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Your search for “tax preparation” produced “54” results
Why Can't The IRS Just Calculate & File Your Taxes For You?
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 17, 2012 1:00 PM
83 Comments
How come we all have to go through the terrible, awful, no good, very bad experience of mucking our way through filing personal income taxes every year, when the IRS already has all the numbers they need to calculate stuff for themselves? Well, because then tax preparation businesses would have nothing to do, and no money to make, of course. More »
Personal Finance Roundup
By FMF on March 6, 2012 7:30 AM
5 Comments
5 Kitchen Luxuries That Are Worth It (and 5 That Aren't) [Wise Bread] "While I try to keep a pretty minimal and inexpensive kitchen, over the years, I have realized that there are certain luxuries that are well worth the cost."
Identity thefts tops list of consumer complaints [CNN Money] "Here are the the top 10 consumer complaints, according to the FTC."
9 Key Ages for Retirement Money Decisions [US News] "Here are different age milestones that might affect your retirement decisions."
How a Digital Picture of Your Future Self Can Change Your Saving Habits [Moneyland] "Here's why company HR departments will soon have employees coming face to face with their future self."
6 ways to get your tax refund [MSN Money] "Here's a look at the pros and cons of each option so you can find the right one for you."
—FREE MONEY FINANCE More »
(.sanden.)
Watch Out For Tax Scams Pushing False Stimulus Credits
By Phil Villarreal on March 5, 2012 11:15 AM
2 Comments
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning for a tax preparation fraud involving phony credits based on stimulus packages. Hucksters are apparently targeting the elderly and tricking them into taking tax credits geared toward college students. More »
Ask Tax Cat: Should I Get My Taxes Done For Free At Walmart?
By consumerist.com on January 26, 2012 12:45 PM
55 Comments
Every year around this time, Tax Cat emerges from his basket to answer questions and offer advice to you, the fine people of the internet. More »
Walmart Asks You To Come For The Free Tax Prep, Stay For The People-Watching
By Phil Villarreal on January 10, 2012 9:15 AM
45 Comments
In what seems to be an effort to lure customers, especially those in the mood to spend after procuring a sizable tax refund, Walmart is offering free tax preparation services for those whose finances aren't complicated. More »
H&R Block Goofs On My Tax Return, Won't Honor Guarantee To Reimburse Me After IRS Audit
By Chris Morran on September 23, 2011 12:15 PM
81 Comments
Bambi has been getting her taxes done by H&R Block for decades with no problem. But when a recent audit turned up a small error that required Bambi pay $725 in additional taxes, folks at the tax-preparation service seemed to go out of its way, including telling her complete falsehoods about why her claim was being denied, to not make good on its guarantee to reimburse her for the $725. More »
H&R Block/TaxACT Merger Blocked; Would "Substantially Lessen Competition"
By Marc Perton on May 24, 2011 2:30 PM
48 Comments
The Department of Justice has blocked the proposed merger between H&R Block and TaxACT on the grounds that combining the two tax-software giants would "substantially lessen competition in the tax preparation software market, resulting in higher prices, lower quality, and reduced innovation," More »
Prepaid Debit Cards Rack Up Fees As Soon As You Even Think About Getting One
By Laura Northrup on March 27, 2011 12:00 PM
67 Comments
Using TurboTax to file his taxes last month, Sam chose an interesting new option for his refund: a TurboTax-branded Greendot prepaid debit card. He doesn't have a bank account at the moment, and wasn't receiving a huge refund, so this seemed like a good option. He tried to use up the card soon after receiving it in order to avoid the monthly "maintenance fees" that come with prepaid debit cards. What he didn't know was his account really began on the day that he requested it online, so he was paying monthly fees when he had the card for barely a week. More »
TurboTax's Pricing Scheme Is A Little Confusing
By Laura Northrup on February 10, 2011 10:30 AM
67 Comments
You depend on the company that makes your tax preparation software to actually be good at math, but Kevin is a little confused when looking at the pricing scheme for TurboTax this year. It doesn't make any sense, he points out, if you need to file state income taxes, or if you're filing returns for multiple households. More »
