H&R Block. Having just moved

[kiki02]

and knowing nothing,

does anyone recommend the above for our tax return? thank you

 

[TheShea's]

My advice, find a private practice CPA and get your taxes done right. I've read and heard heard horror stories.

 

[momof3ds]

If you can use a computer, get the h&r block software and do it yourself.

 

[ziggystardust]

I just moved too but luckily only about 3 hours from my old home. I went back to have my taxes done by my normal CPA, who told me horror stories about H&R block. I'd see if you can find a CPA that is recommended, maybe by a new co worker or neighbor?

 

[Jasonkat]

My wife is an IRS auditor. According to her H&R Block can't handle anything beyond the very basics. If your taxes are simple then they won't screw it up (but if they're simple you should do it yourself and save $), if your taxes are beyond having W2 and savings account interest income and then taking the standard deduction H&R Block will probably screw it up for you.

So if your taxes are simple: do it yourself
If they're complicated: Get a CPA

If you're a gambler: Use H&R Block and hope you don't get audited.

 

[ccgirl]

and knowing nothing,

does anyone recommend the above for our tax return? thank you

Personally, I would not use them. Most of they are not CPA's they are tax preparers.

Turbo Tax would be just as good. YMMV.

 

[RitaE]

It really depends upon the complexity of your return.

As for the H&R Training vs a CPA -- I can tell you I AM a CPA and my schooling consisted of very little tax code and I have very little experience in tax preparation. H&R offers the training classes and then they tend to hire the top performers. If it came down to a competition between me and the average H&R Block tax preparer for turning out accurate returns, I'd probably get my butt whooped. A lot of CPAs though pick up tax work as a side source of income and they may or may not be well qualified.

If your return doesn't run into the more complicated situations, you will probably be just fine using H&R or one of the software programs.

If I was going to hire somebody to do my taxes I would look for a CPA WITH tax experience or an Enrolled Agent or something like that.

 

[wiigirl]

My advice, find a private practice CPA and get your taxes done right. I've read and heard heard horror stories.

I agree....it costs a little more but its so worth it and probably make it back a couple times over.

 

[kiki02]

I agree....it costs a little more but its so worth it and probably make it back a couple times over.

i probably agree. but i have no idea how to choose one. we just moved and it'd be randomly choosing, which seems weird.

have asked people around (few that we just met) but got nowhere.

thanks much

 

[IUTBAM]

i probably agree. but i have no idea how to choose one. we just moved and it'd be randomly choosing, which seems weird.

have asked people around (few that we just met) but got nowhere.

thanks much

If you have Angie's List for your new location, you could use that to look for recommendations.

 

[DVC-Don]

Find a CPA. We had major problems with H&R a few years ago. They messed up three years worth of returns that an enrolled agent had to straighten out. We gots lots of $$ back and H&R had to pay for the enrolled agent.

 

[pearlieq]

I've had years of good experience with filing through the TaxAct website. We've had simple years and more complex ones (job changes, inheritance, etc.) and going through their process has always been easy to understand.

You don't have to pay until you file, so you can always try it out and see how it goes. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to do with the help of a tax-prep program.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I volunteer A LOT.
2) One of mine is volunteering to do tax returns for elderly/poor/etc.
3) We are trained by the IRS and take competency tests.
4) For our work we get TurboTax issued to us.
5) So, I would recommend TT over Hewitt or H&R.

 

[bigmamimia]

I have done it myself for free for about 8 years using taxact.com. I've never had a problem and believe me I ain't no genius. LOL. This year was a little more complicated with having bought a house and needing to add a lot more deductions that go along with that but I still managed. It probably would have cost me at least $500 through H&R block or any of those other preparers. My advice is do it yourself with the free software. Then go to H&R block and have them do it. See if it is the same. Then you can either walk out with your papers and refuse to pay their ridiculous prices or you can pay and have confidence that next year you can do it yourself!

 

[kiki02]

I've had years of good experience with filing through the TaxAct website. We've had simple years and more complex ones (job changes, inheritance, etc.) and going through their process has always been easy to understand.

