had closed on a home with my bf, and obviously not being married, I wanted advice on what to do with all that. I had also closed out a 401K when I switched jobs, and he took money from a Mutual Fund that included internation funds...

I don't know! I found that it was costly, but having someone else responsible for it, was OKAY with me. Plus, since I had always done them and knew a bit about it, he talked to me and explained what I asked, and I could tell he knew what he was doing. So I was very pleased. We are going again this year, because of the house, I got another 401 related form ???, but by next year, I'll be doing them myself again, usually TurboTax.

[tina1979]

My friend just filed hers and she said that you can actually file through the irs website for free. She said that the irs uses turbo tax so that is what you are using. I believe the link is www.irs.gov i will see if there is a more direct link to it. I haven't even looked at it yet. Its worth atleast checking into. I use turbo tax every year so I am going to check into it as soon as I get all tax stuff together

[MetFanL]

Yeah, there is a Free File link on the IRS website. Just make sure you qualify. I think we'd all meet the income requirement, but you can't have any tuition or learning deductions or any dividend income, I think.

Otherwise, I think I paid like $25 to file both my state and federal returns.

[tartytwenty]

SWEET, I'm going to try that.