Tax prep firms... WHY?

[disneysteve]

I have always had an accountant do my taxes. At first, that accountant was my father and he didn't charge me. Since my father's death in 1992, my cousin has done it. He does charge me but not at the usual rate. I think we paid $120 last year and we have a sufficiently complex return. I have no desire to tackle it on my own. It is well worth paying a professional to do it for me.

[Aleta]

I also think that it is best to go to a professional also. They keep up with all of the new rules. Also, if you are audited, they can represent you. I do all of the bookkeeping but would not want the responsiblity. They are worth what you pay them especially if you have complicated taxes as some of us do.

[losermom]

I've done our taxes with Turbo Tax online for the last couple of years. If you have a State Farm policy you can prepare your taxes for free with them. You have to enter Turbo Tax through the State Farm website, after you log in.

I have also done my mother's, my grandmother's (both widowed and retired) and my Aunt's (Single parent definitely living under the poverty line)taxes for the last couple of years. I always enter Turbo Tax through the IRS website and our state website as all three of them qualify for free tax preparation and filing. I also have done my DD20 taxes, but this year she is going to learn how to do it herself.

If really bugs me that they would have to pay someone/professional big bucks to prepare their 1040EZ forms. One year my mom had to take out a loan to pay the tax preparer fees and she received no refund that year. I don't really care about the refund, but I felt the tax preparer was taking advantage of my mom and my grandmother (she's 93).

In payment, I usually get a really good homemade lunch from my grandma. Yummy!

[Aleta]

losermom: That was really good information for those who buy turbo tax adn are policy holders of State Farm. I never knew that an insurance company would do this. Great tip!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I'd feel skittish about running all my tax info through a site provided by my or any other insurance company. I guess they'd love to see how deep my pockets are.

[Broken Arrow]

I did it with Turbo Tax this year for $60 total, but between now and next year, I will most certainly be looking for ways to cut that down while still maintain ease of use and any legal updates.

[simpleyme]

we pay about 200 dollars or so
we have had the same lady doing our taxes since 1987 I am not comfortable allowing people to know exactly what we own or what we are worth I have decide that within the next few years I will start doing our own taxes if she retires

I hate to be so untrusting but allowing some random temp help access to all your info is too big of a risk ,the woman who did my tax the first year I ever filed was in a class I took a few years later, she told me she she had a hard time holding jobs do to some addiction problems but she was working it out ,I smiled and offered her words of encouragement but was freaked out that at point I had given hers all my info ;-0

I believe I could do my taxes but I am a little nervous about it,between self employment,working income ,rental incomes depreciation schedules and such I just need the help so worth it to me for now

[disneysteve]

we pay about 200 dollars or so
we have had the same lady doing our taxes since 1987

I hate to be so untrusting but allowing some random temp help access to all your info is too big of a risk

There is also value in having the same person do it year after year. They know your history. They know what questions to ask you and what data to remind you to provide. Having a different person do it every year raises the possibility that things will get missed or forgotten.

[PrincessPerky]

I remember being so afraid of my taxes the first year, and I still hate em..but they are easy enough I don't pay a firm, I do use the online software though...saves the trouble of losing the thing before I mail it!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Simplyme, in your situation, I think I'd hire someone else, too. The original post was about the simplest form anyone can even use to file. One's tax situation has to be extremely simple to use the EZ (easy) form.

[mom-from-missouri]

Does anyone know how much one would make working at HR.B. or J.H.?

I think its a combination of laziness and convienence... Why shovel your driveway, when you can pay someone else... But me, I pinch pennies so Im another story....

I can tell you, because I have a college aged daughter doing it. In fact, most in her office were hired as temps and are college kids and they make $8 an hour, working before and after their classes, and on weekends. She had 6 hours of training first. Her temp job will end in April. Her office has temp places set up in malls and such and hired about 40 kids to fill the spaces.

Now, is that who you want doing your taxes?? A 19 or 20 year old??

I'd rather do it myself or hire a year around CPA type, not a temp.

[InDebtInDC]

I have an undergrad degree in business management and years of financial management experience.

That said, I know nothing about tax laws because that's not my expertise, and I don't have the time or desire to learn. I have a long-term relationship with a firm that also does my personal tax filings on top of everything else they do for me, e.g. estate planning, consulting services, business tax filings, etc.

With all due respect, I see nothing wrong with using a professional for personal filings. Is there something wrong with me?

[sweeps]

I have an undergrad degree in business management and years of financial management experience.

That said, I know nothing about tax laws because that's not my expertise, and I don't have the time or desire to learn. I have a long-term relationship with a firm that also does my personal tax filings on top of everything else they do for me, e.g. estate planning, consulting services, business tax filings, etc.

With all due respect, I see nothing wrong with using a professional for personal filings. Is there something wrong with me?

If I paid $200+ for an oil change, would you see something wrong with that?

[vinnieg24]

it is quite crazy since you can do it online yourself. but im sure there are people still who are computer illiterate and unfortunately don't have any other choice than to go to an H&R block, etc. Some peoples returns aren't even that large so that 200 dollars is a big chunk to be taken out

[disneysteve]

With all due respect, I see nothing wrong with using a professional for personal filings. Is there something wrong with me?

Nothing wrong at all. Everybody's skill set is different. Everybody's comfort level is different. And everybody's budget is different.

sweeps, if an oil change was $200, I'd still pay to have it done professionally. It just isn't something I'm comfortable or confident doing myself.