Filing Taxes - Page 3

Strangler Lewis · 01-05-2010, 10:21 PM

Focusing on federal taxes, that means finding offsets for 17 to 20k worth of income. I'm not sure you've answered the question about the value of a professional. Was there a point where you said, e.g.,

"Huh! TurboTax never told me I could deduct what I spend on CDs and music downloads because I listen to music when I walk dogs." or

"Huh! TurboTax never told me I could write off my entire mortgage payment as a home office because I have a laptop and wireless Internet."

Or something similar.

Not Afraid · 01-05-2010, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Focusing on federal taxes, that means finding offsets for 17 to 20k worth of income. I'm not sure you've answered the question about the value of a professional. Was there a point where you said, e.g.,

"Huh! TurboTax never told me I could deduct what I spend on CDs and music downloads because I listen to music when I walk dogs." or

"Huh! TurboTax never told me I could write off my entire mortgage payment as a home office because I have a laptop and wireless Internet."

Or something similar.

No, the point was that doing them at home with software meant we weren't claiming the deductions we should have been claiming. Hiring a professional solved that issue.

And.....you're being a snot to me because......?

Kevy Baby · 01-05-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

And.....you're being a snot to me because......?

You deserve it?

Morrigoon · 01-06-2010, 01:31 AM

My accountant has been amazing. I got back a thousand bucks last year when I expected to owe.

This year with only Dis and unemployment I'm not sure if I'll be using them, but (my) Alex still will for sure, and I'm still considering it, what with the extra deduction for unemployment (thanks stimulus bill), and for consistency's sake.

You can find them at www dot clinecarroll dot com

Not Afraid · 01-06-2010, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

You deserve it?

Really? OK then. I will shut up. I'll stick to more mundane topics.

Ghoulish Delight · 01-06-2010, 08:39 AM

The thought of having to admit to a stranger how bad I am at keeping records is unappealing. Especially since other than donations that I don't keep particularly good track of, I doubt there's much I'm missing as our income is entirely W2/1099-int based and the most complex deduction we have (until the dependent arrives) is a mortgage payment. So there's not a lot of room for them to find hidden deductions to pay for themselves.

Cadaverous Pallor · 01-06-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

And.....you're being a snot to me because......?

NA, meet Strangler Lewis. I thought you'd met before...

Alex · 01-06-2010, 09:47 AM

For those who use a CPA, what is the cost, generally?

There was a radio show yesterday talking about new regulations from the IRS for requirements to do returns for other people. One of the tips given was to never use a person who's fee is a percentage tax return. That seemed like a very self obvious thing to me.

Strangler Lewis · 01-06-2010, 09:58 AM

Yes, before you were born, young'un. Well, her husband, anyway. Same thing. One flesh and all that.

I didn't mean to be snotty. I'm all for not paying extra tax. However, by all appearances, TurboTax--or at least the version I use--is extremely thorough, down to asking you about potential deductions or credits that it says are not common. Of course, if it's not asking questions about things that I can document, then I'm missing out.

So, I remain curious about what matters, if any, the accountant said, "You know, they left this out of TurboTax, but you can deduct that, and it's not an audit flag."

Strangler Lewis · 01-06-2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

For those who use a CPA, what is the cost, generally?

There was a radio show yesterday talking about new regulations from the IRS for requirements to do returns for other people. One of the tips given was to never use a person who's fee is a percentage tax return. That seemed like a very self obvious thing to me.

I know a tax preparer who worked that way. He gets out next year.

01-05-2010, 10:21 PM	#21
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Focusing on federal taxes, that means finding offsets for 17 to 20k worth of income. I'm not sure you've answered the question about the value of a professional. Was there a point where you said, e.g., "Huh! TurboTax never told me I could deduct what I spend on CDs and music downloads because I listen to music when I walk dogs." or "Huh! TurboTax never told me I could write off my entire mortgage payment as a home office because I have a laptop and wireless Internet." Or something similar. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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01-06-2010, 01:31 AM	#24
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	My accountant has been amazing. I got back a thousand bucks last year when I expected to owe. This year with only Dis and unemployment I'm not sure if I'll be using them, but (my) Alex still will for sure, and I'm still considering it, what with the extra deduction for unemployment (thanks stimulus bill), and for consistency's sake. You can find them at www dot clinecarroll dot com __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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01-06-2010, 08:39 AM	#26
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	The thought of having to admit to a stranger how bad I am at keeping records is unappealing. Especially since other than donations that I don't keep particularly good track of, I doubt there's much I'm missing as our income is entirely W2/1099-int based and the most complex deduction we have (until the dependent arrives) is a mortgage payment. So there's not a lot of room for them to find hidden deductions to pay for themselves. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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01-06-2010, 09:47 AM	#28
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	For those who use a CPA, what is the cost, generally? There was a radio show yesterday talking about new regulations from the IRS for requirements to do returns for other people. One of the tips given was to never use a person who's fee is a percentage tax return. That seemed like a very self obvious thing to me.
	Submit to Quotes

01-06-2010, 09:58 AM	#29
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Yes, before you were born, young'un. Well, her husband, anyway. Same thing. One flesh and all that. I didn't mean to be snotty. I'm all for not paying extra tax. However, by all appearances, TurboTax--or at least the version I use--is extremely thorough, down to asking you about potential deductions or credits that it says are not common. Of course, if it's not asking questions about things that I can document, then I'm missing out. So, I remain curious about what matters, if any, the accountant said, "You know, they left this out of TurboTax, but you can deduct that, and it's not an audit flag." __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes