Or do you pay?

I have done both.  This year, I am going to try to do my  own.  If you do your own, do you do it online and with whom?

 

 

Nope. I'd rather somebody more qualified get in trouble if the return is screwed up! I don't mind paying to have it done to keep from paying penalties or going to prison.

 Yes, but I"m an attorney with 12 credit hours in tax.

 HI ... I have only paid for the service twice (both divorcing years) and have done the rest myself. For the past six years, I have done all our taxes online(spouse/self and each of the girls).

I've done my own, but when I was in graduate school full-time several years ago and had some questions, I hired a CPA.  Based on what I got back that year compared to the year before when I'd done it myself, the CPA saves me more than he costs me - and since I am a Taekwon-Do instructor and so considered self-employed, his fee is a business expense and is, itself, deductible.  Given the range of deductions, and the number I missed both alone and with software, and the greater likelihood of being audited with a greater number of deductibles - I'll keep paying the CPA.

I do both an idiot copy that I make out each year but hold on to and I also hire someone to do mine for me. When both are done I compare the refund amounts as long as the person I hire comes out with a higher refund that I do (she always does by at least $2k) I toss my idiot copy and pay her.

I've done our taxes for years, both by hand and now by using the IRS and State forms from their websites. I fill out the forms,  print out the copies, and mail them in. I've checked into the free e-filing for federal that is available but then would still have to pay to file the state form. I can do it all myself for free.  We only have the standard deductions, don't itemize, so it goes very fast.  About 3 years ago I made an appointment with H&R Block (I had a coupon for my son referring us) to have my work checked, as we had retired the year before and the forms had to be done differently that getting W2's. With the exception of one entry everything I did matched what the preparer did.  I wasn't even charged for her checking the forms. I haven't had any problems doing it this way.  However the 2 years in a row that I used Turbo-tax, 1998 & 99, it was nothing but trouble.  I wouldn't waste any more money on software each year for filing taxes.  But then ours are simple, so I can get away with it.  

Edey

Really Great mix of answers here.  I have done mine before too and then when I bought my condo I decided to have someone else do it.  Nothing has changed this year from the last few and I have the copies of the last few, so I know where he put each amount.  I might brave it myself and save a couple of hundred bucks.  Just thinking about it though.

in the past we've hired someone to do it but for the past few years hubby's done it himself. I tried last year then he fixed it all lol. I told him the job is his!

cyn

I use a CPA. Mom has complicated tax info and she pays taxes in both Virginia and in Arkansas.

I have just fired the CPA and hired another CPA. I will be much happier with my new CPA. His office is in the same building as my lawyer's office which makes it handy.