Tax Services for Dummies

tax forms

It's coming... it'll be here in just a few weeks... the dreaded TAX DAY!!! And all across the country, people are wondering about "Places to Get Your Taxes Done."¹ If the truth be told, most of them are searching for the cheapest place to get your taxes done. They aren't terribly concerned about accuracy, although they probably should be... Whatever the case, they probably don't want to take advice from the likes of Jose Leiva, who penned the article of that title at PocketSense.com.

According to Jose,

"Preparing your own taxes is often difficult."

Well, maybe, although a postcard-sized form 1040-EZ sure doesn't strike us as particularly "difficult." That being said, Jose's excuse for advertising for the three largest storefront tax services in the country is that, according to him,

"...some people like to make sure that a tax preparation specialist will help them prepare and file their taxes accurately and there are plenty of tax preparation companies where you can get your taxes done throughout the country."

Umm, yeah: we had to wonder just how a sentence like that one made it past one of the crack "content editors" at Demand Media... But we digress. What we'd like to point out is that all Jose did was reword some of the advertising content at the corporate websites of Jackson Hewitt, Liberty, and H & R Block. Hell, anyone with a brain could do that!

No, we're of the considered opinion that Jose sold the OQ short (and/or sold him a bill of goods). The real answer, according to our tax "experts" (well, they're probably more expert than Leiva) is that "it depends." Some possible complications: You have a very complex tax situation: seek out a CPA or even a tax attorney. You're broke: watch for announcements of volunteer organizations that will do it for free, often at the local library. You're a senior citizen: watch for AARP tax preparation services at local senior centers and libraries.

You can also google "file taxes for free" and find a host of on-line services for many taxpayers, especially those with simple situations or low incomes. You don't have to pay for a storefront service like our Dumbass of the Day seems to think!

¹ The original has been deleted by Leaf Group, but can still be accessed using the Wayback machine at archive.org. Its URL was   pocketsense.com/places-taxes-done-6313512.html

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