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Filing Taxes

February 13, 2009

Tax Time, I hate it. However, there are a few things I do to prepare.

  1. Start only when feeling sharp, refreshed, and clear headed. If there are errors, it will only delay that return you need so badly.
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  2. Have a space where you can leave your papers and documents out for a day or two, and do not have to be gathered up for the evening meal.

  3. Use the free tax services online instead of the expensive tax prep places. Even this old non-tax-savvy granny can do it.

  4. Read the instructions on the site carefully. Mistakes can be made. Read your answers over carefully and double check your figures, even if you are sure you made no errors. You may be surprised to find that info you type often (name,soc. sec. # etc.) can have a typo because of haste.

  5. If you get too frazzled, stop and take a break. A walk, cup of coffee, time with the family etc can give your brain a fresh jump-start.

  6. Have a quiet environment to do your taxes in. Pets running, or kids playing loudly are not helpful to detailed work.

  7. Have all your papers together before you even start. Searching for important stuff can break your concentration and cause some confusion. (Where was I now?)
These sound almost too simplistic, but are important. I always have to relearn a couple of them each year. Hard to form good habits in this when it is only an annul occurrence.
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Hope all of you do great financially this coming difficult year.

Source: This is just what I have learned to keep things simple while preparing taxes. I help raise four grand-daughters, and need to be organized as possible.

By Phyllis from Wisconsin

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11 More Solutions

This page contains the following solutions.

January 6, 2010

If you made less than $56,000.00 in '08 you can file your taxes for free. Go to IRS.gov, to the right is the free link. You pick which company to use. I have used Turbo Tax for years and have always been very happy with process and the outcome!

 
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January 15, 2008

I have gone through the following website for like 3 years now and gotten my federal and state taxes all done, e-file, for free. I believe it's for people who make less than $25,000 per year, and there are other people who qualify too.

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Check it out. It's free and I have the money either deposited right into our checking account, or mailed to us. I like putting it automatically in the checking account the best.

 
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January 11, 2007

The Benefits Of Filing A Tax Return. Hope this is helpful to someone thinking about not filing a tax return this year. Due to illness one year, my income did not require me to file a tax return. I regretted that decision.

 
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March 16, 2005

When electronically or e-filing your tax return with an anticipated refund, make sure the bank account you designate for the direct deposit has your name on it.

 
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April 16, 2007

If you can't meet the April filing deadline (Midnight, April 17th this year) to file your tax return, you can get an automatic six month extension of time to file from the IRS.

 
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February 22, 2007

Be careful when switching software or filling out your tax return if you are married-filing jointly. My husband and I accidentally switched the order of our social security numbers from last year to this.

 
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February 24, 2009

Just found out this year that if you make less than 56000.00 a year you can go to http://www.irs.gov and do your taxes for free! Just wanted to let people know!

 
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Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

March 4, 2019

I need a cheap service to file my income tax. i do not want to file online. Any suggestions?


Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
March 5, 20190 found this helpful

Very often accounting students will provide this service in a college. They are supervised. However, if you have a complex return, I would not trust them.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
March 5, 20190 found this helpful

Our libraries have free services. We had a family member volunteer for years. They were well trained, but usually not professionals.

You can see if your local library has the same service.

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Some food pantries also offer free services. Those folks are usually pros who do it for free (pro bono). That would be another good option for you to look into.

Blessings!

 
March 5, 20190 found this helpful

The IRS trains volunteers to help with tax returns check online here: www.irs.gov/.../free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for...

TurboTax, H&R Block, karma credit all havehas a free basic tax returns software available online.

 
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October 17, 2014

I recently got married last month. I worked the same job for 14 years but in June we relocated and unfortunately the job couldn't come with. I've never been married and I've never filed taxes any other way do I have to file married this year?

By Nc

Answers


Silver Post Medal for All Time! 255 Posts
December 5, 20170 found this helpful

It would be in your best interest to file married, as that is now a deduction you can claim (if you are the head of household). If you are not the head, then your spouse will claim you as a deduction, which means you don't have to pay as much in taxes.

 

Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
December 6, 20170 found this helpful

You can either file married or married filing separately. Your taxes will be lower if you file as married.

 
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February 14, 2015

Why is there an age limit on the 1040EZ and other forms?

By David from Brentwood, MO

Answers

February 15, 20150 found this helpful

When you are 65 and over you are entitled to a higher standard deduction and the 1040-EZ is meant to be a fast filing form for the IRS. Use the Form 1040-A. It is just as easy.

 
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Archives

ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.

January 6, 2010

The Free File program is a free federal tax preparation and electronic filing program for eligible taxpayers.

 
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