Is TurboTax really free? Your guide to 5 free tax-prep options

When you’re ready to start, we’re ready to take taxes off your plate. With Live Full Service, we’ll start by asking you questions about your tax situation. This can be done online, or with the help of a live tax preparation assistant. We’ll use what you tell us to match you with a tax expert who understands your unique situation, has relevant expertise, and is local to your state (where available). You can speak to your tax expert on the phone, through a live one-way video call on your screen (you can see your tax expert, but they can’t see you), or in-person with an independent Intuit TurboTax Verified Pro where available. Your tax expert will ask you questions and provide advice as they prepare your return and get ready to file on your behalf.

1. There are thousands of CPAs out there and our experiences represent just a single data point.
2. Due to the intense requirements you must meet to become a CPA, this license represents one of the most well-respected credentials in the business world.
3. You have three primary types of tax professionals you can hire to help you with tax work.
4. All can handle your tax return needs, while CPAs and tax attorneys can provide other valuable services like representing you before the IRS or Tax Court, or even helping your business with other administrative tasks.
5. With my own copy of my data, I could have typed the number in myself and would have immediately known the answer to my question.
6. If you can’t file your taxes by April 15, keep reading below about how you can file an automatic extension, which gives you an additional six months to file.

According to the IRS, about 80 million e-filed tax returns were prepared by a CPA versus 72 million that were self-prepared. The choice should be based on your budget, comfort in preparing tax forms and how much time you have available. Some investors have the ability and knowledge to create their own tax returns, but their time is better spent creating more income. A Form 1040 return with limited credits is one that’s filed using IRS Form 1040 only (with the exception of the specific covered situations described below). In general, the IRS says that returns with refunds are processed and payments issued within 21 days, and often in as little as 10 days.

How to Find a Good CPA for Your Taxes

Your accountant can also help determine how much you should pay in quarterly estimated tax payments going forward so you’re not faced with a big tax bill at filing time. Offers additional support-TurboTax Tax Preparation software offers the feature of Audit Defense from Tax Resources, Inc. This service can prove to be extremely useful during an income tax audit. Filing your taxes can be a hassle, depending on your situation. If you’re just an individual filling out a W-2, you can likely handle that yourself.

You can also pay an additional fee to move to Full Service and have your tax return prepared for you. Before filing your return, a tax pro will schedule a time to review your return with you. These prices reflect the list prices advertised as of April 19, 2023, without any discounts that TurboTax may offer to people who file early in the tax filing season. If you want to pay your filing fee out of your federal refund, TurboTax charges an extra $39 refund processing fee for the convenience. TurboTax, a product of the financial, accounting, and tax-preparation software provider Intuit, is one of the most popular tax-filing options out there.

You can receive your refund by check, whether you’re printing or e-filing. We’ll use your location and information about your tax situation to match you with the right tax expert to handle your taxes. If at any time you want to be matched to a new expert, you can inform your current expert and they’ll help you get reassigned.Where available, you will have the option to choose an independent Intuit TurboTax Verified Pro. You may see this option after starting with Live Full Service if it’s available in your area. We do our best to match you with the right expert based on the nature of your question.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

However, you’ll need to upgrade to TurboTax MAX to have a TurboTax pro represent you while dealing with the audit. While the software offers many tips to help do-it-yourselfers, including a bot (known as the TurboTax Digital Assistant), you won’t have access to hands-on customer service unless you’re willing to upgrade to TurboTax Live. In addition to searching for, “tax advisors near me,” consider consulting the IRS’ Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications. •   Enrolled agents and CPAs specialize in helping with tax return preparation and filing, while tax attorneys provide legal advice and representation before the IRS and Tax Court. In most cases, early tax filers who are a due a refund can often see the refund as early as mid- or late February if they have it direct deposited.

What is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant)?

If the accountant saved me more than $425, then it’d be a no brainer to use him again. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, turbo tax cpa or Microsoft Edge to view this website. To become a CPA, generally, you need to complete at least 150 semester hours of college coursework before sitting for the Uniform CPA exam.

Cash App users can file taxes free through the app; it doesn’t attempt to upsell you. Plus, the IRS is rolling out Direct File in some states, 100% free. TurboTax offers a 24/7 chatbot that answers your tax-related questions. This profile includes statements from the independent professional about their own education, skills, and experience.

Steve, personally I’m really hoping that your accountant pulls it off and saves you some money! Don’t forget that your time spent preparing your taxes is time that you https://turbo-tax.org/ are not making income on other projects. If my situation was complicated, I am certain a tax accountant would be able to find those hidden deductions but its not.

You’ll share personal information with this person, such as your income, family, and residence. Choosing a tax preparer shouldn’t be an overly complicated task if you follow the tips provided above. They can help guide your search and understanding of the types of tax preparers available. You have three primary types of tax professionals you can hire to help you with tax work. Due to the intense requirements you must meet to become a CPA, this license represents one of the most well-respected credentials in the business world. Finding a CPA to handle your tax needs should help to answer questions you might have around tax advice and planning.

I just have a W2, a bunch of 1099’s and the Schedule C to worry about. Here’s a look at where TurboTax excels and how much it costs to help you decide whether you might want to file with it in 2022. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are knowledgeable about the tax code and can help you maximize your tax savings. Also, they can represent you before the IRS to help you deal with audits or collections.

But these volunteers can do basic tax returns, along with IRA distributions, pension income, simple forms of capital gains, self-employment income and some itemized deductions. When you access Live Help, you’ll enter some information about your question. This will help us direct you to the right expert to answer your question. When it comes to financial planning and filing taxes, it’s important to choose the right accountant for your needs. Enrolled agents, CPAs, and tax attorneys all have different qualifications and areas of expertise. All can handle your tax return needs, while CPAs and tax attorneys can provide other valuable services like representing you before the IRS or Tax Court, or even helping your business with other administrative tasks.

Both are good options, but most investors favor one or the other based on their personal needs and comfort level. For many, hiring a CPA is a wise choice to ensure that you take advantage of every tax deduction that you’re eligible for. If you fall into that category then you may want to consult with a financial advisor to help you make the right tax choices. Today’s tax preparation software is intuitive and user-friendly.

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