Taxes, taxes! I'm out of the loop!

[Geonz]

So... I'm gonna do that stuff and somebody had told me that now it was free to do taxes on line
... boy, does it set off my radar to go to "a company" and put that information in! I get the feeling I am supposed to know a few more things before I start messing with it... I'm wondering whether I should just get out the paper and pencil instead...

[TsPoet]

I've been using Turbo Tax on-line for about 8 years now. Before that I went to H&R - I've always been afraid to do my own. I've been really happy with Turbo. It guides you through each step and tells you what's going on, unlike H&R. If you've got everything you need, then all you need is Turbo Tax and you are done. Get it on-line, though, don't go buy it from a store.
There are other brands, I imagine they are all variations on a theme and equally good, Turbo is just what I've used and I've always been happy with it.
I assume your friend meant free as far as the gov't was concerned, most of the companies like turbo charge you for their product. Turbo claims to have a free version, but I think that's only if you have very very basic tax reporting needs. IMHO, the $35 is worth the piece of mind to me.

[Geonz]

No, I mean FREE - links from the IRS site to sites that have the forms and do the calculations. There's a whole list of 'em. You have to have income less than 56,000 - but hte one I clicked on will even do the business form C. ( http://citizentaxfree.com/ )

But you're right about $35 ... and online would mean I could get it now ;)

[Zen]

I've been using TaxAct (https://www.taxact.com/online/introduction/free_taxact_land.asp?sc=0842625200001C&l=1&v=0&kw=tax%20act&ad=18562967) for three years now and I'm very happy with it.

My taxes are fairly simple but these sites/programs are pretty much idiot proof.

[salsabike]

Turbo Tax is excellent. The IRS used to make you pay to file online--I think this is the first year they're doing it without a fee. That's what we did this year. Turbo Tax and online filing.

[Pax]

No, I mean FREE - links from the IRS site to sites that have the forms and do the calculations. There's a whole list of 'em. You have to have income less than 56,000 - but hte one I clicked on will even do the business form C. ( http://citizentaxfree.com/ )

But you're right about $35 ... and online would mean I could get it now ;)
Free is for your Federal return only, the State will run you around $14. Like Zen, I use TaxAct and it works just fine.

[indysteel]

I've used Turbo Tax for about four years now and agree it's fairly idiot proof.

I will say that they kind of screwed up my state taxes this year though. Some Indiana counties had some property tax issues that resulted in a tax rebate issued in 2008 for taxes that were assessed in 2006 and payable in 2007. Turbo's calculation for the deduction I was able to take this year was very overstated. After reading the state's instructions repeatedly, I could only conclude that the program was wrong. I ended up doing my state taxes on my own.

So, while I think these programs are very helpful, if something doesn't look right, you should double check the calculations.

[reddDesign]

I used turbotax this year with no problems. Did have to opt for the one that cost mulah since I had a 1099. What a pain in the rear.

Other then that, quick, easy, saves time methinks.

[Geonz]

My brother happened to call and he explained to me that the guvmint told the sofwtare companies that if they wanted guvmint cooperation, they had to get people doing their taxes online, to the tune of five online filings per software license sold. So, it makes sense that folks making less than 56,000 a year might be less likely to fork over the bucks anyway... Im going to see if I can do free first...

[mayanorange]

I have used turbo tax software for years, but this year tried the online thing. I had a 1099, so Turbo Tax wanted me to shell out the $50 again, but I saw TaxAct would be like $20 even with state e-file, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It was about as easy as Turbo Tax- lots of q&a things, pretty straightforward. I definitely recommend it.

[Tuckervill]

I've used TurboTax for at least 10 years and never had a problem. I do buy the premier package because we have rental property. But, the cost of the program is the same as hiring someone to do it, so it is deductible. If you don't have any specific circumstances that require it, the free online version works fine, too.

My 15 yo had income last year, and paid in $2.49 in taxes, so we used the free program on the IRS website (1040EZ) back in February (mostly a civics lesson!). Today it occurred to me that he had not received a check for his refund. So when I mentioned it he said, "I got an email from them." What did it say? "I don't know, I didn't read it." :eek:

The civics lesson is NEVER IGNORE THE IRS! lol.

Karen

[msincredible]

I've been using TaxAct (https://www.taxact.com/online/introduction/free_taxact_land.asp?sc=0842625200001C&l=1&v=0&kw=tax%20act&ad=18562967) for three years now and I'm very happy with it.

My taxes are fairly simple but these sites/programs are pretty much idiot proof.

