Taxes

[Rogar]

Trying to finish my taxes and have decided to sell my I Bonds. The stupid chitty treasury direct website is beyond horrible. I can't log in because it doesn't remember my challenge question answers. The income I get from this bond just isn't worth it.

My experience with Treasury Direct is the same. I've actually used it in a discussion about how the bureaucracy of big government is grossly inefficient compared to the financial institutes in private enterprise. Right now I'm trying to convert a few i bonds from paper to a TD account. Wait times for phone questions is horrid and the paper work is unnecessarily tedious and difficult. I'd like the bonds in TD so I can designate a beneficiary, but I understand you can cash in paper bonds at banks, which is a possibility.

[rosarugosa]

I completed out taxes yesterday using Turbotax online, and it was a very annoying process (a couple of glitchy things that I'm confident were not on my end). I have all Mom's documents together and just need to drop them off with her tax guy. I'm feeling pretty pleased about completing this.

[Tybee]

I completed out taxes yesterday using Turbotax online, and it was a very annoying process (a couple of glitchy things that I'm confident were not on my end). I have all Mom's documents together and just need to drop them off with her tax guy. I'm feeling pretty pleased about completing this.

Good for you, and good karma for helping your mom and getting it done so early!

[Rogar]

My taxes have had complications several times over the years and for the last 30 or so years I've used the same CPA for taxes. His rates are reasonable and I think they have been balanced with a few of his money saving tax tips. It also takes the worry out of making a dumb amateur mistake and being audited and I trust his advice and professionalism implicitly. He is retiring after this year and I'm undecided what to do. I might try Turbo Tax if I can't find another local CPA I trust.

[iris lilies]

My taxes have had complications several times over the years and for the last 30 or so years I've used the same CPA for taxes. His rates are reasonable and I think they have been balanced with a few of his money saving tax tips. It also takes the worry out of making a dumb amateur mistake and being audited and I trust his advice and professionalism implicitly. He is retiring after this year and I'm undecided what to do. I might try Turbo Tax if I can't find another local CPA I trust.

Agreed, I like using a CPA. We’ve used the same CPA firm for all the years we’ve been married in DH used it before we were married.

[iris lilies]

First year we have not itemized our deductions. Since our charitable contributions are all qualified by going direct from our 401K plan, they do not appear. Cannot reach $30,000 without them.

Turbo Tax has saved us so much over the last 20+ years, we continue to use it.

I don’t think we have ever exceeded the standard deduction, especially in these recent years of high standard deductions. I think it would be $30,000 for us and we only donate 20,000 in the last couple of years so didn’t reach that because we have very few other deductions.

[pinkytoe]

I have always done ours as they were straightforward. We have quite a few statements from Vanguard this year due to DH's inheritance so I will take a stab at it...but...what is the average cost to hire a CPA to do taxes?

[iris lilies]

I have always done ours as they were straightforward. We have quite a few statements from Vanguard this year due to DH's inheritance so I will take a stab at it...but...what is the average cost to hire a CPA to do taxes?

In years when we have no extraordinary income or issues, our tax preparation costs $400 -$500.

This cost used to be deductible, but no more.

[Rogar]

I have paid $275 for the last several years. Nothing too complicated, but my annual Fidelity report with gains and losses, interest income from the bank, and a small pension. I've been an estate executor in the past and the rate was the same for the estate taxes and the deceased, $275 each. Nothing too complicated and worth the advice on the estate matters. I expect I've been getting away cheap and the price will go up when my CPA retires.

[iris lilies]

I have paid $275 for the last several years. Nothing too complicated, but my annual Fidelity report with gains and losses, interest income from the bank, and a small pension. I've been an estate executor in the past and the rate was the same for the estate taxes and the deceased, $275 each. Nothing too complicated and worth the advice on the estate matters. I expect I've been getting away cheap and the price will go up when my CPA retires.

That’s what we saw, charges go up when our CPA retired and other took over his business. It was really cheap! But now I don’t mind paying higher costs because …just worth it.Also, it is nice to have them available for consultation throughout the year for occasional other questions.