[Hidden-tech] TAXES

[Jan Werner]

TurboTax is made by Intuit, which also makes the leading professional 
tax preparation software packages - ProSeries for smaller practices and 
Lacerte for larger practices.  All of Intuit's tax prep programs have 
been among the highest rated every year for over three decades.

The actual form filling and cross-checking elements of these systems are 
essentially the same. What is different is the type and amount of 
support provided to the user.  TurboTax is designed for single users and 
omits features needed to file and keep track of multiple returns or to 
handle certain items rarely applicable to individuals. On the other 
hand, it provides a lot more step by step guidance and easy data entry 
for non-experts.

I've done my own taxes for nearly 30 years now, and also done them for 
other family members (and in some cases, their estates). The IRS makes 
the same information available for free to individuals as it does to 
accountants and professionals, so there are no secrets or insider 
knowledge involved.  As mentioned before, I have nearly always used 
TurboTax for this.  My workflow doesn't change much from year to year, 
so I mostly fill in forms and worksheets directly and then use the 
guidance to review and check my work.

The hard work is in collecting data and organizing it, but that has to 
be done whether you do your own taxes or use a professional. The trick 
to filing your taxes easily is to set up a bookkeeping system that 
organizes your income and expenses with that in mind.  My advice for 
self-employed individuals is to find an accountant who will do that for 
you once and for all and then be available at tax time just to review 
what you've done, not to do the preparation and filing for you.

Jan Werner

__________________


tom's gmail wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> Disagree. 90% of doing taxes is formulaic. TurboTax is very formulaic.
> It's a perfect match. Of course a professional's opinion and personal
> human input is always helpful but not necessary in many cases
>
> Regards,
>
>
> Tom Adams, Director/Owner
>
> Reelife Productions & Folktography
>
> www.ReelifeProductions.com <http://www.reelifeproductions.com>
>
> (from my virtual office/iPhone)
>
> 413.575.9707
>
>
> On Mar 29, 2016, at 4:43 PM, Chris Hart, MyMacTech.com
> <http://mymactech.com> <chris at chrishart.net
> <mailto:chris at chrishart.net>> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>
>> Not sure I'd want to use an accountant that relies on a "consumer"
>> tool like turbo tax. Pretty sure my CPA would laugh at that. Don't
>> remember the name of the software he relies on -- I did ask him once
>> -- but I know it's not TT.
>>
>> /Chris Hart/
>> /// Computer Support & Technology Consulting/
>> /       for Connecticut and Western Massachusetts/
>> /         Tel: 860-291-9393 <tel:860-291-9393>/
>> /chris at chrishart.net <mailto:chris at chrishart.net>/
>> /http://www.MyMacTech.com <http://www.mymactech.com/>/
>> //
>>
>> On Mar 29, 2016, at 12:24 PM, Shel Horowitz <shel at principledprofit.com
>> <mailto:shel at principledprofit.com>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My accountant uses TurboTax (or something like it), so he can
>>> automatically carry over our data (especially great not to have to
>>> re-enter all the investment accounts). But then he adds his
>>> professional judgment and always has advice for us on how to
>>> accomplish our strategic goals. Just as I might run a piece of
>>> marketing copy through a reading-level analyzer or even an emotional
>>> content analyzer--and then revisit it with my professional antennea
>>> turned on. Professional knowledge + powerful tools = a pretty good
>>> combination ;-).
>>>
>>> ________________________________________________
>>> Watch (and please share) my TEDx Talk,
>>> "Impossible is a Dare: Business for a Better World"
>>> _http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/11809_
>>>
>>> Contact me to bake in profitability while addressing hunger,
>>> poverty, war, and catastrophic climate change
>>>
>>> Twitter: @shelhorowitz
>>>
>>> * First business ever to be Green America Gold Certified
>>> * Inducted into the National Environmental Hall of Fame
>>>
>>> http://goingbeyondsustainability.com
>>> <http://goingbeyondsustainability.com/>
>>> http://transformpreneur.com <http://transformpreneur.com/>
>>> mailto:shel at greenandprofitable.com
>>> <mailto:shel at greenandprofitable.com> * 413-586-2388 <tel:413-586-2388>
>>> Award-winning, best-selling (8th) book:
>>> Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson)
>>> Coming in April: Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World
>>> _________________________________________________
>>>
>>> On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Ed Bride <Ed at edbride-pr.com
>>> <mailto:Ed at edbride-pr.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     We did a walk-through with H&R Block a few years ago, and
>>>     according to them,
>>>     we owed about $2,800 more than Turbo Tax (Home & Business) said.
>>>     We stuck
>>>     with TurboTax. Our experience may not be typical, but I'm
>>>     definitely in the
>>>     TT camp.
>>>
>>>     Ed
>>>
>>>     -----Original Message-----
>>>     From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
>>>     <mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net>
>>>     [mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
>>>     <mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net>] On Behalf
>>>     Of Allen
>>>     Cohen
>>>     Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 7:40 AM
>>>     To: Annamarie Pluhar; Hidden-Tech Listserv
>>>     Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] TAXES
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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