Tax preparation companies?
Any opinions on what tax preparation companies are the best to work with? Need my income taxes filed and this is the first time I am going with an actual preparer. Wondering which one was the best to work with and lower fees? Thanks for all of the advice given. I know how to do the basic tax returns, however, my husband is in the military and now the tax returns have gotten a bit more complicated. I am looking to find a company that I can trust and wont just take a bunch of our money.
Public Comments
- Chain companies have the highest rates. Mine are much lower but I'm pretty sure you would find using me inconvenient.
- If you make less than $30,000 a year, you can file for free with TurboTax. You have to go to taxfreedom.com. Otherwise, you'll have to pay $10 to do your state return online, but the federal return is still free. Companies like H & R Block will pretty much rob you of your refund.
- Who's the best, depends on who you ask. HR Block is #1 but around central NY there service is lacking, you give them your paper work and they plug in the numbers, very little explaining what they are doing. Jackson Hewitt is #2 I like their service (at least around here, each office will be different) they explain what they are doing, but it takes a bit longer. Liberty is the new kid in town, been around for a couple of years. Going to any one of these is costly (est $80 - $120 for simple return) they charge by the number of forms they use to enter data and the number of forms they generate. If you go to one ask what there training background is, ask for a preparer that has been doing taxes at that franchise for at least three years. All of these companies train there employees annually, some retain it better than others, by now the week preparers are probably gone, the peak period for taxes is over. Oh there are some good "Mom and Pop" small preparer firms out there as well, and some of them are price competitive. Some say stay away from the free folks, volunteer AARP, the local church, etc.. You don't know how well trained they are and as the saying goes you get what you pay for. After all that if you are smart enough to carefully read the associated reference material get TaxACT (or TurboTax or Taxcut) with the appropriate state ( usually called the deluxe package) all of them can be ordered / downloaded from there web sites. I don't like doing it online, where are my back up copies , what if I need to change or file an amendment, what if I need to print in June and just how safe is my personal data going across the web anyway. The bottom line is no matter who prepares your taxes YOU are responsible for the filing and the accuracy of the data filed. The preparer uses software and knowledge to improve your chances of getting more back or paying less. Sorry to be long winded, hope this helps
- I agree with first post comment, the very known companies are very very high, to me the prices are ridiculous, thats why I left after working 9 yrs. in one o those companies, taxes arent that hard to do or understand, its math, adding and subtracting, if you finished h.school you can do your own taxes, a basic return, if you have a business, or own rental properties then maybe I would advise you to find a local family tax pro, CPAs are also very expensive. Always get several estimates of the tax preparation before deciding just dont leave your info there.
