Taxes

cid · Post by **cid** » February 8, 2005, 6:57 pm

How are you all doing your taxes this year? I usually go to H&R Block, but they seem to go up every year. They also seem to ask the same questions that computer software would.

So this year I think I am going to use taxact.com

Just wondering what others are doing.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 8, 2005, 6:58 pm

TurboTax

Post by **Sylvus** » February 8, 2005, 7:06 pm

If you access any of the multitude of online providers through this IRS link a lot of them will let you file for free, at least your federal return.

I was almost done doing mine online when my friend pointed that out to me, and it ended up saving me like $30 for my federal return on H&R Block. Just make sure you use the links on that page, or you might miss the freebies.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 8, 2005, 7:06 pm

i go to a regular accountant.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » February 8, 2005, 7:08 pm

I used TaxAct the previous two years. This year I used H&R Block online thing. It was a $20 fee and that included an eFile. They had a $15 option as well but I don't remember the differences. I didn't use them for State though since that was another $20 and my state has their own online filing system where you can do it for free.

Filed and already got my refund. Owe $100 in State tax though. Robbery!

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » February 8, 2005, 7:17 pm

Turbo Tax and a decent handbook on tax law/IRS code (such as this) will serve your needs fine.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » February 8, 2005, 7:24 pm

Voronwë wrote:i go to a regular accountant.

Voronwe make the money, see?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 8, 2005, 7:43 pm

bring bring

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » February 8, 2005, 8:01 pm

Filing on my own w/ efile this year since i owe in like 400 dollars.

Fash · Post by **Fash** » February 8, 2005, 8:32 pm

last year I just went to irs.gov and it gave several competing places and offers to do your stuff over the web e-file, one i got free, and it was easy.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » February 8, 2005, 8:47 pm

If anyone wants to do their taxes at H&R Block, I can give you a 20$ mail in rebate if its your first time.

/em thinks it should still work at other HR Block Office stores.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 8, 2005, 9:35 pm

Voronwë wrote:i go to a regular accountant.

Ditto

Llaffer · Post by **Llaffer** » February 9, 2005, 1:36 am

I've been using TurboTax since 1998.

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » February 9, 2005, 6:28 am

I have used Turbo Tax for the web for 5 years now. It also helps I get to file for free.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » February 9, 2005, 9:29 am

TaxCut since 1997-ish.

cadalano · Post by **cadalano** » February 9, 2005, 9:49 am

I used e-file last year for my first year. This year I went with H&R block out of recommendations from friends. They were pretty disappointing. Next year I'm probably just going to use Turbo Tax.

Shaerra · Post by **Shaerra** » February 9, 2005, 10:54 am

TaxAct for the last 4 years. Good program, low cost for the software. I always get Deluxe, worth the extra few bucks.

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » February 9, 2005, 11:07 am

I grab my ankles and pray for a gentle reaming as usual.
Best program yet.

Canoe · Post by **Canoe** » February 9, 2005, 1:20 pm

Turbo Tax with a Tax reference book at my side... have been doing mine, my GF's, my bro's, and certain other close friends for several years now with no problems.

Samoseus · Post by **Samoseus** » February 9, 2005, 9:18 pm

turbo tax for my personal

accountant for my business

for the first time in years, i'm all caught up on paying the IRS on backtaxes

lolololololol

i'm finally free

Samo out...

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » February 9, 2005, 9:23 pm

meh.. first year for me doing this hellish thing you guys call taxes. My god it's a fucking mess.

nobody · Post by **nobody** » February 9, 2005, 9:41 pm

count yourself lucky you aren't in the military kel. i am praying my tax free status in afghanistan doesn't cause any bugs. let alone the fact they just FORGOT to pay me for two months.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » February 9, 2005, 9:54 pm

Well between federal.. state.. city.. and city for the city I work in and city for the city I live in.. and they don't communicate.. blah blah blah.. man I miss taxes back home atm.

