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UncleBuck
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How many people use Tax Software
12/22/05 09:17 PM
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Is it worth the money, $39.00 with state return included, how "mistake free" are they.
Buck
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Bird
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: UncleBuck]
12/23/05 05:55 AM
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I can't say whether it's worth the cost (although it has been for me because it's quick, easy, and convenient) or whether it's "mistake free" (I don't know of my return being audited by the IRS, but at least I haven't heard from them, so I hope neither I nor the software made any mistakes), but I've been using TurboTax Deluxe for quite a few years.
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jimbrown
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: UncleBuck]
12/23/05 09:59 AM
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I have used Turbo Tax for years. It is easy to use. I like to use the programs because you do not have to enter all the data at once you can do it over days or as I mostly do as I get it. Also if you use it for the second year it will carry items over so all you have to enter is the numbers. I worked for H&R Block one year and the computer programs are probably more acurate thatn what you get from them. Although most of the tax services are now using computer programs. They are simply more accurate when it comes to manipulating numbers than most people are.
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DUMBDOG
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: UncleBuck]
12/23/05 09:46 PM
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I would recommend Turbo Tax. It is pretty much error free. That is for most returns, if you get into some of the more complicated returns and make some changes for assumptions you should go back and check to make sure that the program has accounted for all items that you made changes for.
I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn last night.
However I am a CPA and got out over twenty years ago due to the fact that I was scared of computers and that is the way the industry seemed to be heading, later I realized that was not the fact, justed hated all the BS that went with the job and the firms associated with it.
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Pat
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: DUMBDOG]
12/24/05 03:11 PM
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We used Turbo Tax for years and years but eventually went to human help (NOT THE TAX GUY IN A BOX, H.R. BLOCK) Always liked Turbo Tax when we used it. USE a non computerphobic CPA. My wife does such thorough preperation that there is little left for anyone to do but it is complex enough that we like the consultative access of a live expert familiar with our situation.
Before we used Turbo Tax we had used BLOCK a few times and it bugged my wife that they just took her info and put int on forms with viratully no thought added. That was our motivation to go to Turbo Tax. For returns of moderate complexity Turbo Tax is way better than BLOCK, in my experience.
 Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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chrisjbell
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: UncleBuck]
12/26/05 06:53 PM
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Turbo Tax is a good program and will work fine for most returns. I'm pretty comfortable with computers but I still use a person (I agree - not the tax guy in the box). I hope to never be audited, but if it ever happens then my guy will go with. That is worth the money to me  - as one of my old business partners liked to say (he's a CPA), the IRS simply has no sense of humor.
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Bird
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: chrisjbell]
12/26/05 07:32 PM
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Chris, in the years that I've been using Turbo Tax, there have been two years when I did my return using it, but wasn't sure if everything was right, so I took everything to a CPA. An each time, after they reviewed it and asked questions, they said it was all done correctly and nothing to change.
Of course we've all heard or read the horror stories about the IRS and I'm sure at least some of them were true, but many many years ago when I was a youngster (and before computer software) there was one year when I thought I was going to owe more than I had. So I took everything and went in person to the IRS office solely to find out whether they had a payment plan so I didn't have to pay it all at once. And IRS agent sat down with me and did my return, and not only did I not have to pay anything; he got me a small refund! 
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Pat
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Bird]
12/26/05 09:42 PM
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BIrd, My best bud in SOCAL is pretty good with numbers as he was a math major/physics minor to my physics major/math minor and he used to offer a little help in the early days of our doing our returns.
So one year he gets audited and apparently rubbed some IRS type the wrong way in a big way. They had to give him a supplemental refund because when they audited him he really went over everything carefully and got help from one of his brothers who was a CPA (my bud was one of 10-11 kids in the family) B_U_T... they audited him the next year and the next and the next etc for 5 years. Every time he was able to find a way to get at least just a few bucks more back than he originally claimed.
Finally someone must have considered cost/benefit analysis and decided it was costing way more to mess with him than it was worth since they always owed more. He swears they must have a s--t list of folks they want to scrutinize or bother.
