2010 Tax Season Thread

[ComicChick]

Who else is dreading/antipating their W-2's?

Do you prepare your own? or do you go somewhere to get them done?

How much are you expecting back?

Anyone knowledgeable about taxes to answer some questions for us?

Let's start the discussion

 

[Indrid Cold]

I get the boys over at H&R to get my back, I don't trust myself with deductions and such. I hate to owe over some mistake, and I have too many deductions.

 

[ComicChick]

i've been doing my own the last few years on Turbo Tax

how much does H&R cost? is it a flat rate or dependent on what you get in your return?

 

[The Squirrel]

Turbo Tax ftw!

 

[ComicChick]

14 Overlooked Ways to Slash Your Taxes

http://www.walletpop.com/taxes/maximize-your-tax-deductions

Your Federal Income Tax For use in preparing 2009 returns
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf

 

[Indrid Cold]

i've been doing my own the last few years on Turbo Tax

how much does H&R cost? is it a flat rate or dependent on what you get in your return?

Last year it cost me about $130, which was deducted from my return. I made out well though that year so it wasn't a big loss. Oh how I wish for the old days when all I had was the 1040EZ to worry about.

 

[SapphirePrima]

I got my first job this year! I'll be getting help from my momma since she is a book keeper.

 

[Immortalfire]

I do 'em myself.


If we had the Fair Tax, this thread wouldn't exist.

 

[Halloween]

My wife and I file with the same guy she has been filing with for 10 years. Charges $60. With two kids and having extra taxes taken out of each paycheck, we usually get $7,000 back.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

When I need to do taxes, I'll have my dad do them for me since he's an accountant. And if he doesn't want to, my sister and 2 cousins are also accountants. I'll always have someone to do my taxes for me for free.

 

[redmarvel]

I get the boys over at H&R to get my back, I don't trust myself with deductions and such. I hate to owe over some mistake, and I have too many deductions.

I did that for a number of years, now my tax returns are pretty much the same from year to year so I just fill in the same boxes (with new amounts) as my prior year's tax return. However at least once I'll as I make some basic math mistake or other.

 

[ComicChick]

someone tell me this if they can;

i go to college online and bought a computer to take the classes. can i claim that? technically it was a course supply that i needed right?

 

[mrvlknight21]

I do 'em myself.


If we had the Fair Tax, this thread wouldn't exist.

And that would be AWESOME.

 

[mrvlknight21]

someone tell me this if they can;

i go to college online and bought a computer to take the classes. can i claim that? technically it was a course supply that i needed right?

Yes, you can. I did it 2 years ago.

 

[ComicChick]

Yes, you can. I did it 2 years ago.

sweet!

and yay for coming out into another thread

 

[mrvlknight21]

sweet!

and yay for coming out into another thread

HAHA. I was adventurous today..I think I posted in 3 other threads than the fitness thread.
But, back to the subject at hand. The lady who does my taxes is a former IRS agent and she told me just about ANYTHING school related can be written off, even stuff like a new bookbag.
I still get shafted every year anyway, compared to both friends and thugs. However, the last 3 years I went above and beyond to save any/all receipts that may count towards my credit.

 

[ComicChick]

HAHA. I was adventurous today..I think I posted in 3 other threads than the fitness thread.
But, back to the subject at hand. The lady who does my taxes is a former IRS agent and she told me just about ANYTHING school related can be written off, even stuff like a new bookbag.
I still get shafted every year anyway, compared to both friends and thugs. However, the last 3 years I went above and beyond to save any/all receipts that may count towards my credit.

i bought a lot of school things this year

i'm filing a 1040 or 1040ez, does that matter?

 

[mrvlknight21]

i bought a lot of school things this year

i'm filing a 1040 or 1040ez, does that matter?

I really dont know about that one, sorry.
Remember, anything for school--books, computer, computer software/antivirus, pencils, papers, white-out, parking passes, anything that can be linked to school counts.

Same for work. Since I am in law enforcement, if I go to the gun range and rent a lane to shoot my gun, that counts (along with the bullets, targets, etc). I bought some of my own equipment as well. Dry cleaning (and purchasing) my suits for court...etc etc etc.
THINK outside the box if you have to. The government has withheld YOUR money this whole time with no regard for what you could have done with it/interest you could have earned with it in these hard times. Get back every penny that you can.


And dont do like my buddy JStorm and let some idiot tell you that none of that counts if you are a freshman!
He lost out on $800, despite me telling him to walk back into that tax office and tell them that is complete B.S.

Oh well.

 

[ComicChick]

got my W-2's in the mail today
and my student loan one is online yay

now all i think i have to do is wait for my college one. do they send one? it's been so long since i've been back in school that i'm not sure

 

[Figs]

Who else is dreading/antipating their W-2's?
Do you prepare your own? or do you go somewhere to get them done?

How much are you expecting back?

Anyone knowledgeable about taxes to answer some questions for us?

Let's start the discussion

Every year I've been taking them in and paying the $100 or so(used to be $60-80 a few years back ). I should really do them on my own with that $40 program you can buy every year. That's what my gf uses and I don't think it would be that hard or confusing.

I've never had to pay but with my current job I've only gotten a few hundred the past year or two. As long as I get the couple hundred again I'll be content for the most part.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

My accountant is handling this for me. She's excellent. However, the very thought of this year's tax preparation depresses me, because I'm going to owe so much this year.

 

[redmarvel]

One thing I would suggest, if you can afford it, put as much money as you can into a Retirement Savings Plan. Usually you get a tax break for it and in some cases you can even use it BEFORE you want to retire. Here in Canada you can borrow from your RRSP interest free to buy your first home.