Tax Preparer

[Ltwise3500]

We are new to TV...AARP Free tax service is full so I need to find a good tax preparer to go to. I would prefer a individual that is not linked to a H&R companies and like. I always had a CPA in Ohio and am used to that.
Thank you for any help that is offered.

[Packer Fan]

I have to tell you, I have extremely complicated taxes- High income, stock options, rental properties, etc. I use Turbotax and it is less work than the paperwork you have to fill out for a CPA to do your taxes. Like $54 on Amazon. Download it and answer the questions, it is amazing how simple it is. For reference, my taxes are 62 pages when I print them out. It took me about 3 hours to do my taxes with Turbotax and most of that time was assembling my rental property information. Then I efiled and got my federal refund 12 days later. Easy Peasy. Not sure why anyone, especially anyone retired, would use a CPA unless they are running a business. My wife used to pay someone to do her taxes when we met. I sat down and did her taxes for her the third year we were together, and she was amazed how much easier it was than using a CPA.

Just my 2 cents. You need to know ZERO to use turbotax.

[retiredguy123]

I agree with using TurboTax. Even if you pay a CPA, the CPA will not actually do much of the work. Most of the paperwork will get done by a non-CPA, who can make errors. When buying TurboTax, make sure you compare the software versions and purchase the correct one. The Premier version is probably the best one to use for a complicated return, and it is currently on sale for $70 on Amazon. I always buy one that includes a CD disc, not just a download.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I do up to 5 different returns a year, LLC, estate, and two personal, used to be three. All done with turbo tax, and yes, I have complicated individual with day trading, options, K1s from multiple partnerships, distributed K1s from LLC and estates, etc.

All done in turbo tax. Just get all the forms together, we assume that you understand what each form is from your income,
and also have saved your real estate bill and have access to transactions in your checkbook, like you are a normal person who knows how to pay your bills on time, and what the bills being paid are for.

Then just go screen by screen one at a time, until you are done. There is no magic, unless you just don't want to take the time and do it yourself for whatever reason, which is fine as well.

One item which is new this year, for me, is that you can put the transactional totals from the statements and then just attached the pdf versions of the year end statements to the turbo tax account, and its proof of the totals are correct from the brokerage statements. Easy peasy. . . though I am also in IT as a database programmer, and a corporate finance professional as well, so I find little issues in the turbo tax program itself. . . i have one right now, which have with one return, but not another return in the 1041 package.

[Babubhat]

Turbo tax should be adequate. Punch your last years return into last years software, match it to paper return, and roll it forward. Follow step by step instructions

[CoachKandSportsguy]

A corp finance colleague is a MA state certified tax return preparer, works independently, and he uses turbo tax to do all his clients returns. .

just sayin'

we used to have theoretical tax planning scenarios discussions on how to minimize taxes, investments, etc. and since this is the internet, there are very many googled degreed lawyers and tax advisors here on this site to give you advice if its a simple question, such as "should I buy an annuity?"

:boxing2:

[Babubhat]

If it makes you sleep better you can buy audit insurance with TurboTax. Not really necessary as you are responsible for the data however you file. Software gets cheaper as tax deadlines approach.

Less expensive alternative
H&R Block 2021 Tax Software: Premium $20, Deluxe + State $15 & More $9.99 (https://slickdeals.net/f/15662065-h-r-block-2021-tax-software-premium-20-deluxe-state-15-more-9-99?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1)

[rjm1cc]

Fl does not have an income tax and you may have to file in your old state and the Federal gov. For this year maybe call your old prepare. He will probably know your old state better than someone in Fl.

[Ltwise3500]

Thank you! All down loaded!

[MidWestIA]

They do it in other offices too like Lake Panasofkee they had openings

[Dnjschibline]

We are new to TV...AARP Free tax service is full so I need to find a good tax preparer to go to. I would prefer a individual that is not linked to a H&R companies and like. I always had a CPA in Ohio and am used to that.
Thank you for any help that is offered.
There are openings at Colony Cottage Rec Center, Fruitland Park Library and Lady Lake Library in April with AARP.
Villagestaxaide

[JanetandHarry]

I am a retired CPA who worked in the income tax field for over 45 years.

If you are new to The Villages in and became a Florida resident in 2021, my suggestion is to go to a tax professional to get your income taxes prepared especially if you moved here from a state that has a state income tax. In that case, you have to file a part-year state income tax return from the state you moved from. There are a lot of quirks in filing a part-year resident state income tax returns; every state has different rules for calculating their state income tax (fortunately Florida does not have a state income tax). Also if you have income from another state (such as rental property), you will still need to file a tax return in that state for a long as you own that property.

Federal tax law can be very complicated based upon the type of income you make. Turbo Tax is good is you have income from pension / IRA distributions, Social Security, wages, interest, dividends and capital gains from stock sales (if you have the completed 1099B from the broker and all the tax basis information is there). If you have anything that is complicated with your tax return, I would steer clear of Turbo tax and use a tax professional.

