Doing your taxes on your own

[sdoll]

I am sick of paying HR Block to do our taxes. Is there an easy way to do them on our own. I would have to believe we are pretty boring when it comes to our filing. What does everyone else do? Any ideas? We are moderately intelligent so I think we could figure them out on our own..

 

[ICF]

There are numerous website / pc programs that you can use to do your taxes....likely much cheaper.

Some popular ones include...

Turbo Tax
Taxcut (ran by H&R B)
Tax Act

 

[havaneselover]

Tax Act is very easy to use. It cost me $13.99 for federal and state. Very painless.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I use Turbo Tax. I am literally the least knowledgeable person on the planet about taxes, and I've yet to screw it up. Turbo Tax makes it very easy.

 

[jedijill]

I've done easy to complex taxes using Turbo Tax. No issues...its very easy to use.

Jill in CO

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I like TurboTax.

 

[scard192]

My sister and I share one copy of Turbo Tax and split the cost

 

[LinderInWonderland]

I have been doing my own taxes since I started filing, except for one year when I had income from multiple states and was nervous about filing on my own. I started with paper 1040EZ forms and the booklet and then jumped on to Telefile and finally have been using TaxAct since 2003. It's very easy.

That one year that I was nervous? I filed with H&R Block once and it cost me $300. 13 years of filing with TaxAct and I have spent half of what one year at H&R Block cost me.

 

[yupikgal]

I have two small businesses, just started them last summer, so I'd like to take advantage of the tax breaks, etc. can I still do the tax programs on my own? In the past, I used H & R Blocks "Best of Both" but my favorite tax lady took a job elsewhere, so I'm really debating as to whether to do them here locally again, and stay with H & R. If anyone has experience with direct sales + taxes, please help? Thanks!

 

[Brer Shay]

I've done them myself for many years after paying Block to do them once in a year I was nervous due to home purchase and sale. 1040, schedule A, schedule C-EZ using the booklet or online instructions. I file through freefilefillableforms which is linked directly from the IRS site. If you haven't had significant changes from last year, look at that as a guide as you work your way through this year's forms.

 

[DebbieB]

I use Turbo Tax, it was $34.99 plus tax this year for federal. I itemize deductions because of my home mortgage and property taxes, it was very easy. Plus it files it electronically.

 

[Crystal824]

We use Turbo Tax. Very easy and much cheaper than H&R Block.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I've done them myself for many years after paying Block to do them once in a year I was nervous due to home purchase and sale. 1040, schedule A, schedule C-EZ using the booklet or online instructions. I file through freefilefillableforms which is linked directly from the IRS site. If you haven't had significant changes from last year, look at that as a guide as you work your way through this year's forms.

I use this too...I refuse to pay any money to get my taxes done. If you can read and comprehend the instructions you're fine.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you can read and follow directions then using Turbo Tax is easy to use. It walks you though step by step how to file. I have been doing ours this way for years. Filed ours on Jan 31 and the refund was deposited yesterday. It took 8 days to get the refund.

 

[ForeverAlice]

I recommend turbo tax as well.

 

[tvguy]

Anyone use Freefile? If your taxes are simple, I can't see pending a penny to file.
https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free

 

[ImDMous]

I use TurboTax. We itemize for student loan interest, property tax, mortgage interest, etc and also have some stock bought and sold every few years. It's really easy to follow. We got our refund in less than a week this year.

 

[Juliet25]

Been using TurboTax for like 20 years now.

 

[havaneselover]

Anyone use Freefile? If your taxes are simple, I can't see pending a penny to file.
https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free

Tax Act is $13.99. It takes everything from federal and drops it in the state form. I can't file my state form for free. That's only available to lower income filers. So to file both electronically I have to pay.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Anyone use Freefile? If your taxes are simple, I can't see pending a penny to file.
https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free

The "Free Fillable Forms" mentioned earlier in this thread are part of this.