Okay, I signed up for H + R Block free online tax filing. I don't itemize, I take the standard deductions, etc. Very simple really. Anyway I tried to call them and the menu had me on hold for 15 minutes then the call went dead. Maybe somebody here on WF can answer my question. Can I do my state taxes with this program? Do I need a printer as proof I filed? I don't have a printer at home. Can I enter multiple sources of income, such as my military pension?
H&R Block sells tax preparation services. If their free online service were good, would they be offering it for free? An accountant will charge you maybe $100 or so as long as your finances aren't horrifically complicated. It's worth it.
Thanks! I think they offer free services because it's good advertising for them. For people using a 1040 and not itemizing, the idea of paying them to do ten minutes work is crazy. But when it does get complicated (getting married, two incomes, buying a house) you have to use somebody, so you will most likely use them. ANOTHER QUESTION! Does your refund go directly into your bank account or do they send you a card loaded with your refund amount? If they send a card, forget it - that can get interepted any used by the thief.
@oldfella1962, I respect a lot of things about you. That said, stay away from H&R. They are going to try to sell you a loan at a super high interest rate. I know you keep things narrow in checking from a few past comments. Go to a competent independent person like tafkats said. Look for someone good enough to actually be in business the entire year round. I pay a lot for bookkeeping and CPA expenses every year. In the end, it saves me a lot of money. I always get my refund by direct deposit, to answer your question. H&R will try to give you a card and they will charge you dearly for it, as it is essentially a loan - that is why you can walk out with it often the same day, prior to your refund even being complete. Use this link to find a good tax preparer in your area: https://www.daveramsey.com/elp/tax-services I really respect Dave Ramsey.
Thanks! There was a nagging in the back of my mind saying "nothing is free" and there might be some type of a catch.
WAIT! What is to stop me from getting the forms from the library, filling them out, and mailing them in to the I.R.S? I've done that years ago. Is this still done in today's high tech age? Can they put it into your bank account or would they have to send a check? This is something worth considering. Trust me, nothing for me has changed since last year's taxes.
You can download the forms - irs.gov - and either print them and fill them out by hand, or enter the information on your computer (the forms do the math for you). If you choose the second option, you can either print them and mail them or submit them online.
You can still do it on paper, but there's a good chance that going to a pro who knows what to look for -- preferably a local accountant with year-round business like Ron Paul said, not one of those assembly-line tax places that just wants to get as many anonymous faces as they can in and out as quickly as possible -- will more than pay for itself.
I guess I didn't explain myself - I am not itemizing. I don't have any income other than on the W2 and 1099-R forms. It takes all of three minutes to calculate my refund. A guy at work had a tax expert help him (his was a little complicated) a few years ago, and charged 450 dollars. The expert netted him an extra 400, so he lost 50 bucks with that idea. Anyway, I used TaxAct online and Federal was free, state cost 14 dollars. It was easy to follow, and didn't take long at all. Yes, there are advertisements for their products that you say "no thanks" and disregard, no big deal. So 14 dollars versus 150 or so is a no-brainer. The military does it for free, but I have to wait in line, hope some 20 year old kid who had a quick class in plugging numbers into their computer program doesn't mess it up, have my wife come in later and sign her part, etc. Anyway, I would definitely recommend Tax Act to everyone.
