First of all, when? Now that it’s 4/16, how many of you filed for an extension of time? Who filed in the past few days? Comfortably early? Way early (Jan/Feb)?
And how did you do them? Who gave their papers to an accountant? (Big chain, like H&R Block, or the family accountant who’s been doing your taxes for years?) Who fills out the forms by hand? Who uses on-the-desktop tax prep software? Who does 'em online?
And who was able and willing to take advantage of the assorted free e-filing options?
Well, me first, of course.
I did my 2000 and 2001 Federal taxes with TurboTax on my desktop, so I did the same in 2002. Why? Because it was easy, it was familiar, and it carried over my W-2, 1099, etc. info from last year; I only had to change the amounts.
Last year, Maryland started offering free e-filing to those of us who file a state return that isn’t too esoteric, so I filed online last year, and did the same this year.
I filed in late March; our refunds have been in our accounts for a couple of weeks.
I always do our taxes, always by hand, always mailed in. The very idea of paying $30 for the priviledge of filing on line vs. a stamp or two to mail the return - there is no contest. I did some quick and dirty figuring back in Feb, and once I determined we’d have to pay, I set the package aside till this past weekend. The envelope went into the mailbox yesterday on my way home from work.
My goal is to come as close as possible to breaking even each tax day. Unfortunately, with our income/residency in a state of flux for the next year at least, I’m not even going to attempt to reach my goal. Frankly, I’d rather pay a little in April than get a chunk back.
I used Turbo Tax again, as I have for the past 7 years or so. Why? Because it is easy, it transfers the files from Quicken, and it prompts me along the way. And, I am not constantly shufffling papers.
We had our accountant do our taxes for a few years (pre-TT) and ended up paying loads every year. After I started using TT, I found all kinds of deductions that she had missed.
I filed in January, like I always do. Online, like I have ever since the general public could do so.
Every femtosecond that one delays in filing taxes is an interest-free loan for the Washington to squander. Might as well just send all your money to DC and try to learn to breathe water if you’re going to wait until April 15th to file.
I do 'em myself with a calculator and a scratch copy. Absolutely hate it. I used to have an accountant do it but he’s in jail for income tax evasion now so I’m the mule again.
Basically I just refer to the previous year’s copy and fill in the new numbers but the itemization was a real bitch this year and then I still had to send in a huge check, yesterday, at 9:30 pm.
I always do everything by hand, but I don’t itemize so my return is fairly simple to do. I sent my forms in via snail mail.
I always complete mine in early February- that way I get my refund sooner and avoid the stress of having to rush to meet the deadline.
I read that over 25 million people file during the last week. Why do so many people wait until the last minute to file their 1040’s? It’s not like the April 15 deadline is something new.
We filed in February as soon as all our forms came in. We use Joe, an independant accountant. I fax him the stuff and 3 days later I get my return back and mail it pronto because Joe always gets us a big fat refund. Joe rocks!
I do mine every spring break, usually first week of March. My taxes are easy to do since I am a student and therefore poor, so I only have to deal with W-2s and I use the 1040EZ form. I use paper and pencil and mail it in. I considered doing it online, but I found the interface confusing and honestly find it easier to just sit down at a table with my papers and calculator and do my federal, state, and local taxes all at the same time.
I used TurboTax for the web and filed electronically. My Federal return was accepted April 14 and my state return was accepted today (I submitted them both on the 12th so that’s my “official day” as far as when I sent it in.)
I am rather prone to very simple errors of addition and substraction – and I have to file interest & captial gains schedules and the thing where you claim some income as self-employment… I’m just glad I can pay someone (something?) to do the math for me.
I used TurboTax online. This is how I have done it for the past two years and will probably stick to this method. This way I don’t have to worry about making any math mistakes. I didn’t do it until the first week of April. Since I almost always get a big refund (biggest one ever this year, yeah! ) I should have the incentive to do it earlier, but as I am a natural-born and incurable procrastinator… :rolleyes:
I had used H&R Block for the past 5 years and before that I did it the old-fashioned way.
TurboTax. Although their chat-helpdesk totally screwed me up when I had an innocent question, all is now forgiven. I should say that ours are on the complicated side, with both of us running a business in addition to W-2s.
Done by April 10, this year. We owe–we always owe–sowe there’s nowe point in getting them out earlier than that.
First time TaxCut (from H&R Block) user here (my husband did them last year). Filed at 11:55 pm last night :-). We couldn’t find one of my husband’s W-2s until yesterday … mainly because we hadn’t looked!!
We are terrible procrastinators. And we owed this year (for the first time!!). We owe over $4000. Damned self-employment tax!!! I will be applying for a loan shortly.
I will note that my husband isn’t the world’s greatest financial whiz. I think I’ll be doing the taxes from now on (seeing that he almost couldn’t find last year’s return … grrrr!!!), since I already pay the bills.
) I should have the incentive to do it earlier, but as I am a natural-born and incurable procrastinator… :rolleyes: