Actually, she's quite good, with college accounting courses and experience as treasurer of a non-profit organization. She likes doing taxes. Before we were married she took her taxes to H&R Block. After doing that for a couple years she found ways to avoid even more tax doing it herself. She filed amended returns and never looked back.
Turbo Tax. It has been working great for me for about 8 out of 9 years (well, it wasnt always Turbo Tax, I think it was MacInTax back in the day).
Once its set up with my info (re-imported every year) it really only takes one evening to bang it out. Got my refund last week...
That one year without Turbo Tax was when I sold my buisness and things got wierd. I went to a CPA but he didn't seem to know much more than the program on HIS computer. Furthermore, it was a pain lugging everything to him and explaining complications and such. Anyway, I felt like it gave me some cover if anything went wrong...5 years past, so I guess it worked out.
Actually, she's quite good, with college accounting courses and experience as treasurer of a non-profit organization. She likes doing taxes. Before we were married she took her taxes to H&R Block. After doing that for a couple years she found ways to avoid even more tax doing it herself. She filed amended returns and never looked back.
I feel very fortunate.
Once you learn off the H&RBlock type people, you realise how easy it is... As long as you don't do too tricky stuff like try to deduct every single thing including a Starbucks cookie.
When I was last in the US, they had a standard deduction amount, that helps you NOT have to itemize your deductions. That makes things hella easy.
It's keeping all the bloody tiny receipts that is the killer in doing taxes and stuff, not the actual filing, sometimes.
If you sell properties and shares though the capital gains (depending on state and country, etc.) may require an accountant.
Also if you plan on backdating options or receiving backdated options you'll need to hire Al Gore to head an inquiry to clear/cover your ass. Yes, not that backdating is wrong, but you want to report it correctly, etcc, etcc, etcc. Al Gore. He's the man. He'll save the planet and help you stay out of jail.
Once you learn off the H&RBlock type people, you realise how easy it is. . .
We discovered that.
Quote:
When I was last in the US, they had a standard deduction amount, that helps you NOT have to itemize your deductions. That makes things hella easy.
We do it both ways. Sometimes our tax is lower using a standard deduction. We have things organized with lists, adding to the lists as the year goes by. At tax time we just add them up and fill in the blanks.
Quote:
It's keeping all the bloody tiny receipts that is the killer in doing taxes and stuff, not the actual filing, sometimes.
Our trick is keeping those lists, so we never have to look at the receipts again, once they are entered. Receipts go into the proverbial shoe box, never to see the light of day. Receipts are there for audit, which we've never had. After seven years we dump the receipts, except for permanent ones showing stock purchases, property purchases price, and so on.
Comments
No this isn't a political debate.
How do yours get done, what form do you use?
I use Turbotax.com and 1040 long with all the wonderful additional forms.
Nick
I have a CPA. Worth every penny of his fee. He has saved me thousands.
Actually, she's quite good, with college accounting courses and experience as treasurer of a non-profit organization. She likes doing taxes. Before we were married she took her taxes to H&R Block. After doing that for a couple years she found ways to avoid even more tax doing it herself. She filed amended returns and never looked back.
I feel very fortunate.
Or maybe I am just tax lazy. I am sure if I was single, I would learn.
I have a CPA. Worth every penny of his fee. He has saved me thousands.
Same here. Our taxes are fairly complex and I can't imagine doing them myself.
Once its set up with my info (re-imported every year) it really only takes one evening to bang it out. Got my refund last week...
That one year without Turbo Tax was when I sold my buisness and things got wierd. I went to a CPA but he didn't seem to know much more than the program on HIS computer. Furthermore, it was a pain lugging everything to him and explaining complications and such. Anyway, I felt like it gave me some cover if anything went wrong...5 years past, so I guess it worked out.
Who pays taxes?
Is there a story here?
Or just no income...
No this isn't a political debate.
How do yours get done, what form do you use?
I use Turbotax.com and 1040 long with all the wonderful additional forms.
Nick
H&R Block for a few years in the USA. H&R Block and another different franchise for Australia.
Now, roll my own for Australia (my mum's and my taxes).
Austarlia has a pretty decent online-tax-lodgement thing direct into the government tax website.
Who pays taxes?
Is there a story here?
Or just no income...
There's definitely a story here. Not sure if we really want to hear it though.
My wife does them.
Actually, she's quite good, with college accounting courses and experience as treasurer of a non-profit organization. She likes doing taxes. Before we were married she took her taxes to H&R Block. After doing that for a couple years she found ways to avoid even more tax doing it herself. She filed amended returns and never looked back.
I feel very fortunate.
Once you learn off the H&RBlock type people, you realise how easy it is... As long as you don't do too tricky stuff like try to deduct every single thing including a Starbucks cookie.
When I was last in the US, they had a standard deduction amount, that helps you NOT have to itemize your deductions. That makes things hella easy.
It's keeping all the bloody tiny receipts that is the killer in doing taxes and stuff, not the actual filing, sometimes.
If you sell properties and shares though the capital gains (depending on state and country, etc.) may require an accountant.
Also if you plan on backdating options or receiving backdated options you'll need to hire Al Gore to head an inquiry to clear/cover your ass. Yes, not that backdating is wrong, but you want to report it correctly, etcc, etcc, etcc. Al Gore. He's the man. He'll save the planet and help you stay out of jail.
Once you learn off the H&RBlock type people, you realise how easy it is. . .
We discovered that.
When I was last in the US, they had a standard deduction amount, that helps you NOT have to itemize your deductions. That makes things hella easy.
We do it both ways. Sometimes our tax is lower using a standard deduction. We have things organized with lists, adding to the lists as the year goes by. At tax time we just add them up and fill in the blanks.
It's keeping all the bloody tiny receipts that is the killer in doing taxes and stuff, not the actual filing, sometimes.
Our trick is keeping those lists, so we never have to look at the receipts again, once they are entered. Receipts go into the proverbial shoe box, never to see the light of day. Receipts are there for audit, which we've never had. After seven years we dump the receipts, except for permanent ones showing stock purchases, property purchases price, and so on.
CPA I could do it myself, but I'd rather rub shit through my hair.
dirty american... lol.. if you are from U S and A that is
There's definitely a story here. Not sure if we really want to hear it though.
Err...what are you talking about? I've been a model citizen when it comes to taxes!
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/artic...n-Tax-Cheaters