I said the heck with all the on line tax years ago, and take my taxes to a professional, and find many more opportunities to save on my taxes. You get what you pay for.
Warning: Turbotax
- Thread starter cmort666
- Start date
I've been using TurboTax but it's all online. Nothing is installed on my computer. What's the difference?
DWalt
Member
Ditto - Have been using TT since the mid-80s or thereabouts without problems of that nature. TT screwed their customers over a few years back when it dropped the "Basic" TT package (which was perfectly adequate for about 95% of taxpayers) forcing anyone with even the slightest complication in their income stream to buy one of the much more expensive enhanced versions (I am one of those with a fairly complicated income structure). I never forgave them for doing that, but what choice do I have?
I tried to use the H&R Block tax package once, but it was a total nightmare to use. And I was (and am) a very experienced TT user. Think TT customer service is bad? Just try H&R Block. I got into a shouting match with one of their Customer "Service" operators I got so frustrated. Never again will I touch anything from Block.
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fiasconva
Member
I used TT for the 2nd time this year. It was a lot easier this time since I knew what to expect. But being as cheap as I am I just printed the forms and mailed them in. I'm not going to pay extra to file and to pay Uncle Sam with a credit card and then pay more to file my state taxes. It will be worth the wait for the small state refund even if filing online would have been faster getting it in the bank.
I had used TurboTax for maybe a decade when they elected to add a bunch of bloatware and spyware to it, that was maybe pre-2010. Moved to H&R Block TaxCut since with zero struggles and no complaints.
Okay, I'll leave it at that before I offend.
Seriously?! You spent $30 to file a 1040EZ and you believe this is a success story? If a taxpayer qualifies for a 1040EZ and you use software to fill out THAT form...
Okay, I'll leave it at that before I offend.
I do my taxes the easy way. Load up boxes of papers and drop them at the CPA's office. Yeah, it cost me a few thousand every year as he does my business and personal Fed, State and County monthly, quarterly and annual filings. He gets to have most of the headaches and I get to write the checks. I've been with the same CPA for almost twenty years and never been audited. Can't get much better than that.
Class III
Class III
I have used a CPA for many years, that way if I go to jail, there will be somebody there I know.
You edited out "and state return . . . " Missouri has no real short form, and their forms are significant pains. I'm only offended that you didn't understand what happened and chose to comment on it, parsing the original post . . .
DWalt
Member
The last time I used a CPA to prepare my taxes was about 30 years ago and it cost me over $500. And my taxes were simpler then. I have no idea what a CPA would charge me today. Maybe at least 5 times that? I'll do my own with TT as long as I can.
I feel for the many poor suckers who must go to places like H&R Block and Liberty to fill out a 1040-EZ and must pay $75-$100 for them to do it. But most have absolutely no idea how to do the first thing about doing their own taxes. All the politicians talk about promoting tax simplification, but it will never happen as it can't be allowed to happen. There are far too many vested interests in favor of doing just the opposite.
I guess I was fortunate. My father was an accountant (not a CPA) and he taught me exactly how to do my taxes as soon as I had enough earned income to pay taxes.
I feel for the many poor suckers who must go to places like H&R Block and Liberty to fill out a 1040-EZ and must pay $75-$100 for them to do it. But most have absolutely no idea how to do the first thing about doing their own taxes. All the politicians talk about promoting tax simplification, but it will never happen as it can't be allowed to happen. There are far too many vested interests in favor of doing just the opposite.
I guess I was fortunate. My father was an accountant (not a CPA) and he taught me exactly how to do my taxes as soon as I had enough earned income to pay taxes.
I actually saw that upon a re-read, even before your reply... but figured if I had a flogging coming, I'd leave it be.
I can only guess that the 1040EZ is what they use when 3rd Grade kids are doing a "tax day" lesson.
OP
cmort666
Member
I find it trivially easy to build a desktop PC from components. I haven't bought one in literally decades. Some people are terrified of the thought.
Tax preparation software allows me to (when it works right) do something I despise (math) quickly and easily, and checks its own work. On top of that, it saves me a trip to the Post Office.
I don't have to live in an apartment and pay rent, gas and electric bills etc. I could just live in a shack in the woods and eat possums like Ted Kaczynsky. I'm willing to pay for a certain amount of convenience.
gamboolman
Guest
I'm not bagging on the idea of using tax software (I have been using it for 20 years...), simply saying that a 1040EZ form is so simple, that it actually blurs the definition of "simple" to use software to fill out, submit or calculate the entries on that particular form.
The 1040EZ is four times easier to fill out than a 4473.
The 1040EZ is four times easier to fill out than a 4473.
gregintenn
Member
Welcome to Free File Fillable Forms
Why someone would pay for a service that is otherwise free is beyond my comprehension.
Why someone would pay for a service that is otherwise free is beyond my comprehension.
ChuckS1
US Veteran
Next year I'm going back to doing my taxes by hand using forms from the post office. The tax reforms this year have really made my federal return a lot simpler.