You don't have to pay until you file, so you can always try it out and see how it goes. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to do with the help of a tax-prep program.

WOW. SUCH GREAT ADVICE HERE AGAIN. there's a tax act website? i'm googling as I'd love to try, but getting weirdness from google. I'll keep at it and thanks. is it from the usgovt?

 

[Chelley00]

There's a huge news story here in Indiana that talks about how a computer glitch is holding up H&R Block refunds.

http://www.wthr.com/story/21727516/computer-glitch-delaying-tax-refunds



INDIANAPOLIS -

If you have plans for that tax refund, you may have to wait. Hundreds of thousands of tax refunds are delayed because of what's being described as a "computer glitch."

Up to 600-thousand returns filed by H & R Block and maybe even others could be delayed up to six weeks because of a problem filling out the student tax credit - it's form 8863.

In years past, tax preparers could leave the box blank, but now have to enter an "n".

If they didn't do that this year, that's what's caused the glitch, and that's what's causing delays in getting the forms processed and getting refunds to those expecting them.

People like Troy Gonzalez from Indianapolis are among those waiting, "I don't necessarily blame H & R Block for the glitch, but I would have liked a time frame for wait when I thought money would be there," Gonzalez said. "When I had to call and find out on my own and, oh, by the way, you might get a letter from the IRS saying you might have to resubmit tax documents."

The tax forms affected are those filed between February 14th and February 22nd. H & R Block says although the IRS has said it could take 6 to 8 weeks, they don't believe it will take that long.

On their Facebook page, H & R Block says that they are working with the IRS and once they have more specifics about the timing, they will share it with their clients.

But any delay could be a problem for those filing the FAFSA forms, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. There is a way you can still process the form even if your tax return is delayed.

"This really shouldn't stop you if you've got all your other information," says financial planner Elaine Bedel. "If you've gotten a copy of your return from H & R Block that was being filed, even though it's being held up because of that little glitch, all of the information should be there. So there shouldn't be any problem getting that information into the FAFSA form."



Bedel says any time you fill out your tax forms, you need to do it completely. And it is up to you as the tax filer to make sure every "i" is dotted and every "t" crossed.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I now have a client whose return was messed up beyond belief by the Block software a few years ago. It actually messed up two years and it took me almost a year of letters and phone calls with IRS to get everything straightened out and get back over $10,000 that he had overpaid.

You are best off using a professional firm (not a pop-up storefront) that uses something such as the Intuit ProSeries or another professional-level program.

And I am no longer taking on new clients as I am retired.

Mike, CPA

 

[pearlieq]

WOW. SUCH GREAT ADVICE HERE AGAIN. there's a tax act website? i'm googling as I'd love to try, but getting weirdness from google. I'll keep at it and thanks. is it from the usgovt?

It's just www.taxact.com (not sure if I can post links but it's literally just taxact .com)

It's not produced by the usgovt, but you can efile through them and get your status updates. If you're doing a really simple return, the federal filing is free (the state always costs extra), but I pop for the Deluxe Federal which saves my returns from year to year (makes it so easy the next year!) and includes more Q&A and explanation.

On the whole I pay $18.00 to efile federal and state and I'm very happy with them. Tax time is always a headache, but this makes it a mini and not a migraine!

 

[kiki02]

It's just www.taxact.com (not sure if I can post links but it's literally just taxact .com)

It's not produced by the usgovt, but you can efile through them and get your status updates. If you're doing a really simple return, the federal filing is free (the state always costs extra), but I pop for the Deluxe Federal which saves my returns from year to year (makes it so easy the next year!) and includes more Q&A and explanation.

On the whole I pay $18.00 to efile federal and state and I'm very happy with them. Tax time is always a headache, but this makes it a mini and not a migraine!

got it. it's pretty cool so far. thank you!!!!!

 

[TwinkleKS]

I know in our town, H&R Block charges more than the CPA's for a simple return.

IMO - H&R Block - requirements are a GED and a few weekend classes
CPA - College degree, test / certification, continuing education required. I'd go with the CPA.