Deward · Post by **Deward** » February 10, 2005, 11:44 am

If you are on active duty in the military the best thing you can do is open a PO Box in Florida and use that as your home address. Hell you could probably put a forward on everything from there. You won't have to worry about any state taxes then.

I have been using TurboTax deluxe since 1999 when I discovered that was what my accountant was using. No sense paying him $50-100.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » February 10, 2005, 1:56 pm

Been using TurboTax every year since release, luckly my taxes were simple back then and it seems to get better every year as the complexity of mine increase.

What ever happend to that flat tax Bush spoke of in his acceptance speech? Heh, almost gave me pause to consider voting for him but I knew he was fully of shit...

Marb

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » February 10, 2005, 2:02 pm

I have a tax question for anyone who might know. I already sent in for my federal return but then I was informed that you can claim a wrecked car as a loss?

How do you go about doing so? Is it too late to file like an addendum? What do I need to provide the IRs etc..
need some infos please!

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » February 18, 2005, 12:38 pm

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » February 18, 2005, 5:15 pm

Stragi wrote:I have a tax question for anyone who might know. I already sent in for my federal return but then I was informed that you can claim a wrecked car as a loss?

How do you go about doing so? Is it too late to file like an addendum? What do I need to provide the IRs etc..
need some infos please!

Yes a total loss on a car is a valid deduction for income tax purposes. The amount of the loss is the fair market value of the car less any salvage value paid on the loss.

Just to clarify, the totaled car happened in 2004 and you already filed a return for 2004? The big question here is, did you itemize your deductions or did you take the standard deduction?

There is a process available for filing an amended return, but if you don't itemize it may not matter. Or perhaps this deduction along with others may allow you to itemize rather than taking the standard deduction. Hard to say without knowing your particular tax situation.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » February 18, 2005, 5:24 pm

Deward wrote:If you are on active duty in the military the best thing you can do is open a PO Box in Florida and use that as your home address.

Talk to personell (or whatever your branch calls it) before you do that, it can bite you in the ass when it comes time to get out or retire, and in a few other instances that I can't remember offhand.

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » February 18, 2005, 6:22 pm

My taxes are way to complicated, I use an accountant and he gets me a ton of money back!

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » February 18, 2005, 6:57 pm

Tenuvil wrote:
Stragi wrote:I have a tax question for anyone who might know. I already sent in for my federal return but then I was informed that you can claim a wrecked car as a loss?

How do you go about doing so? Is it too late to file like an addendum? What do I need to provide the IRs etc..
need some infos please!
Yes a total loss on a car is a valid deduction for income tax purposes. The amount of the loss is the fair market value of the car less any salvage value paid on the loss.

Just to clarify, the totaled car happened in 2004 and you already filed a return for 2004? The big question here is, did you itemize your deductions or did you take the standard deduction?

There is a process available for filing an amended return, but if you don't itemize it may not matter. Or perhaps this deduction along with others may allow you to itemize rather than taking the standard deduction. Hard to say without knowing your particular tax situation.

I filed with turbo tax.. and yes i already sent it in for 2004.. i dont remember itemizing anything.. i guess i took the standard deduction.. i'm tax noob so I really have no idea. If i'm SOL this year can i still file it next year?

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » February 18, 2005, 8:00 pm

You can only take the casualty loss in the tax year it occurred.

If you itemized then yes you can file an amended return. However it sounds like you took the standard deduction.

Here's the deal. The US Tax Code allows a taxpayer to deduct certain expenses from their taxable income to reduce their overall tax liability. Because many taxpayers do not get the same benefit as others, the Tax Code allows for a standard deduction (currently around $4850 for single filers).

Taking the standard deduction is a good deal for non property owners or those who work for someone else as generally your deductible expenses would not be as great as the standard deduction. If you own a home, and/or are self employed via a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or LLP, then itemizing expenses will result in less taxable income and thus a lower tax liability.

Mplor · Post by **Mplor** » February 19, 2005, 1:23 am

Am I the only one who actually mails in a paper 1040a? Single renter.