Stresstaxmoneycrap

[kazuhiko04]

So, running very late this year (with some excuses but not really), I finally stepped into an H&R Block to see about filing taxes. Previously, we've been doing them ourselves but with the purchase of a house in December it seemed like a good idea to get some assistance

Comments

[sandpanther]

The year I bought the house I paid about what you list for someone to do my taxes for me. It didn't seem like that saved me so much, so since then I've done it myself. I used TurboTax last year and felt that it took me longer and was more confusing than just doing it myself, so this year I'll be breaking out the pencil and doing it the old fashioned way.

[haamel]

I'm a perpetual H&R Block user, as I've always got lots of weird itemized deductions and whatnot. Sionna didn't have enough income to report this year, so it was just me, and with all the exotic addenda the whole thing only cost me $190. I don't know if there are regional rate adjustments, but if you and Kristin both have W-2's and all, $355 might not be entirely out of line..... Hard to say.

[yuusada]

I go back and forth. Thus far, I've done my taxes using TurboTax online. While I don't own property, I do have capital gains related income, which can be it's own special hell.

I waffle on the idea of using H&R mainly cause some co-workers have horror stories about their experiences. Most of them recommended using a CPA, but it can be a P.I.T.A. to find a good one.

Yikes!

[anonymous]

Woah. I have a *real* tax guy... Former IRS investigator, 30+ years experience... And he bills me $250. We spend about 1-1/2 hours each year in his cozy little office with his giant cats. He usually finds me all the deductions I need to "break even".

You need to shop around when you're not under the gun. You can save real money with the right one.