I did my own taxes until I became self employed. It then became too complex. I generally view H & R and Jackson Hewitt in the same category as quick change oil places. They serve the purpose of completing simple returns with people who have limited training. The fact that they make mistakes is not at all surprising.

I will have to do it online this year. Still running XP Pro and TurboTax won’t run on it.

quote:

Originally posted by PakRatJR:
Thanks, that's odd with the state. When I was looking yesterday everything I found said state was extra. I know it was free with the free versions of things....

A bit of a LOL also, I think I will not be using H&R this year. Going through as far as I can with them, instead of the $2.00 I am getting back with turbotax and taxact so far, h&r says I OWE $4.00 to fed and I am also getting a bunch less from state than the other two??? Yup, won't be using them

So it sounds like you did your taxes also with H&R?

How much is your time worth?

You do know the software is deductible as a tax prep fee, right?

Most years I actually make the rounds through multiple online places. I have found more than once that I could get different results from different places. H&R is a perfect example. That an sometimes one will charge more or less or not at all compared to others.
Time wise, it only takes me about 10 minutes-ish to fill everything in so that don't really bother me at all. Like I mentioned earlier, mine are about as simple as they get. For deducting the software, I did know about that but I don't ever do enough of anything to itemize deductions so it wouldn't do me any good anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by PakRatJR:. . . Time wise, it only takes me about 10 minutes-ish to fill everything in . . . .

We are similar, other than I would change your "minutes" to "hours".
But my time does include some of the time to review my Quickbooks data to confirm my numbers.

As my tax prof taught "the IRS will tell you tax law is 90% black and white, 10% gray. Just the opposite is true".

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
You do know the software is deductible as a tax prep fee, right?

I doubt anyone that doesn't see the value in $40 tax software will end up itemizing.

As a update of sorts. I did end up needing to do the "deluxe upgrade" online.

As it turns out, state IS infact now a additional cost after the "upgrade $40 for the upgrade and a additional $40 now for state.
$80 to get a $2.00 return from FED.
I called customer service and said WTF??? They sent me a 20% "discount" code bringing it to $64.

I haven't done the "checkout" yet. I think I will do a bit more looking around just in case I can find another one that will be cheaper. I know it's "only" $64 but being I have never had to pay before... well, I would still rather spend a bit more time looking before I commit I guess.

You could do your taxes manually.

You are paying for a product. Nobody owes it to you for free.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
You do know the software is deductible as a tax prep fee, right?

At the very least, you’d have to itemize.

And last two years, they weren’t deductible. I think there’s a threshold for the deduction itself.

Also, tax deduction shouldn’t sway one’s decision. Getting incremental cash flow back to partially offset the cost of a bad decision still doesn’t make the decision good. If it’s a good decision, then the partial cash back is an added bonus.

ETA: I just googled and confirm: tax preparation fees are not deductible since 2018 and it was subject to a 2% threshold.

quote:

Originally posted by PakRatJR:
As a update of sorts. I did end up needing to do the "deluxe upgrade" online.

As it turns out, state IS infact now a additional cost after the "upgrade $40 for the upgrade and a additional $40 now for state.
$80 to get a $2.00 return from FED.
I called customer service and said WTF??? They sent me a 20% "discount" code bringing it to $64.

I haven't done the "checkout" yet. I think I will do a bit more looking around just in case I can find another one that will be cheaper. I know it's "only" $64 but being I have never had to pay before... well, I would still rather spend a bit more time looking before I commit I guess.

You’re getting a $2 refund. The price to do the taxes is still the same if you owed $3,000 or were getting a refund of $5,000. If you were getting a refund, that means you loaned the government interest free. So it’s a good thing you’re getting only $2 back.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
State returns with TurboTax are either $30 if you can get away with using the free version, or $40 if your taxes are complicated enough to need a paid version of TurboTax.

I didn't double check but I thought the state software was more than $40. If you need state software, you're probably better off with the Deluxe version. That comes with one state (which you download after installing the software). However, it does not include the e-filing for the state. It's easy to efile the fed and paper file the state.

If you do returns for kids or parent, you can e-file 5 federal returns with that software.

I see TTax has their software on sale at TTax - compare products and sale prices Make sure to check with Amazon. In the past some companies have given discounts on TTax. I think there was a discount through USAA and State Farm. However, in the past, the price at Amazon is the lowest I found.

I'm not advocating for TTax. I've used it for years and I'm too lazy to learn an new platform.

I'm not really complaining about the $2.00. Last year I owed them $2.00 lol

Really it's the now having to pay when it has always been free for me in the past. And even more so with their being no mention anywhere through the whole thing about also having to pay even more for state because of it. That didn't come up until the last page before you hit the submit button.

It is called turbo tax FREE after all.

And for itemized stuff, I mentioned that earlier. I don't have anything to itemize. The $80 now $64 cost on its own isn't enough to be able to "qualify" for it anyway even if you were still able to claim it.

Their are still other options. I'm not in a hurry lol

Years ago, the tax software companies stuck some sort of deal with the IRS as they worked out computer interface and protocols. The IRS pretty much forced providers to offer a fee version for the simplest returns. If you fall outside that narrow band, then you pay the normal price for the software.

You can check around and see if other 'free' providers allow HSA but I'm guess all use the same standard. (I'm sure companies are not thrilled about having to provide free software and want to be as restrictive as possible.)

And you can always go old school and download the forms. Many of the IRS forms are now interactive PDFs. I'd just print off the form and handwrite the numbers if I used that option.

Check to see if your state has a way to do your state taxes online. I do my Illinois taxes online for free every year on the state's website.

In fact, here you go. Online taxes for Cheeseheads:

https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/WI-efile/home.aspx

Yup thanks State is one of the options I was looking at. The fed should have a free option through them ss well I think. I will be looking through both of them over the weekend.

Stupid question: I have the turbotax Deluxe which has the federal returns + federal E-file. If my AGI is above the 72k limit for free filing will I still have to pay to file using Turbotax? I always have to send them a check so I don't mind going paper anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by fiasconva:
Stupid question: I have the turbotax Deluxe which has the federal returns + federal E-file. If my AGI is above the 72k limit for free filing will I still have to pay to file using Turbotax? I always have to send them a check so I don't mind going paper anyway.

If you've paid for the 2020 TurboTax Deluxe, the $40 you've paid includes electronic filing. You will then have to pay another $40 to prepare your state return, and that also includes electronic filing.

Thanks Aeteocles.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:

quote:

Originally posted by fiasconva:
Stupid question: I have the turbotax Deluxe which has the federal returns + federal E-file. If my AGI is above the 72k limit for free filing will I still have to pay to file using Turbotax? I always have to send them a check so I don't mind going paper anyway.

If you've paid for the 2020 TurboTax Deluxe, the $40 you've paid includes electronic filing. You will then have to pay another $40 to prepare your state return, and that also includes electronic filing.

I have no idea how the online version of TurboTax works but the above is not correct for the download version.

Depending on the version of the download software you purchase, you get free copy of the software for one state. TTax graciously charge you an additional fee if you want to efile the state (it use to be 29.95). You can print the state return and paper file (at no cost). I assume this will be the same for 2020 returns.

I use the download version because I've been able to e-file up to 5 federal returns at no add'l charge. I prepare my returns, my kids returns, and my mother-in-law. (As I said in a prior post - don't know if TTax is the best software other but I know the interface and it picks up all the info from the prior year.)