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Online Tax Preparation | Reasons On How To Save Money

Online Tax Preparation

Online Tax Preparation – Should I Self Prepare My Return?

Online tax preparation is a popular option for taxpayers that choose to self-prepare their own return. But is it self-defeating? It can be. For simple returns, it can be a good strategy to save money.

When Should You Consider Doing Your Own Taxes

  • You have a simple tax return: The benefits of using a tax professional are very little if you have a straightforward, simple return without a lot of deductions or complexities. For example, if you don’t have investments, you don’t live overseas or have overseas bank accounts or investments, rental properties, own a business, or other more complex tax situations.
  • You Can’t Afford A Tax Professional: If you can’t afford to hire a tax professional, online tax software such as Turbo Tax and Tax are user-friendly and a good option when you can’t afford the best.

But whether your return is simple or complex, a false assumption is that the online tax software will automatically prepare a correct tax return. This is generally only true if the user has a clear understanding of their tax documents, tax situation and of the question being asked on the screen. It is do-it-yourself tax preparation, but it still relies on you to be the human expert to make the correct input.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for both simple and complex return filers as most don’t have any foundation in tax law, thus there generally will be a lack of understanding of both tax documents and questions being asked.

The old adage holds true – garbage in, garbage out.

At Tax Samaritan, the majority of returns that we see that were self-prepared using online tax software have errors – not because of an online tax software mistake, but rather one made by the taxpayer.

Why is this the case?

The US Tax Code Is Complex For US Taxpayers And Online Tax Software

There is one guarantee with taxes. Congress is always working overtime to make the tax code more complex every year. The byproduct is that self-filers find themselves in situations where the IRS is issuing notices on mistakes made on their return – both errors and omissions because tax preparation is not becoming any easier. Over the last few years, at Tax Samaritan, we find ourselves helping more taxpayers who have received increasingly more correspondence from the IRS.

Online Tax Preparation Won’t Save You Money

Online tax software can’t create tax savings out of thin air. It’s up to you to keep great records of your income and expenses so the tax software can optimize your tax savings. But, you also have to answer all questions accurately and correctly.

Using online tax solutions can save you money compared to a tax professional in the form of lower preparation fees, but time to prepare is a consideration. Your return may take hours of your time to prepare in one sitting or over the course of several days so the opportunity cost of the lost time spent preparation your own return is also something to think about.

Consider Your Tax Preparation Options

While it’s obvious we are big proponents of professional tax preparation. Okay, perhaps a bit biased… Nevertheless, do-it-yourself online tax preparation can be a good choice for some taxpayers. That said – below are our recommendations for online tax software that have excellent reputations, accuracy credibility and have been around for years and likely for many years to come:

  • Turbo Tax
  • Tax Act
  • eSmart Tax

Our goal at Tax Samaritan is to provide the best counsel, advocacy and personal service for our clients. We are not only tax preparation and representation experts, but strive to become valued business partners. Tax Samaritan is committed to understanding our client’s unique needs; every tax situation is different and requires a personal approach in providing realistic and effective solutions.
If you would like a quote, please click on the button below for a free, no obligation Tax Preparation quote and/or free 30-minute consultation to discuss your situation regarding hiring a professional tax preparer further:

Tax Samaritan is a team of Enrolled Agents with over 25 years of experience focusing on US tax preparation and representation. We maintain this tax blog where all articles are written by Enrolled Agents. Our main objective is to educate US taxpayers on their tax responsibilities and the selection of a tax professional. Our articles are also designed to help taxpayers looking to self prepare, providing specific tips and pitfalls to avoid.

When looking for a tax professional, choose carefully. We recommend that you hire a credentialed tax professional such as Tax Samaritan that is an Enrolled Agent (America’s Tax Experts). If you are a US taxpayer overseas, we further recommend that you seek a professional who is experienced in expat tax preparation, like Tax Samaritan (most tax professionals have limited to no experience with the unique tax issues of expat taxpayers).

Randall Brody is an enrolled agent, licensed by the US Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS for audits, collections and appeals. To attain the enrolled agent designation, candidates must demonstrate expertise in taxation, fulfill continuing education credits and adhere to a stringent code of ethics.

Every effort has been taken to provide the most accurate and honest analysis of the tax information provided in this blog. Please use your discretion before making any decisions based on the information provided. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for seeking professional tax advice based on your individual needs.

All About Randall Brody
Randall is the Founder of Tax Samaritan, a boutique firm specializing in the preparation of taxes and the resolution of tax problems for Americans living abroad, as well as the other unique tax issues that apply to taxpayers. Here, they help taxpayers save money on their tax returns.

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