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Is there a free income tax preparation resource?
I'm terrible at preparing my income taxes. Are there any free resources that can help me?
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4 Answers
There are a great number of self help guides around. The majority of them will walk you through the steps of tax return preparation.
IRS class for business owners would help but not specifically. This class is generalized. It won't help you be able to better prepare you return.
If you don't want to take the time to find/read several books, The best thing you could do for yourself would be to spend the money to visit with a tax professional. Go in, talk with them. Pick their brain about new rules and some tricks that could help better prepare your return. Then after you prepare your return, spend the money again to let the same tax professional review your return and take their advice under consideration.
Finally as a last result if you still feel that you are being "terrible at preparing your return, find a preparer you'll trust and let them do it.
No, my suggestions aren't Free, but your tax return preparation isn't something to mess with. You need exact knowledge of laws or you could get yourself into serious issues with the IRS even if you didn't know. If it is wrong, the IRS will penalize you. So make sure it is correct.
Here is a list of free efile resources from the IRS http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=118506,00.html
If your return is fairly simple you will probably be ok, but as Bruce said you do get what you pay for. To put it another way would you suggest a business owner who knows nothing about human resources look for a free resource to handle the issues or should the owner look to a professional for assistance?
I agree with what the other answerers (is that even a word) have answered. Free is relative. The old adage is true, you get what you pay for. Of course, the major tax preparation chains do offer income tax preparation courses in the August - November timeframe.
However, for help this year I would check out the link that Wray provided above.
Also, I know that some people/companies look over tax returns for free to see if you missed anything. Of course, the advice on how to fix anything you missed won't be free. If you did it 100% correct you get the advantage of a professional looking over the return for free. I offer this service.
But the IRS is not an entity you want to play with. Its easy to make a mistake and get into trouble, but its harder to get out of that trouble. This will cost you both time and money.
Take the IRS class for business owners.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99202,00.html
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