When I used to work in the states I hired a professional to do my taxes. Every year the money I received back from the government more than paid for what he cost me.
This thread is sounding like some of you should join the movement for a flat tax and to do away with the IRS.

 

I use turbotax, have for 5 years.

I know I don't have too, as my return is the simplest out there, no mortage, not married, just 2 medium sized deductions running around.

Prior to investing in the software,
I'd always make at least one simple addition/subtraction/multiplication error that delayed my money coming back.

Now with Turbotax, no more errors, I can electronically file from the comfort of my tidy whities,
and have my money in less than a month.

If you don't want to seek out a non H&R tax preparer,
Turbo Tax, TaxCut, or any other major version out their will be well worth it.


phox

 

I don't think Herrin's problem lies with tax preparation. His problem is that on his W4, the form you fill out at the employer, he listed "0" dependents, and "married, but withhold at a higher single rate". But I don't think his employer withheld the correct amount.

Herrin, you need to check that NOW, buddy. You're almost 15% into 2006. Don't get so far behind the eight ball that you can't catch up. I'd also recommend seeing a tax professional, or attorney.

 

Personally, I'd like to see a federal sales tax and just avoid the whole income tax thing altogether. It seems like the best and most fair way of taxing folks. It makes perfect sense. You make more money...you buy more stuff...you pay more taxes. You make less money...you buy less stuff...you pay less taxes. I cannot think of one single GOOD reason not to drop the whole income tax thing and go with a federal sales tax.

 

Good advice.

 

Call HR at work for her and see how your taxes were setup. I had set up my withholding wrong several years ago and owed because they didn't withhold enough Sounds like that might have happened to you. Maybe a pro could help minimalize the damage, but it looks like this is going to hurt

 

FWIW, I've had excellent luck with eztaxreturn.com. Granted, I'm finacially simple (poor) but I got my paperwork together on a Monday morning, went through the online process that afternoon and had my refund direct-deposited 8 business days later. It's worked well for me for 3-4 years.

 

Go online and fill in all your info on either taxcut.com or turbotax.com --- it's FREE until you actually want to file (electronically or print & mail). At least you'll see if you've made any mistakes along the way... I just bought TaxCut last night and filed mine and my wifes taxes in about a half hour!


Tony

 

Doesn't anybody have savings anymore?
Being self employed I can't spend every dollar I receive. I put it away until tax time and then when all that stuff is paid then I pay myself. That way I don't get wound up when I hafta write them a check.
You'd be crazy not to use a professional to do your taxes.

 

We're in a very different boat than about 95% of Americans. I had $19,000 in savings last year for taxes, I was only off by about $2,000 come April!

I envy my wife, every year are taxes are a headache because of my Indepentant contractor status, she get's one slip from her employer, one from the savings and one from any classes she had taken and she's golden.

I have like 4 1099's, stacks of reciepts, bills and invoices. I write off everything including (seriously) my morning coffee and paper.

I'm constantly talking and thinking business, so what I expend during those hours are just a cost of doing business. I am jealous of the W4 guys, most of them are using the IRS as a savings plan, in May they get a check for a few grand and life is good.

My '04 taxes got mailed out October 17th, two weeks after my extension ran out.

This years gonna be different!

As is said in my first post (and many others have added) Get a CPA to hook you up. Do it now before they are swamped.

 

Hoss, I have been advocating a federal sales (consumption) tax for years. Nothing could be more fair. I would exclude food and Medical , no other loopholes for ANY person , company or corporation