I'm sure I pay more than I have to but don't like to cut it too close.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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Gatorboy
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: UncleBuck]
12/27/05 05:35 AM
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I had used Turbo Tax for a few years, and last year used Tax Cut. Both are excellent programs and I will not go back and do my taxes manually anymore.
:: D A V E
:: g a t o r b o y
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Bird
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Pat]
12/27/05 06:11 AM
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Pat, you may be old enough to remember the really short card form that existed 45 years ago. I think it had about 10 lines. It was incredibly simple. But one year, I didn't have quite enough withheld, so I owned (and paid) about $80 when I filed my return. In August, I got a letter from the IRS that my return was one of those randomly selected for audit, that there was an error on line 7, and I was due a $10 refund that would be sent separately. I checked my copy of the return and I'm absolutely sure there was no error; however, I got a check for $10 and spent it.
The year I retired and sold the house in January was one of the two times I went to a CPA and he found no problem with my return; however, in addition to the withholding for the year, I had to send a sizeable check because of the capital gains tax. Then in July I got a letter wanting a "penalty" of nearly $200 for not having enough withheld (or not filing a quarterly return to pay that capital gains tax earlier). I was in Alaska when I received that letter, so I just sent them another check. 
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Pat
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Bird]
12/27/05 09:40 AM
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Bird, Yes I remember a "short form." I paid my first income tax in the mid 60's. The new version of THE SHORT FORM which is being drafted in anticipation of Hillary being president will simplify tax preparation considerably. Here is the draft wording...
1. How much did you make last year? _________
2. Send it in.
I wonder if she might choose Susan Sarandon as a running mate if not Senator Kennedy.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Edited by Pat (12/27/05 09:49 AM)
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Bird
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Pat]
12/27/05 02:03 PM
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I'm just a little older than you; did my first income tax return in '60 for the '59 tax year.
And I bought and installed Turbo Tax Deluxe today.
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Buckeye_Jim
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Pat]
01/01/06 04:23 PM
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In reply to:
Pat, maybe you believed that all would find this funny and no other viewer would be offended. It could also be that you are ‘writing off’ anyone who cannot appreciate the obvious truth of your humor. If this is the case, then you in your small way, are helping to further the deep polarizations which exist in politics.
Pat, a better way is leave politics out of CountryByNet. Let’s try to treat each other with respect. Thanks for listening.
Jim
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Gatorboy
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Buckeye_Jim]
01/01/06 06:38 PM
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( Pat, maybe you believed that all would find this funny and no other viewer would be offended. )
What exactly is OFFENSIVE about it? Geesh!
:: D A V E
:: g a t o r b o y
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Pat
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Buckeye_Jim]
01/01/06 08:31 PM
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Jim, No problem dude, lots of freedom of expression here, I''ll gladly consider your thoughts, whether we agree or disagree. It is always a pleasure to hear from a member of the engineering brotherhood.
Oh by the way, I wasn't sure what it was you were intending to quote, so I have no idea what in particular you found offensive. I have a reputation as an equal opportunity blasphemer. I might just as easily have lampooned folks from the other side of the aisle if in my "snap" judgement it would have been funnier. Ever hear of Pat Paulson? Did his satire not amuse you?
Perhaps when you have been hanging around here for a while and rack up 200-300% more posts (a couple more) you'll find that there is really very little heated rhetoric or vindictiveness here. Sure, once in a while some bozo triggers off a feeding frenzy and several of us get in a few licks (see also the thread about treating water with magnets.)
I would focus my response more tightly if only I knew what in particular rubbed you the wrong way. For example if it was the Susan Sarandon thing... Well, it is a well documented fact that that she is prominent in a movement to have all animals declared sentient beings and subject to constitutional protection like U.S. citizens are. She would like to enforce vegetarianism on everyone and with sentience for animals and constitutional rights it would be a felony to kill one. Check it out and let me know what part of her "movement" I didn't understand.
