Taxes getting close? Does filing your taxes fill you with dread? It can, especially if you don't know what you're doing. Get some help!
(This post was originally published on March 31, 2009.)
The first three and a half months of the year can have a lot of good memories.
It's safe to say that preparing taxes isn't part of that.
Regardless of how much, or how little, you enjoy preparing your taxes, it should be taken seriously. Taxes aren't a laughing matter.
Get tax help
The IRS is kinder than it used to be, but it still can make its presence known if you try to get away with something, intentionally or otherwise.
One civic organization I used to belong to was preparing to file a tax return for the previous tax year. Our treasurer at the time was meticulous, and he tried as best as he could to get answers to his questions regarding the tax returns we needed to do.
Despite his best efforts, though, he wasn't entirely comfortable with all of the numbers. As treasurer, he is personally liable for any consequences of filing an incorrect return.
I remember getting really hot under the collar at a board meeting when other members dismissed this as the treasurer's problem and were reluctant to allow him to get professional assistance. (He eventually did have it looked over.)
Your tax return isn't something to be cavalier about. If you don't understand everything you're putting on your tax return, shell out the money to get it looked over by a competent professional.
Places to get tax help
It really isn't worth it to guess. The government knows what you owe anyway:
Government: You owe us money. It’s called taxes.
Me: How much do I owe?
Gov’t: You have to figure that out.
Me: I just pay what I want?
Gov’t: Oh, no we know exactly how much you owe. But you have to guess that number too.
Me: What if I get it wrong?
Gov’t: You go to prison
@jordan_stratton on Twitter
Here are a few places that you can get tax help:
The IRS itself
That's right. The IRS itself.
Sometimes there may be a bit of a wait, but the times I've called the IRS with a question or because I royally screwed up it's been … pleasant!
I fully believe that if you call humbly and ask for help, they'll treat you fairly and like a human being.
The IRS web site also has lots of resources, too!
Tax software
Tax software continues to get easier to use. We've been able to get our taxes done with H&R Block tax software all but one of the last ten years.
Depending on your tax situation, you could even file your taxes for free! Check out H&R Block to see if this free option is for you.
An IRS tax volunteer
However, if software isn't your thing, and you'd like the human touch without the cost, you can look for a trained preparer that's part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
The link at the bottom of the IRS page shows you how to find volunteer tax preparation local to you.
Hire a tax professional
Finally, there's the face-to-face route with more personalized service (and less waiting). Simply hire a professional.
Hiring a tax person makes especially good sense for people with complicated tax situations. Regardless of tax situation, though, someone who does taxes all the time will usually know more than someone who does it once a year (most of us).
Remember … get tax help if you need it!
There are so many places to get help, there's no need to go it alone!
Hunh, I read that article from Jeff Schnepper, but missed the ‘You get the Idea’ comment. It does seem to encourage some questionable behavior, sad to say.
Yes, persons like me who are not conversant with the nuances of the financial and tax structures, it is better leave it to a professional who could take care of our returns. But we should be judicious in choosing one because if gets anything wrong, the whole problem would be mounted on us,without us being involved.