tax filing - advice requested
#16
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,547
Re: tax filing - advice requested
Unfortunately TurboTax does not take you through "everything." TurboTax works for some, maybe most taxpayers, most years, but there are many common situations that TurboTax (and, I assume, other tax prep services) are not setup to handle. An example; the Form 8938, when it was first introduced, TurboTax only handled half assedly. That year, even though I'd paid for TurboTax, I ended up doing my tax by hand.
#17
Re: tax filing - advice requested
Anyone that's an accountant would be better than that paper mill.
They just tick boxes on a screen that you could do yourself...it's only if you ask to speak to someone senior that you might actually see an accountant.
They'll do the job on a simple tax filing, which you could probably do yourself in that situation, but I wouldn't trust them for anything complex like this.
Peter Newton, who is a BE member, gets recommended a lot and last I read, he was taking new clients. He's based in NY, but that shouldn't matter. I'm sure the OP could search out his contact details himself.
They just tick boxes on a screen that you could do yourself...it's only if you ask to speak to someone senior that you might actually see an accountant.
They'll do the job on a simple tax filing, which you could probably do yourself in that situation, but I wouldn't trust them for anything complex like this.
Peter Newton, who is a BE member, gets recommended a lot and last I read, he was taking new clients. He's based in NY, but that shouldn't matter. I'm sure the OP could search out his contact details himself.
Pete Newton
www.britishexpatstax.com
#18
Re: tax filing - advice requested
Unfortunately TurboTax does not take you through "everything." TurboTax works for some, maybe most taxpayers, most years, but there are many common situations that TurboTax (and, I assume, other tax prep services) are not setup to handle. An example; the Form 8938, when it was first introduced, TurboTax only handled half assedly. That year, even though I'd paid for TurboTax, I ended up doing my tax by hand.
#19
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,547
Re: tax filing - advice requested
Another TurboTax shortcoming, at least in 2006 which was one of the two years I used it, it has some US states down pat, but not others. Reason I paid for it that year, I was still doing taxes for our two children. So, I had three states to prepare, New York, Massachusetts and Oklahoma. It was as fluent with NY and MA as with the federal. But Oklahoma was a complete farrago, I had to prepare that one manually. At least now, I know a bit about Oklahoma taxes .. I seem to remember, whether you kept chickens or not (my daughter didn't) was a big deal ..
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: The Shire
Posts: 1,117
Re: tax filing - advice requested
You're correct about the ability to manipulate the workings of TurboTax, and thus able to create an accurate return.
The problem is knowing that you have to manipulate TurboTax in the first place. It gives you little warning in international situations. In essence, you must have a thorough understanding of the international situation and what forms are required or need altering before you can use TurboTax. For the novice, unfamiliar with the regulations, it could be easy to be lead astray, with the taxpayer convinced they've filed an accurate return when in fact, they haven't.
#21
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,547
Re: tax filing - advice requested
I think both you and Robin have equally valid points.
You're correct about the ability to manipulate the workings of TurboTax, and thus able to create an accurate return.
The problem is knowing that you have to manipulate TurboTax in the first place. It gives you little warning in international situations. In essence, you must have a thorough understanding of the international situation and what forms are required or need altering before you can use TurboTax. For the novice, unfamiliar with the regulations, it could be easy to be lead astray, with the taxpayer convinced they've filed an accurate return when in fact, they haven't.
You're correct about the ability to manipulate the workings of TurboTax, and thus able to create an accurate return.
The problem is knowing that you have to manipulate TurboTax in the first place. It gives you little warning in international situations. In essence, you must have a thorough understanding of the international situation and what forms are required or need altering before you can use TurboTax. For the novice, unfamiliar with the regulations, it could be easy to be lead astray, with the taxpayer convinced they've filed an accurate return when in fact, they haven't.
#22
Re: tax filing - advice requested
I think both you and Robin have equally valid points.
You're correct about the ability to manipulate the workings of TurboTax, and thus able to create an accurate return.
The problem is knowing that you have to manipulate TurboTax in the first place. It gives you little warning in international situations. In essence, you must have a thorough understanding of the international situation and what forms are required or need altering before you can use TurboTax. For the novice, unfamiliar with the regulations, it could be easy to be lead astray, with the taxpayer convinced they've filed an accurate return when in fact, they haven't.
You're correct about the ability to manipulate the workings of TurboTax, and thus able to create an accurate return.
The problem is knowing that you have to manipulate TurboTax in the first place. It gives you little warning in international situations. In essence, you must have a thorough understanding of the international situation and what forms are required or need altering before you can use TurboTax. For the novice, unfamiliar with the regulations, it could be easy to be lead astray, with the taxpayer convinced they've filed an accurate return when in fact, they haven't.
However, I'd trust Turbo Tax more than I'd trust most tax preparation companies since it would be unlikely that one individual can understand IRS tax code, international tax code, and the tax codes of 50 different states as compared to a large number of employees at Turbo Tax developing the program with likely many more as trained tax experts giving assistance.