Tax Preparer
 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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:

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

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.

Thank you! All down loaded!

tax
 

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

AARP TaxAide
 

There are openings at Colony Cottage Rec Center, Fruitland Park Library and Lady Lake Library in April with AARP.
Villagestaxaide

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.

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!

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.

Tax preparer
 

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.