Author Topic: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?  (Read 487100 times)

Offline yitzf

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1280 on: March 22, 2017, 04:04:51 PM »
you see this yet you still use the programs VS an accountant .....

It doesn't say that for a simple return you have to use an accountant.
BTW I use the software and an accountant.

Offline Jack out of the box

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1281 on: March 22, 2017, 04:54:34 PM »
Best & cheapest Site to do taxes myself? Fairly simple household income. Turbotax? Credit Karma?
There is a free Turbo Tax version for taxpayers who meat certain criteria. Includes states.
Requirements:
AGI 33,000 or less, or
Active military duty with family income 64k or less, or
Qualify for EITC

Offline emak

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1282 on: March 22, 2017, 05:21:30 PM »
There is a free Turbo Tax version for taxpayers who meat certain criteria. Includes states.
Requirements:
AGI 33,000 or less, or
Active military duty with family income 64k or less, or
Qualify for EITC
How would I get that if I'm eligible?

Offline yitzf

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Offline hachover

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1284 on: March 22, 2017, 05:28:23 PM »
How would I get that if I'm eligible?

If you're eligible for that, you might want to check the IRS link because that shows more choices. A lot of the companies don't post the free product on their website but do have one that you can find through the IRS link.

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/wizard.jsp
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Offline hachover

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1285 on: March 22, 2017, 05:32:26 PM »
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-tax-software/

So there's good reason to be paranoid. OK.

Though I'm not so sure the "inconveniences" mentioned aren't overblown. I would probably deal with it if my alternative was to pay HR Block or TurboTax sticker prices. Compared to freetaxusa or taxslayer, not worth it for me. But I haven't actually given Creditkarma it a try, so I'm only tentatively poo pooing the complaint.
I'm an optimist; but only because life isn't going to give me any other good choices.

Online ckmk47

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1286 on: March 22, 2017, 05:56:11 PM »
I'm an advocate of paying an accountant (or for good tax software) for 1 year and following that template for subsequent years if your basic details are the same.
 
My favorite cause: cssy.org

Offline chinagel

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1287 on: March 22, 2017, 07:04:01 PM »
what else can i use as proof of insurance besides a 1095?

Offline yossi621

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1288 on: March 22, 2017, 07:34:21 PM »
It doesn't say that for a simple return you have to use an accountant.
BTW I use the software and an accountant.

same here, and my accountant kicks turbotax butt every year :)

Offline Bh101

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1289 on: March 22, 2017, 07:40:09 PM »
what else can i use as proof of insurance besides a 1095?
for who?

Offline hachover

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1290 on: March 22, 2017, 10:09:10 PM »
same here, and my accountant kicks turbotax butt every year :)

Can you give a specific example of what the accountant does that TT can't?
I'm an optimist; but only because life isn't going to give me any other good choices.

Offline churnbabychurn

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1291 on: March 22, 2017, 10:23:49 PM »
Can you give a specific example of what the accountant does that TT can't?
Puts the data into TT for you.
The GREAT accountants know how to inflate expenses to maximize your savings..

A really good and honest accountant should assist with proper tax and entity planning. That's where the savings are...

Offline aygart

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1292 on: March 22, 2017, 10:25:02 PM »
Puts the data into TT for you.
The GREAT accountants know how to inflate expenses to maximize your savings..

A really good and honest accountant should assist with proper tax and entity planning. That's where the savings are...
+10000000000000000000
And no I am not an accountant.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline EJB

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1293 on: March 22, 2017, 10:25:24 PM »
If you donate/sponsor someone to run in a charity race supporting a charitable institution, and a significant portion of the funds go toward travel expenses, Can you deduct the donation? I thought yes but a particular charity (FIDF - Israel bicycle race) told me no.

Offline yitzf

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1294 on: March 22, 2017, 10:25:35 PM »
Can you give a specific example of what the accountant does that TT can't?

The question is not 'can or can't' rather its knowing what to do and getting a full picture of your situation and making sure that you don't miss anything.

An example: Turbo Tax never told me to have childcare expenses deducted from my paycheck saving me 1k+

Offline Iz

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1295 on: March 23, 2017, 12:47:20 AM »
What are accountants charging for a simple personal tax return? I pay about $100, and at that price, how could you consider DIY (unless you're an expert)? All it takes in one mistake or oversight, and you could lose (or miss) thousands of dollars! How could chachmei DDF, who are experts in great deals, disagree with this?  :)

Offline ExGingi

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1296 on: March 23, 2017, 01:22:09 AM »
Puts the data into TT for you.
The GREAT accountants know how to inflate expenses to maximize your savings..
-1
Think about it, inflating expenses and maximizing savings are mutually exclusive.
You probably meant that a great accountant knows how to classify things in a way that will maximize tax savings.


A really good and honest accountant should assist with proper tax and entity planning. That's where the savings are...
Unless you are paying an accountant an hourly fee for that type of assistance, don't expect much from that accountant. In business the rule is that if you are lucky, you get what you pay for, sometimes you get less than you've paid for.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline Bostener

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1297 on: March 23, 2017, 02:18:12 AM »
same here, and my accountant kicks turbotax butt every year :)

Accountants don't use TurboTax.
Airlines sending me "We're in this together" emails.

Bruh, where were you when my suitcase weighed it 51.50 pounds?

Offline yomo

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1298 on: March 23, 2017, 03:04:27 AM »
Puts the data into TT for you.
The GREAT accountants know how to inflate expenses to maximize your savings..

A really good and honest accountant should assist with proper tax and entity planning. That's where the savings are...
Where can I find that?
Is that expected from an accountant who charges $350 for a basic 1040?

Offline Jack out of the box

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Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?
« Reply #1299 on: March 23, 2017, 04:38:46 AM »
If you donate/sponsor someone to run in a charity race supporting a charitable institution, and a significant portion of the funds go toward travel expenses, Can you deduct the donation? I thought yes but a particular charity (FIDF - Israel bicycle race) told me no.
Get a receipt from the organization showing the amount of your contribution less benefits you received.