As for Kennedy and Hillary, they are partners in several initiatives that are deeply ingrained in tax and spend big government. A litany of those initiatives are a part of the congressional record and also are way too lengthly to recount here. They are also rabidly anti-gun and anti-hunting which is not an overly popular set of feelings with many of the good folks here on this forum.
Given these facts, they were an easy target for a laugh. If you like I can malign engineers but my heart wouldn't be in it.
If you take everything you read here as ultra serious earth shaking important stuff then you really need to get out more, unwind, relax, chill, and so on and so forth ad naseum. You think a few lines of satirical humor (sarcasm?) is somehow of national importance and likely to tip the ratio of red vs blue states away from that which you may favor. Usually whether or not someone wants the fight stopped depends on whose ox is being gored. (see, small "g" not another attack on poor hapless Al.)
Maybe I should stick to a less controversial topic, like religion!
Hey, I'm willing to meet you part way and chant "Electron flow makes everything go!" with you. P=IE I=E/R Peace, bro!
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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egon
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Pat]
01/02/06 05:20 AM
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Correct tax returns? What is that?
I can remember a time long ago when It seemed to be quite simple to fill out the form and do it correctly with little problem. Even helped others do theirs!
As I aged it seemed to become more complicated and never was I able to correctly fill out forms. Fortunetly all my forms seemed to be audited as there were overpayment refunds as well as requests for more funds.
Last year I used a program and still managed to get it wrong. Figured I owed them a little over four thousand extra but was informed this was over by several hundred dollars. Now I'm supposed to make quarterly payments which I ignore.
Don't know what I'll do this year but do know it will not be correct.
Classic case of a spastic tax challenged individual.
Egon
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BlueRidge
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Gatorboy]
01/02/06 09:07 PM
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What exactly is OFFENSIVE about it?
Gatorboy, THAT should be obvious!
HER Name has been Taken In Vain! 
Okay, I'll go ahead and be offensive:
An engineer, a Catholic priest, and a rabbi walked into a bar....
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DUMBDOG
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: BlueRidge]
01/02/06 10:09 PM
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Is it ok if I show my ignorance here?
Who is she? 
I really do not know.
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Gatorboy
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: BlueRidge]
01/03/06 08:51 AM
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( HER Name has been Taken In Vain! )
Then I suppose the only one who should be offended would be HER -- and I doubt she would be.
:: D A V E
:: g a t o r b o y
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MarineJAG
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: Gatorboy]
01/03/06 02:10 PM
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I've used Turbo Tax for years now... never had a problem even when doing the farm's taxes.
As for Pat's theory on the new tax forms... he forgot to mention that if you make no money (i.e. didn't work, don't care to work), you will actually get a refund.
- William
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UncleBuck
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: MarineJAG]
01/03/06 04:02 PM
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Thanks all for your replies, seems Turbo Tax is the favorite,
will try it this year.
In reply to:
( HER Name has been Taken In Vain! )
Are we talking about that guys wife who made $100,000(with a $1000 investment????) in the cattle futures market and don't have a clue how she made that money.
If she could only post her secret on CountryByNet, I think I'll have a extra $1000 to invest, when my tax return comes 
Buck
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andrewy
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: UncleBuck]
01/05/06 06:18 PM
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I've used the TurboTax online version for the past few years and been happy with it. It really doesn't save you any money... not buying a physical software package... but I like it because it allows me to log into their site from wherever I am, and not being forced to install some software package that I will delete after April 15th.
AndrewY
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GregMVT
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: UncleBuck]
02/12/06 09:39 AM
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I have used Tax Act for about 5 years. I think I pay about $20 but that's with preodering it in Sept. I can't remember if that includes the state. The first electronic filing is free and works well. Not sure how it works with a more complicated return, ours is always pretty simple.
Kioti CK30
19 chickens
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Bird
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Re: How many people use Tax Software
[re: GregMVT]
02/12/06 09:53 AM
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I used TurboTax Deluxe, as usual, this year, filed my tax return electronically on 1/29/06 and my refund was deposited in my checking account on 2/10/06.
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