Yay I've got the green plus thingy now!
Also, does anyone else owe startling amounts of taxes to the IRS?
1000 federal, 500 state. I may be doing something wrong in TurboTax. Cuz I'm a n00b.
Fail
also
Datrick's right that the programs are pretty easy. I've gone to H & R before when I've had complicated taxes and I wanted to make sure I filed them right. Last year I had a really complicated return because I worked two jobs, inherited a little money from my grandmother and was a resident of two states. I used the online H & R program (free) and it was pretty good at walking me through the steps. Also, if you're paying back your loans (if you have any), you can get a reduction for the interest you're paying off. That's what I get to look forward to (YES! paying off loans!).
Yeah
I think I singled-2 (if not then single-1) and ended up with just over 400 back... but e-filing ate a bunch of that and then the cost of the software :(
Probably would have been cheaper to go in. Last year (2005 return) I earned a pathetic amount and qualified for the free-online program and free-online e-filing... I almost wish that were the case this year as well :-/
I used TurboTax online for 2005 and HR TaxCut for 2006 and must say the TurboTax was easier to use in my opinion. If you buy the software, one thing to check for ahead of time are the fees. Fed and State e-filing were 16/per and then there was a $25 fee for some sort of 'consortium' fee. Check that ahead of time. Wish I had, but after shelling out the money for the software in the first place I had really nailed myself to the H&R Block software :(
pic
I don't understand the picture. It looks like the cat is going to suffocate...
It is a cone around the
It is a cone around the cat's head (so they don't bite themselves). It's commonly used for animals when they have certain types of issues. He's trying to eat his food and can't with the cone... hence "FAIL".
It depends on what you
It depends on what you filed. I file Single-0 and they take the max amount they can take out so I usually get a return. BUT this isn't usually recommended because most people say you should try to have the least amount of taxes taken out and invest that and with the money you make you can actually pay off your taxes when it comes to tax season.
As for deductions and such, programs like TurboTax or H&R Block etc... seem to be usually easy to use. The most complicated thing for you is probably your stock participation plan (1099 Something form)... and any stocks you sold during the year. If you sold no stocks, then it shouldn't matter in that regard. Also, if you have anything else you can claim on your taxes (classes, etc) make sure you are counting those too.
Ultimately though, depending on how you filed, you may not be able to do much to whittle that number down. Does your parents have a tax consultant that you maybe can talk to?