I use TaxAct as well and my taxes include interest/dividends, capital gains/losses, and itemized deductions. I've been happy with it.

[smurfalicious]

Oh gosh while we're on the subject, I have a conundrum. I was done with my taxes, was. Then mom said T-Mobile sent me a W-2. Erm? I haven't worked there since Nov '07 when I moved to Colorado. Anyway, I guess it's related to the incentives program there and I "earned" $75 in 2008. They do this gross up thing so we don't pay tax on our incentives, and apparently the program year runs through October or November so this is to offset anything I cashed out in incentives after that.

So do I have to file in Oregon now too? Or do I just add this to my Colorado return? I am most confused.

[Mr. Bloom]

If you have to add another state, don't use TurboTax. I had to do that and the additional state form download cost me $42!!!!!:mad: and it resulted in a $45 refund!!!!

Our situation has evolved WAY beyond TurboTax...but I still try to fit a square peg into a round hole. The accountant questionaires required to outsource tax prep are just about as time consuming...

[smurfalicious]

If you have to add another state, don't use TurboTax. I had to do that and the additional state form download cost me $42!!!!!:mad: and it resulted in a $45 refund!!!!

Naw, I use TaxAct online, but I just have no clue what I'm supposed to do here. I really don't want to bother with another state when I was living in CO the entire time. Ugh, my friend is a CPA but the LAST thing I want to do is bother her this time of year.

[redrhodie]

I did "free fillable forms" from the irs website, and it's like really just doing them yourself (it does basic math calculations, and inserts numbers from one page to the next, which is nice). The only problem I had was printing, but I eventually worked that out. I could have e-filed through this service, but I like having a receipt from the PO.

I did my state taxes the old fashioned way. It took 5 minutes.

[Tuckervill]

Oh gosh while we're on the subject, I have a conundrum. I was done with my taxes, was. Then mom said T-Mobile sent me a W-2. Erm? I haven't worked there since Nov '07 when I moved to Colorado. Anyway, I guess it's related to the incentives program there and I "earned" $75 in 2008. They do this gross up thing so we don't pay tax on our incentives, and apparently the program year runs through October or November so this is to offset anything I cashed out in incentives after that.

So do I have to file in Oregon now too? Or do I just add this to my Colorado return? I am most confused.

Did they take any taxes out of that check? I wouldn't file anything or amend my return for only $78. If you paid taxes on that money (they should have withheld a little) surely you'll be getting it back anyway (I don't know about Oregon). Is your time worth the $1 or so you would get back? The risk that anyone is going to contact you about that $78 at this late date is rather low.

What I don't understand is that if you got the W-2 for 2008, but you earned the money in 2007...do you remember getting a check in 2008 for $78? The company might still owe you the money, if it got lost in the mail or stolen or something.

Karen
Karen

[SadieKate]

Our situation has evolved WAY beyond TurboTax...but I still try to fit a square peg into a round hole. The accountant questionaires required to outsource tax prep are just about as time consuming...How did some of us learn this before Tim Geitner?

What the heck does your accountant want? Bubba spends far less time gathering the info for our accountant than he did using Turbo Tax. even now with all the house buying/selling, the retirement, the move to Oregon, etc. Then add in the fact that the State of California has no clue how to do withholding for its own employees and retirees.

This year is the first time we've had a return in beaucoup years. Yeah! Maybe we can now get the garage shelves and bike storage built.

[Mr. Bloom]

my friend is a CPA but the LAST thing I want to do is bother her this time of year.

I can top that...SILVER IS A RETIRED CPA...and she's never done our taxes!


How did some of us learn this before Tim Geitner?


And hailing back to another political embarrassment 16 years ago: we paid our Nanny's Social Security taxes - 18 years ago - before that was "cool" among political appointees, as well! No educated person back then had an excuse to not know that...!

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Boy... reading all these lamentings makes me glad I can do my own really easily for free - using forms off the IRS/Oklahoma website. (guess i'm in the right profession <wink>) I still don't file online... I like the old fashioned paper filing method. I guess it gives me some kind of satisfaction of touching it and placing it in the USPS's hands personally. LOL

I end up owing the Feds and get a refund from my state. Every year it seems to work out that way. Comes out to a small net refund...nothing to write home about, but then I keep more of my own money every month instead of the gov-mint (hee hee).

That Geithner... I don't buy it either that it was an "honest" mistake.. I know lots of folks who actually did make an honest mistake and STILL had to pay penalties/interest on it. Grrrr...tax cheats make me angry!!!