So I was just lazing around, keeping an eye on my newsfeed, when I saw a post from Wood TV 8 that said, "How much do you trust your tax preparer? Target 8 discovers how easy it is to get ripped off and get in trouble with the IRS...."
My response, "That is why I have done my own taxes ever since I entered the workforce at age 15!"
Apparently, there was a whole segment of the news tonight dedicated to that. I personally would never have anyone else do my taxes. I know what I'm doing, and I am comfortable with the complications. If you pay a company to do your taxes, you are probably getting ripped off. How much do they charge for doing your taxes these days? In 2010, H&R Block's average fee was $189, while Jackson Hewitt charged an average of $208. Then they offer audit protection for additional cost, and charge extra for taxes that are "complicated by" taxable income besides wages and unemployment. There is also a fee if you want them to make your refund available to you immediately (refund anticipation check).
Too many people I know have had their paid tax preparer mess up their taxes so they have to file an amended return, or they get audited, or they have a ton of penalties to pay later... simply because the tax preparer did not know how to do taxes! This seems wrong, doesn't it? You are the taxpayer. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure the taxes are done correctly. Do your research and get an idea of what your complete tax return should look like. Ask questions and do not sign anything until you are sure it is right.
If you go to a H&R Block, the tax preparers are supposed to know what they are doing. H&R Block even has a guarantee: "Worry-free Audit Support", their tax professionals will assist you in case you get audited. I researched our local H&R Block offices. I wouldn't trust any of them to do my taxes!
In the three offices that are closest to my home, there are a total of 30 so-called "tax professionals".
Education:
- Four have a Master's degree
- Eleven have a Bachelor's degree
- Three have an Associates degree
- Seven have taken some college courses
- Five only have training fron H&R Block
Experience:
- Nine have a background in Taxes/Accounting
- Five have a background in office management
- Three have a background in the medical field
- Four have a background in Teaching/Childcare
- Nine have backgrounds in other areas (including military, sales, engineering, delivery services, real estate, and forensic science).
I have a friend that went to H&R Block to have their taxes done for many years in a row. They had the same house, the same kids, pretty close to the same income and deductions every year, and their taxes were done DIFFERENTLY every time! Some years one of the children wasn't even counted as a dependent!! Now they have to file amended returns for those years, and find a new tax preparer.
If you go to a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), they may not be knowledgeable about tax law and can make costly mistakes. I have a friend who went to a CPA that was well-known by her husband's family. He missed some of the taxable income and some of their deductions, and he didn't understand the way to process their mortgage certificate. This caused them to have to pay someone else to file amended returns and they had to pay penalties due to unreported income.
If you are self-employed, a traveling worker or a clergyman, it may seem reasonable to go somewhere the preparer understands the special needs that these people have when they file taxes. Just because someone says they know what they're doing... it doesn't make it true. Deductions can be missed or calculated incorrectly without your knowledge. This can mean you owe money, or that you get a smaller refund. Sometimes it can mean you get audited. Sometimes it can mean your entire refund goes to pay the Social Security and medicare taxes.