[mkjelenbaas]

We are new to TV...AARP Free tax service is full so I need to find a good tax preparer to go to. I would prefer a individual that is not linked to a H&R companies and like. I always had a CPA in Ohio and am used to that.
Thank you for any help that is offered.
Muriel Trulson 352-259-2422
We moved from Michigan and have had her do our taxes - also provides comparison for two previous years - quick and easy to work with - tell her Mike Elenbaas referred you to her!

[retiredguy123]

Note that TurboTax includes one free state tax software program, and it will handle almost any state tax return. After completing the Federal return, the data is automatically transferred to the state return and TurboTax helps you to complete and file the state return.

[Tjmorello]

We are new to TV...AARP Free tax service is full so I need to find a good tax preparer to go to. I would prefer a individual that is not linked to a H&R companies and like. I always had a CPA in Ohio and am used to that.
Thank you for any help that is offered.

Last year I was a tax preparer for both AARP and United Way and I can help you with yours this year. I can use my TurboTax and do yours for you. Let me know.

[Ski Bum]

Another vote for TurboTax. Not much difference between collecting what info you need for a CPA and running through the TurboTax step by step interview. Just make sure you save the file where you and TurboTax can find it next year, and all of your old info will transfer.

[retiredguy123]

When you complete your return on TurboTax, it will generate two tax files, a program file and a PDF file. The program file will only work with the current year TurboTax program, but it can be used to transfer data to next year's program. Note that you cannot use next year's TurboTax program to prepare an amended return for this year. So, if you need to amend the return, which can be done for 3 years, you need to keep all TurboTax programs on your computer, or on the CD disc that came with the software.

The PDF file can be used to print out a paper copy of your filed return. I have 10 years of PDF tax files stored on the cloud with a Google Drive. So, I can print out any tax return from any device connected to the Internet.

[tombpot]

I use Taxtown he is located in Florida. You mail your tax documents via priority mail, then he mails you your return.
You then send a check for tax preparation, and your return is filed. If he has any questions he will call you, or if you have any questions no problem getting ahold of him.

[taruffi57]

Call Arnold Korman. (352)207-3983. He's a real pro and very reasonable. He will come to you.

[davem4616]

I've used an Enrolled Agent with the IRS for the past 20 years to do my taxes...they're not part of the government, they earn the designation by taking an exam, just like a CPA earns theirs.....they specialize in taxes, CPA's are often more generalists, that's not to say they're incapable of doing your taxes...but I always like to use someone who's main thing is tax

Ellen Cronin is the one I use down here....she's in Oxford 352.850.1951

And yeah, I could use TurboTax...but I prefer to let someone else be the expert and keep up with in the current tax laws

[lsauls7537]

We are new to TV...AARP Free tax service is full so I need to find a good tax preparer to go to. I would prefer a individual that is not linked to a H&R companies and like. I always had a CPA in Ohio and am used to that.
Thank you for any help that is offered.

You won't find a more honest, professional for your taxes than Randy Haynes RWH Tax Preparation
We've used him for 4 years, the first year he found an error on taxes from year before, saved us a chunk of money. You can go to him, or he will come to your home. I recommend him without hesitation. 484-437-4395, or rhaynes54@gmail.com. rwhtaxprep.com

[joenrose2003]

We are new to TV...AARP Free tax service is full so I need to find a good tax preparer to go to. I would prefer a individual that is not linked to a H&R companies and like. I always had a CPA in Ohio and am used to that.
Thank you for any help that is offered.
Call Tom Humanek, also from Ohio 352-391-0942. A CPA on his own and currently moved to
Cape Coral. I have used him several times and now mail my tax info to him and he returns it to me promptly.

[PurePeach]

Last year I was a tax preparer for both AARP and United Way and I can help you with yours this year. I can use my TurboTax and do yours for you. Let me know.
:bigbow: I’m interested in talking to you about doing our taxes. How do we go about taking this conversation off TOTV?

[montagnard1969]

Find a good CPA and have it done right. A good CPA is well worth the charge as it depends what kind of revenue stream you have. There are so many changes to the IRA code that a low budget or free service will miss. This service is like any other profession, you don't go to the butcher for a haircut or a doctor for having your house painted. Why risk going "free", low budget or chain operations for something this important. Not to mention when the IRA reviewer sees it has been prepared by a CPA the will be less likely to scrutinize the return. Remember if you are audited, the IRA can request several years of returns and can scrutinize them all for any inequities. An audit is no fun, particularly if you have trouble coming up with the support documents to satisfy the IRA auditor. Pay me now or pay me later.

[montagnard1969]

Correction IRS not IRA

[PennBF]

We have used Mark Murphy CPA, 407- 328-8460 for years. He is terrific. To give you an
idea, he came to our house on a Friday and picked up our records, completed our tax's on
Sunday, filed them electronily on Monday and the funds were in our bank on Friday sent us
the completed Tax Forms for our files. If you are lucky you to can have him for your Taxes.:popcorn:

[virtue51]

I used Village Tax Accounting Solutions located at 918 Rolling Acres Road Lady Lake, FL
near the Home Depot. The phone number is 352-259-7053. They also have a website.

I needed to file with New York State.