I'm by no means highly educated and I did turbo last year after paying what I thought was an insane amount the previous year to hr block...i just used the website , answered all the questions ..fir the most part it was straightforward and easy....paid maybe $80 vs almost quadruple that for in person hr block. I have a home, stock, gambling, donations, w2, no kids, no wife...will be using it again this year
Turbo Tax, probably waste too much of your time and not be sure you did everything you could (or at least you should be concerned)
H & R Block, chances are your tax "expert" will be a part time tax expert, or maybe somebody who took a course in October and it won't be somebody knowledgeable. Having said that, when I worked at block during my last two years of college, I also know they have a few very good dedicated professionals with lots of experience. They're just in the minority.
Both systems lean conservative, they have to.
I suggest you seek out a good local professional who will tend to interpret grey areas to your advantage and who will train you to minimize your tax burden going forward. Someone who can tell you how to document deductions going forward, someone who can teach you how to avoid taxes (as opposed to evasion)
my totally biased but experienced opinion
H & R Block, chances are your tax "expert" will be a part time tax expert, or maybe somebody who took a course in October and it won't be somebody knowledgeable. Having said that, when I worked at block during my last two years of college, I also know they have a few very good dedicated professionals with lots of experience. They're just in the minority.
Both systems lean conservative, they have to.
I suggest you seek out a good local professional who will tend to interpret grey areas to your advantage and who will train you to minimize your tax burden going forward. Someone who can tell you how to document deductions going forward, someone who can teach you how to avoid taxes (as opposed to evasion)
my totally biased but experienced opinion
PS: there are situations where turbo tax is sufficient, and Block serves it's purpose, they both have legit markets
So I'm not knocking them across the boards
and no, they're not the competition
So I'm not knocking them across the boards
and no, they're not the competition
Agree with the others about Turbo Tax. I've used the premier version for the last 5 years or so and it's supreme.
Before that, I had a local tax professional doing it and they ripped me off every year. For example, they weren't even getting me $ back on the interest I was paying on my home, and they were charging me like $150.
Turbo Tax is the shit.
Before that, I had a local tax professional doing it and they ripped me off every year. For example, they weren't even getting me $ back on the interest I was paying on my home, and they were charging me like $150.
Turbo Tax is the shit.
I worked at a tax firm for 11+ years and I believe 90% of the people out there are perfectly fine with turbo tax......as long as they are computer literate.
This will be my first year without a professional tax software (usually ProSystems or Lacerte) and I have decided to go with Turbo Tax. And to be honest, I dont think it will make one difference on my final #
Chop, if you have an LLC is not enough information. Is you LLC taxed like a sole proprietor (Schedule C) or is it taxed like a partnership (1065) or an S-Corp (1120S)? If schedule C, turbo tax is fine....if one of the other two AND you have an accounting firm giving you your Schedule K-1, then Turbo Tax is fine. If you have one of the other two and you plan on doing the business return yourself, then you need additional software (I think Turbo Tax sells that too). I cannot speak on how easy that will be for average joe to prepare....that might be worth finding a tax professional (preferably not an HR block guy)
This will be my first year without a professional tax software (usually ProSystems or Lacerte) and I have decided to go with Turbo Tax. And to be honest, I dont think it will make one difference on my final #
Chop, if you have an LLC is not enough information. Is you LLC taxed like a sole proprietor (Schedule C) or is it taxed like a partnership (1065) or an S-Corp (1120S)? If schedule C, turbo tax is fine....if one of the other two AND you have an accounting firm giving you your Schedule K-1, then Turbo Tax is fine. If you have one of the other two and you plan on doing the business return yourself, then you need additional software (I think Turbo Tax sells that too). I cannot speak on how easy that will be for average joe to prepare....that might be worth finding a tax professional (preferably not an HR block guy)
