[shadow90]

I am new to the area. Can anyone recommend a tax preparation service,

[scubawva]

AARP TaxAide is free. Book online.

[vintageogauge]

Daily Sun classifieds.

[villagetinker]

I have use HR Block for several years, not the cheapest, but they do stand behind their work and I actually collected one time when they made an error.

[Sensei]

Ellen Cronin Tax Services
4.866 Google reviews
Tax preparation service in Wildwood, Florida
Enrolled agent and CPA preparing individual and trust tax returns.
Address: 10845 US-301, Oxford, FL 34484
Hours:
Closed ⋅ Opens 9 AM
Phone: (352) 350-1951

[Ignatz]

Originally Posted by scubawva

AARP TaxAide is free. Book online.

Who is eligible to use this? Their site says for people over 50 and who need assistance.

Their online assistance is for people with AGI below $84k.

Is the in person assistance capped as well?

[Lottoguy]

Have you ever used online tax service? The average cost is $50.00. They “talk” younthru every step. It’s not hard at all.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Sensei

Ellen Cronin Tax Services
4.866 Google reviews
Tax preparation service in Wildwood, Florida
Enrolled agent and CPA preparing individual and trust tax returns.
Address: 10845 US-301, Oxford, FL 34484
Hours:
Closed ⋅ Opens 9 AM
Phone: (352) 350-1951

Ellen Cronin is a good tax service. But, citing Google reviews is not a good way to promote anything. Google reviews can be bought and they are very often fake. There are a lot of terrible companies that have hundreds of 5-star Google reviews. Google it.

[Haggar]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I have use HR Block for several years, not the cheapest, but they do stand behind their work and I actually collected one time when they made an error.

All reputable preparers stand behind their work. So I'm a CPA so I'm somewhat biased. But I've fixed a lot of HR Block returns. They tend to be people who fill in the boxes from your paperwork. Some have but a three week training course. They don't have the breadth of knowledge to be creative, explain missed tax saving opportunities and do tax planning for the next year. I've have clients come to me and tell me that the reason HR Block didn't prepare a form was because it wasn't out yet. It was out - they just didn't know to prepare it.

Plus why anyone would take their audit protection is beyond me. Like a extended warranty on a blender. A tremendous money maker for them!

A side note - years ago the Wall Street Journal took a rather complicated return to a variety of tax preparers - mom & pop shops, EA;s, small CPA's. large International CPA firms, tax attorneys. Not one got the maximum savings. Talks to the complexity of our tax laws and that was years ago!

[barbara828]

Originally Posted by Lottoguy

Have you ever used online tax service? The average cost is $50.00. They “talk” younthru every step. It’s not hard at all.

Really FREE TAX USA . One of the ones recommended by IRS. If it's just for simple filings * I believe * . Love it.

[CarlR33]

Originally Posted by Haggar

All reputable preparers stand behind their work. So I'm a CPA so I'm somewhat biased. But I've fixed a lot of HR Block returns. They tend to be people who fill in the boxes from your paperwork. Some have but a three week training course. They don't have the breadth of knowledge to be creative, explain missed tax saving opportunities and do tax planning for the next year. I've have clients come to me and tell me that the reason HR Block didn't prepare a form was because it wasn't out yet. It was out - they just didn't know to prepare it.

Plus why anyone would take their audit protection is beyond me. Like a extended warranty on a blender. A tremendous money maker for them!

A side note - years ago the Wall Street Journal took a rather complicated return to a variety of tax preparers - mom & pop shops, EA;s, small CPA's. large International CPA firms, tax attorneys. Not one got the maximum savings. Talks to the complexity of our tax laws and that was years ago!

I have always done my own with a tax software (like a TurboTax). One year I was living in multiple states and was having issues with questions from the tax software. I thought I would treat myself to a H&R to get it done easy peasy. Needless to say, they made it worse (were as confused as I was). I ended up doing it myself.
If your federal is straight forward you can try below. You would just copy completed info manually to State and local if applicable.

Free File Fillable Forms

[PersonOfInterest]

Every year we prepare our Taxes to tell the IRS how much we made and therefore how much we owe. If the IRS disagrees they audit you to tell you how much you 'Really' made and how much you 'Really' owe. Since they know the real numbers why don't they just send everyone a 'Tax Bill' every year and end the yearly nonsense of filing a tax return?

[dlebuis]

We have used the Villages Tax-Aide service provided free for villagers. They have done a great job and I know of lots of people who use them.

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by Ignatz

Who is eligible to use this? Their site says for people over 50 and who need assistance.

Their online assistance is for people with AGI below $84k.

Is the in person assistance capped as well?

Anyone and everyone. There are some tax situations they cannot cover, such as businesses with depreciable assets, and some schedule K1 stuff.

[biker1]

They might not know all the numbers. For example, if you do a Schedule C, they won’t know all the numbers. You might be audited because they don’t believe the numbers you provided. For many people, including myself, they actually do know all the numbers and can, in theory, do as you suggest and then I can skip buying tax prep software and plugging in, or downloading, all the numbers they already have.

Originally Posted by PersonOfInterest

Every year we prepare our Taxes to tell the IRS how much we made and therefore how much we owe. If the IRS disagrees they audit you to tell you how much you 'Really' made and how much you 'Really' owe. Since they know the real numbers why don't they just send everyone a 'Tax Bill' every year and end the yearly nonsense of filing a tax return?