[rogerrice60]

New to the Villages, interested in finding good location for income tax preparation.
Nothing major, just SS, income from investments etc.

[retiredguy123]

Here is the link to free tax service in The Villages:

https://villagestaxaide.com/

[Babubhat]

Credit karma offers free online software

[villagetinker]

We like H&R Block, several offices in TV are open for tax season and a couple open year round. Aso, they can handle the out of state taxes if necessary, one stop shop.

[rjm1cc]

Do you have to file in your home state? If you do I would use the person you used last year as that person will know your state laws.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by rjm1cc

Do you have to file in your home state? If you do I would use the person you used last year as that person will know your state laws.

That was my point about H&R Block, they are nation wide, and they have resources in every state.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

That was my point about H&R Block, they are nation wide, and they have resources in every state.

When I was young I used H&R for a few years and was quite pleased with them. They are such a large outfit someone will have an answer to just about any question or situation a taxpayer may have. A friend of mine worked for them during tax season after he retired. He was not a CPA but held an MBA and had owned a few different businesses.

That being said I have used a small New Mexico CPA firm for quite a while as they handle most of my business returns and I need to file tax returns in several different states. Surprisingly they have clients filing returns in many different states for various reasons. Some live elsewhere. Others own out-of-state businesses.

[retiredguy123]

I completed the H&R Block training course many years ago. I never worked for them, but their couse was excellent and I think their tax preparation process is very good.
.

[Luggage]

If it is truly simple and nothing has changed from last year if you look at doing it online yourself to understand the process. You can also pay a couple $100 for someone locally and there probably are hundreds of accountants at this point in The Villages who can do taxes for you. with your stocks you should have your own spreadsheet shown you what you put in salt and when so you can understand your profits and losses

[wsachs]

Originally Posted by rogerrice60

New to the Villages, interested in finding good location for income tax preparation.
Nothing major, just SS, income from investments etc.

How about using Turbo Tax on your computer. At their website the Federal tax form is free. Been using it for years.

[bruce213]

Try Robert Bloom 425-941-5224

[rogerrice60]

Thanks so much .

[rogerrice60]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

We like H&R Block, several offices in TV are open for tax season and a couple open year round. Aso, they can handle the out of state taxes if necessary, one stop shop.

Thanks for the info.

[Haggar]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I completed the H&R Block training course many years ago. I never worked for them, but their couse was excellent and I think their tax preparation process is very good.
.

No, No, No - I'm a CPA who has seen returns for H& R Block and except for the simplest returns (the ones you can do yourself) they would not be who I would recommend.
I agree their courses are excellent-but generally it's a three week course.
I'm speaking from knowledge of their preparers. They fill in the boxes. My experience is most of their preparers are not proactive in asking questions and therefore don't get the best result for their clients.
They are paid a low hourly rate plus a % of what is charged.
They sell "audit protection" for a fee. These easy returns are never going to be audited so this is a waste of money for the client.
I've have one case where they told a client a certain form wasn't available yet and because the client really needed his refund the return was filed without the form. A day after the return was filed he came to me because "something didn't feel right". The form was available - the preparer didn't how to file the return so he told the client the form wasn't available.
If you've got anything more than a W-2 and interest do you want your return your done my someone who's tax experience is a 3 week course?
Last story- My first bookkeeper took the course. She prepared her first tax return, had it reviewed by her supervisor. Because it was slow after the client left she reviewed the return. Found out she made a mistake which cost the client $1,000. Took it to her supervisor to find out what to do. He said the client left satisfied - he wasn't going to correct the return.
Last and not least - asking questions and being proactive both for the current year and helping for the next year is part of the job of the preparer.

[lindaelane]

I use Liberty Tax - they have an office in Leesburg (Ocala office did not seem as good as Leesburg). They charge, but what I believe what I am getting is worth it. When the IRS mistakenly billed me for $30,000 they fixed it for free within days. They offer a free service for any problem during the tax year if you use them. The 30K bill was the fault of the IRS, not Liberty.

Liberty will also give you a dedicated consultant who will answer any tax questions throughout the year. So, if I am planning something - say renting out my house while I am gone or converting to a ROTH - I can consult with the about any tax consequences, finding the best - cheapest - way to do things from a tax perspective.

If my financial planner says "ask your tax advisor" I ask Liberty. (No, the Liberty consultant is not a CPA, but has good qualifications. I choose to do this rather than pay CPA rates, which is an appropriate choice for the size of estate I have.... yes, I know i could pay even more, e.g. to a CPA, and get even more...it is a personal choice.)

You get what you pay for.

Bottom Line: Liberty has saved me a lot more money than what they have cost me in tax preparation fees, plus I have learned a lot from several free consults through the year.