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i'm a bit obsessive compulsive when it comes to money. the numbers should be RIGHT. so why don't turbotax and taxact agree?
there are small differences. somehow taxact turned a $4 value into $20. i could overlook that (for the moment). the larger difference is that turbotax says i get an additional $99 back from the state. how??? i can't see a way to verify this number without handing over my money.
taxact also claims a $30 larger fed refund and costs $60 less. strangely, it all comes out in the wash.
think taxact's support could help me resolve this?
at this point i'm tempt to go back to turbotax. intuit is evil but they appear to be more accurate.
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You could do it a third time on HR Block and see if it matches either of those and go from there. (of course it may give you a third option)
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I've had similar happen to me using TurboTax and TaxCut (HR Block). I've used two programs several times in the past, wanting to really get my complicated taxes right. All I've done is just decide on one and stick with it. I do not use online tax programs. That's one thing I want on my own drive! This year, I'm using HR Block's program again. The one you buy, and it's on my drive. I used it last year, I like it about the same as TurboTax. I just don't like Intuit.
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Once I check my TurboTax vs accountant, numbers were identical.
A few years later I check TaxCut vs Turbotax and again numbers were identical.
are you 100% sure the programs have the same input data?
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Matt,
Taxes are one of those things I prefer having a pro take care of for me. Definitely a worthwhile investment under normal circumstances. In your case, as a new parent you may benefit from professional advice. For example, I can get a credit for the money my wife and I are spending on daycare for Baby M.
We won't get back all the money we've spent on daycare but definitely a significant percentage of it. No doubt there are other benefits but that's just one I know right off the top of my head.
Robert
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Matt,
You seriously think all they do is just plug numbers into a professional level tax program? That is definitely not the case. You may or may not learn something from a reputable tax professional. That isn't the reason to go to one.
You go to one to save yourself time and agita, maximize your tax deductions, possibly save a significant amount of money, prep properly throughout the year, etc. This link sums it up well:
Like I said, you're a new parent. Definitely do your homework else you lose out on the benefits.
Robert
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I don't think there is any benefit to an individual using a tax accountant. a business? hell yeah, but for a non-business situation, they definitely do use TT or similar. I know because that is what my friends father did for many years. when I had a business I used him and he saved me some money, but for my individual taxes he just said that to save time (and money) use TT or another program. he was pretty explicit about it, too, no beating around the bush.
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Mr Big,
Poor advice in my opinion since it is a blanket statement. Whether or. It to use a tax pro is very much dependent upon the individual's situation. Mat is a new dad. That has a significant impact on his taxes.
Robert