How To Get Free Tax-Prep Help
By Tax Cat on January 28, 2011 2:15 PM
19 Comments
What many taxpayers don't know when they step into H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt or go to some tax-preparation site is that there are several thousand IRS-approved volunteers out there willing to do the job for free if you qualify. More »
TurboTax Charged Me $60 For Not-So-Free Free Online Taxes
By Phil Villarreal on April 16, 2010 9:30 AM
82 Comments
DaBears says TurboTax's free online tax prep ended up sticking him with hidden fees totaling $60. He writes: More »
Tips For Those Filing Their Taxes At The Buzzer
By Phil Villarreal on April 14, 2010 9:30 AM
12 Comments
If you're going all Duke-Butler with your income taxes this year, Kiplinger's Mary Beth Franklin has some tips you might find helpful. Here they are, posted with permission: More »
Daily Deduction: Tax Prep Fees
By MainStreet on April 12, 2010 9:35 AM
5 Comments
Filling out the Form 1040 can be a daunting experience, to say the least. It has been the downfall of numerous would-be Obama appointees, and its 76 cryptic lines come complete with 92 pages of instructions and a whole rainbow of schedules and attachments. It sometimes baffles even the most stalwart of tax experts, including your humble correspondent. If you are among the millions of taxpayers who shudder at the thought of wading into that morass alone, never fear. Tax preparation fees are tax deductible. More »
12 Scams To Watch Out For During Tax Time
By Chris Morran on April 5, 2010 11:30 AM
13 Comments
For the last several years, the IRS has released their Dirty Dozen list of tax scams, including schemes involving return preparer fraud, hiding income offshore and phishing. They recently posted the 2010 version on their website. More »
Tax Tips: Deduct Your Filing Fees
By MainStreet on April 2, 2010 9:13 AM
7 Comments
You can deduct as a miscellaneous expense on Schedule A (subject to the 2% of AGI exclusion) any expenses paid in connection with the "determination, collection or refund" of a federal, state or municipal income, estate, gift, property or other tax. More »
Tax Tips: What Does "Miscellaneous" Mean?
By MainStreet on March 31, 2010 9:07 AM
6 Comments
The items that you can deduct on Schedule A under the category of “Miscellaneous Expenses” can best be described as “ordinary and necessary” expenses incurred for the production, collection or protection of income. More »
Tax Tips: Go Green, Save Green
By MainStreet on March 25, 2010 9:03 AM
5 Comments
The new energy credit for 2009 and 2010 is available on these items purchased for your primary personal residence only: More »
Personal Finance Roundup
By FMF on March 24, 2010 10:00 AM
4 Comments
10 smart uses for your tax refund [MSN Money] "The best options include paying down credit card debt, starting an emergency fund and buying energy-efficient appliances."
5 credit score killers [CNN Money] "Here are a few things that can wreak havoc on your score and wreck your chances of getting an affordable loan."
Five last-minute tax tips [Vanguard] "Here are five new or increased credits or deductions you may find relevant as you complete your 2009 return."
Should You Buy or Rent? [Kiplinger] "Renting may be smarter if home prices in your area will fall further."
Ten Tactics for Saving Money on Pets [The Simple Dollar] "How to reduce the costs of acquiring and caring for a pet without skimping on the quality of care."
— FREE MONEY FINANCE More »
Always File A Tax Return
By Bargaineering.com on March 6, 2010 12:00 PM
30 Comments
The U.S. Treasury currently owes $1.3 billion to taxpayers for overpaid taxes on their 2006 tax return? It's important because the deadline to file a tax return for 2006 is April 15th, 2010. After that date, those taxpayers are no longer entitled to their refund. With money as tight as it is, you might be pleasantly surprised at what you, or someone you know, could get if you didn't file in 2006. More »
I Owe More Taxes Than I Expected: Should I Hire An Accountant?
By Laura Northrup on February 19, 2010 11:08 AM
79 Comments
Tax Cat here! Filing your income taxes can be even more unpleasant than going to the vet for shots. Especially if, like reader Fletcher, you dutifully filled out your tax return and discovered an ugly surprise: you owe more money than you expected. A lot more. More »
