Prepare your own taxes. Yes or no?

use software about 15 dollars

Quote from Rockalittle : All input greatly appreciated. Yes, i know, that's why I pointed out that he does not appear at an audit unless additionally compensated. I'm going to try doing it myself. It shouldn't be a problem. Thanks again for the input. Now I'm off to amazon lightning deals, where it looks like a turbo tax deal is about to drop! Darn, it was H&R Block software.....

not an SD to buy software for a straight forward return. if you don't feel comfortable just going through the form yourself with the instructions, there are free sites you can use for step by step guidance.

http://www.taxact.com/taxes-onlin...ne-tax.asp - no income/age restrictions. i actually prefer the free turbo tax, but that did have an income requirement last time i checked, so ymmv.

for state taxes if whatever online company doesn't include your state for free filing check your state dept of revenue site for free state filing options.

Quote from acesmuzic : not an SD to buy software for a straight forward return. if you don't feel comfortable just going through the form yourself with the instructions, there are free sites you can use for step by step guidance. http://www.taxact.com/taxes-onlin...ne-tax.asp - no income/age restrictions. i actually prefer the free turbo tax, but that did have an income requirement last time i checked, so ymmv. for state taxes if whatever online company doesn't include your state for free filing check your state dept of revenue site for free state filing options.

Point well taken but, some expenses are reasonable. My one concern is my many deductions. I like the idea of "little red flags" popping up if I venture into the "audit zone" LOL

If anyone can suggest a good program/site ?

btw there's no real point to buying software unless it's cheaper - all the majors do it online now, what's the point in buying a CD just to accomplish the same ends?

I have a fairly complicated tax return that includes income from a small business but I had always filed my taxes myself using TurboTax. Last year, I decided use a "professional" to make sure that my taxes were being filed correctly. The professional didn't seem understand any small business tax rules and I spent hours trying to explain why the return she created for me was completely wrong. I finally got tired of this, thanked her for her time, threw away the 1040 that she had created for me and filed them myself using TurboTax!

I use to hate filing my taxes out the old way, without software. Years later, I log into HR Block's website and used their software. WTF...that was the easiest thing EVER. I kick myself every time I think about not using a software. These software makes filing taxes very, very easy.

Here you go everything you need to know provided by the IRS,

http://www.freefile.irs.gov/how-e...NsNy2_4IZQ

use taxact and add $330 to your refund

I've been using a computer to prepare my taxes for almost twenty years. If your taxes are not overly complicated, it is absolutely the way to go.

True story: In 1993, my father lost his job. I told him I'd do his taxes on the computer to save him some money. I did them, and the results showed that he owed several hundred dollars. He screamed, he yelled, and told me he was going to a tax preparer. The tax preparer got the same results, and then charged my parents an additional $125 for preparing the taxes. That was not a good day. My parents never doubted preparing their returns on the computer again.

Quote from Dr. J : btw there's no real point to buying software unless it's cheaper - all the majors do it online now, what's the point in buying a CD just to accomplish the same ends?

I've seen some pretty high sold prices around tax time (search for completed listings on ebay) if you have a completed lot of 5-10 years of Turbo Tax + Quicken CD's.

I also had to prepare my dad's taxes with an old Turbo Tax CD. He didn't file a year and then passed away.

The online ones are good, and all the CD's need to be updated online anyway. I'm used to the CD's, and I bet I could sell my collection for ~$100.

Turbo tax is great because after you use it once your next years are even easier since your info is saved on your computer.

You can also share the disk among family members.

I'm always torn on this, and I think in the end, it's what you feel comfortable with.

I have somewhat complicated tax situation with a rental property and tax loss carry forward, but I always seem to just do them myself.

It seems as though my friends go to an accountant and they appear to be aggressive, which isn't something I'd partake in.

Quote from zhelder : I've been using a computer to prepare my taxes for almost twenty years. If your taxes are not overly complicated, it is absolutely the way to go. True story: In 1993, my father lost his job. I told him I'd do his taxes on the computer to save him some money. I did them, and the results showed that he owed several hundred dollars. He screamed, he yelled, and told me he was going to a tax preparer. The tax preparer got the same results, and then charged my parents an additional $125 for preparing the taxes. That was not a good day. My parents never doubted preparing their returns on the computer again.

Cool story. I also recommend http://www.jklasser.com/

Quote from tunguska : I have a fairly complicated tax return that includes income from a small business but I had always filed my taxes myself using TurboTax. Last year, I decided use a "professional" to make sure that my taxes were being filed correctly. The professional didn't seem understand any small business tax rules and I spent hours trying to explain why the return she created for me was completely wrong. I finally got tired of this, thanked her for her time, threw away the 1040 that she had created for me and filed them myself using TurboTax!

Should have asked the professional if they were familiar with filing taxes for your situation.No one is going to know every tax code for every type of business/income earned.

OP's taxes are so simple, OP could just do it on paper and save the $15 .