brainsmile

Which do you use? Have you ever compared how much their returns differ if you try both?

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ray

For the past several years I've had to file more than 3 returns (different states), so I have been using an accountant to take care of all the lousy paperwork. However, this year is the first year since high school that I've only had to file for 1 state, so I'll be using some kind of e-file system.

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hoey222

it keeps da "man" off my back...

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Grimm

I have used both an accountant and Turbo Tax. Admittedly it was a while agot that I used Turbo Tax and the software should have improved but I am happy having an accountant do my taxes.

The peace of mind I get from haveing the accountant do the taxes is definately worth the higher cost. My accountant takes less than 1/2 hour of my time to get the information and then calls me in the next day or two to come get my paperwork. If there are any problems he handles them. I have compared his numbers to what I got at H&R Block as well as what I got from Turbo Tax. He got me $800 more back than TT and $1200 more than H&R Joke errr... Block.

I don't have to worry about audits, all my documentation will be neatly orgaized when I get it back. I also have a tax lawyer included in the deal to help me deal with the IRS and Calif. Franchise Tax Board (who make the IRS look like Mr. Rogers).

I stress about taxes. I have seen what happens when anything goes wrong. The money I pay for the accountant buys me at least a months worth of sound sleep, lowers my blood pressure by 20 points, lets me keep what little hair I have left, and helps me retain that last little smidgen of sanity that I have left.

For me, it's one hell of a deal.

Jeffbx

I've used both... the accountant was the better way to go when I had my own business and when I moved (two different states & buying a house). I think I paid about $200 each time.

Other than that, TurboTax has done good for me... I've been using it for probably ten+ years now, other than the two instances mentioned above.

attgig

I used turbo tax last year, and I'm still afraid that I didn't get a complete refund.

I think I'm going to try to use an accountant this year, and see if he can find anything from last year that I missed.

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gwilks98

My parents switched from turbo tax because of some licensing issues. I don't know too many of the details, but they had a problem with the software controlling how many printers you could print to.

I'm not really sure what was going on. They were just pissed about licensing.

Does that ring a bell to anyone?

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whitak24

if you do get an accountant, just AVOID H&R Block at all costs. they will overcharge you, make you pay more taxes than what you really owe, and generally screw you over in any way possible.
there have been conflicts between customers and whoever it is that makes TT because of anti-piracy measures that make it impossible to have your TT installed on more than one computer. and i don't think you can even make it print to more than one different printer. it's a big pain in the ass and has pissed off a ton of customers

Jeffbx

Yeah... I remember that from last year, too. I think they may have come up with a fix pretty late in the tax season, but they really alienated a lot of customers. Hopefully they'll have a better system this year.

attgig

was that turbo tax? i thought that was the other one...mmmm quicken.

Grimm

H&R Joke errr... Block aren't accountants. They are "Tax Preparers" which means they spent a few hours in a class on how to fill out the forms. They are part time labor making somewhere between $9 and $12 an hour. It's just like having a limited version of TT but with a person entering the data for you. They are people who would have been telemarketers, but didn't have the phone skills.

Jihforce

A buddy of mine at Intuit told me that they did change that system, so its all good!

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Merlin

The other problem with TurboTax was that it only let you do one return per copy of software. For me this was a hassle as I do my taxes, my mother's, and grand mother's. I went with Taxcut and it let me do the three returns on one computer. For comparison I ran TurboTax and the return was the same.

Bottom line is I'm going with Taxcut again this year.

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bachviet

If I have my own business and lots of deductibles, I would use the accountant. Since I'm using standard deduction, I just use Turbo Tax to keep the cost down.

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brainsmile

has anyone acutally compared the 2?

ramazank2

I always use TurboTax for the web. After a few coupon codes it comes to be like 15-20 dollars.

zippyjuan

I saved the most money by doing it myself- no accountant, no software. In California the e-file is incredibly simple- you don't even have to know what forms you need. Just have your W2s and your Federal numbers handy. I did it by hand and online and came up with the same refund- and you get it much faster too. I itemize. Don't pay anyone monney to get your refund faster either. It will only save you a few days with the automatic deposit option that is free on your tax forms.

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