First SC's of the tax season

[Cia]

I used to do mine and hubby's until he and my brother took over my Dad's business, now I just give all the paperwork to the CPA.

[MadMike]

I used to do mine when I was single with no dependents or anything to deduct. Now I'm married, and I own a house with a mortgage, and up until a couple years ago, I had a dependent. I'm afraid if I try to do it myself, I'm going to screw myself out of some money.

[sirwired]

I used to do mine when I was single with no dependents or anything to deduct. Now I'm married, and I own a house with a mortgage, and up until a couple years ago, I had a dependent. I'm afraid if I try to do it myself, I'm going to screw myself out of some money.

There's really not much to it. The tax program asks you about all the deductions, and when you answer yes to having a mortgage, asks you for information from your 1099 the bank sent you. There's a similar process for all the other deductions.

The only time things get a little tricky is with business returns. If you don't have a business or complicated stock sales, personal taxes are almost always pretty straightforward with a computer doing the work for you.

Give it a try this year... I don't believe any of the online software charges you until you want to print or file. Simply compare the results the paid preparer gives you with what the online site says you end up with.

[taxguykarl]

I really don't understand why so many people (especially those well in 1040-EZ-land) pay somebody to do their taxes.

I get my share of those. Most simply want the assurance that nothing was missed or don't have the time or inclination to bone up on tax law changes.

[Kristev]

That's why, when I was still working, I always had my taxes done. I didn't want to screw up, miss something, and get in trouble.

[Argabarga]

I can understand that piece of mind plays into it too, I don't want to get them wrong, but remember, doing so only means you get a letter saying something to the effect of "you didn't pay enough, please remit the difference as we've calculated it"

You don't get "in trouble" in the legal sense of, "see you in court and we're garnishing you're grandkids future paychecks as we speak" unless you DELIBERATELY and EGREGIOUSLY do it wrong, hoping they don't notice, and when they do, you pretend you can't hear them....

[Tama]

Then you can pay the extra fee and if they do it wrong, it's their own damn fault and THEY have to pay for the mistake.