While we're watching Super Bowl commercials
I'm going to talk a little bit about some other commercials. This is not a commercial in and of itself although some may see it as one. I'm just trying to correct some misinformation.
Those are links to two commercials created by TurboTax, to denigrate the skill level of the tax professionals that work for companies like H&R Block and their competitors. I can't speak to the skills and experience of the tax preparers employed by the national competitors of H&R Block (especially since I don't consider them serious competition), but the insulting tone of those ads applies to them as well. Let me offer this disclaimer. I am not a spokesperson for H&R Block or for anyone other than myself. I'm not soliciting your tax prep business. That's not why I blog. I blog primarily to inform, and on occasion, to entertain.
However, I can speak to the skill and experience of H&R Block tax professionals. Aside from the time I was ill, I've been one for a long time. This is my 19th year where I'm preparing taxes for compensation. And yes, I am trying to work again, on a limited part-time basis as I attempt to continue my recovery from nearly dying. That isn't going too well, but that's not important right now (did you get the movie reference there?).
What is important is that not only have I been preparing tax returns for H&R Block for going on a decade, I taught courses in tax preparation to H&R Block's tax pros and new hires going back to 2004. The average tax pro sitting in any H&R Block office you go to probably has 10 or more years of experience. In the office where I work, the 11 preparers working there have 115 combined years of experience.
TurboTax isn't a bad program. But it can't do something that any in-person tax professional can do. It can't use its knowledge to guide you as you provide the information to prepare your return. It can't listen. It can't answer your questions. Now if you upgrade to their more expensive on-line products, you can call for advice. But their professionals really aren't any better than the ones at H&R Block.
TurboTax also won't do one thing that's critically important. They won't sign your return. If you do a tax return with TurboTax, where the paid preparers signature would normally go, it will imprint the words "self-prepared". You can't even hack into the software and prevent those words from printing.
If you go to an H&R Block office, your preparer will sign the return. Big difference. If you get a letter from the IRS or Franchise Tax Board, you can go to the year-round office and get any questions you have about that letter answered. You will get that answer at no additional charge.
One last thing about TurboTax before I start ranting about TaxAct. TurboTax touts their "free" online filing. It is free, but it's like getting the bare ala carte meal. They keep offering your stuff that you have to pay for. Want to keep your return on-file with their secure server for three years? Add a fee. Want to file the state return? Add a fee. Want them to defend you at an audit? Add a fee. A fee of $39.95.
The same fee that the so-called "free" TaxAct charges for preventative audit representation. That means if you get audited, they will represent you at the audit for no additional charge. And if you use their software, they will pitch you their $9.95 Deluxe version at least six times before you finish the return. They will pitch you other services at additional fees. And they will lie to you.
Wait, he said they will lie? That can't be. Actually, it may not be but it was when I tried their online service. It sent me an email, giving me a firm quote of $14.95 to efile my state return. When I did the return and was about to file it, it wanted more than that to file the state return. Not a lot more, but more. So the firm quote ain't all that firm.
If you want to go to a CPA, go for it. If you want to go to H&R Block, go for it. If you want to go to one of H&R Block's competitors, go for it. If you want to use TurboTax, or TaxAct.com or some other online service, go for it. But check out the hype and don't get bait and switched. Be a smart consumer. And remember, software and most online services aren't there to help you after April 15th.
Happy tax season.
Those are links to two commercials created by TurboTax, to denigrate the skill level of the tax professionals that work for companies like H&R Block and their competitors. I can't speak to the skills and experience of the tax preparers employed by the national competitors of H&R Block (especially since I don't consider them serious competition), but the insulting tone of those ads applies to them as well. Let me offer this disclaimer. I am not a spokesperson for H&R Block or for anyone other than myself. I'm not soliciting your tax prep business. That's not why I blog. I blog primarily to inform, and on occasion, to entertain.
However, I can speak to the skill and experience of H&R Block tax professionals. Aside from the time I was ill, I've been one for a long time. This is my 19th year where I'm preparing taxes for compensation. And yes, I am trying to work again, on a limited part-time basis as I attempt to continue my recovery from nearly dying. That isn't going too well, but that's not important right now (did you get the movie reference there?).
What is important is that not only have I been preparing tax returns for H&R Block for going on a decade, I taught courses in tax preparation to H&R Block's tax pros and new hires going back to 2004. The average tax pro sitting in any H&R Block office you go to probably has 10 or more years of experience. In the office where I work, the 11 preparers working there have 115 combined years of experience.
TurboTax isn't a bad program. But it can't do something that any in-person tax professional can do. It can't use its knowledge to guide you as you provide the information to prepare your return. It can't listen. It can't answer your questions. Now if you upgrade to their more expensive on-line products, you can call for advice. But their professionals really aren't any better than the ones at H&R Block.
TurboTax also won't do one thing that's critically important. They won't sign your return. If you do a tax return with TurboTax, where the paid preparers signature would normally go, it will imprint the words "self-prepared". You can't even hack into the software and prevent those words from printing.
If you go to an H&R Block office, your preparer will sign the return. Big difference. If you get a letter from the IRS or Franchise Tax Board, you can go to the year-round office and get any questions you have about that letter answered. You will get that answer at no additional charge.
One last thing about TurboTax before I start ranting about TaxAct. TurboTax touts their "free" online filing. It is free, but it's like getting the bare ala carte meal. They keep offering your stuff that you have to pay for. Want to keep your return on-file with their secure server for three years? Add a fee. Want to file the state return? Add a fee. Want them to defend you at an audit? Add a fee. A fee of $39.95.
The same fee that the so-called "free" TaxAct charges for preventative audit representation. That means if you get audited, they will represent you at the audit for no additional charge. And if you use their software, they will pitch you their $9.95 Deluxe version at least six times before you finish the return. They will pitch you other services at additional fees. And they will lie to you.
Wait, he said they will lie? That can't be. Actually, it may not be but it was when I tried their online service. It sent me an email, giving me a firm quote of $14.95 to efile my state return. When I did the return and was about to file it, it wanted more than that to file the state return. Not a lot more, but more. So the firm quote ain't all that firm.
If you want to go to a CPA, go for it. If you want to go to H&R Block, go for it. If you want to go to one of H&R Block's competitors, go for it. If you want to use TurboTax, or TaxAct.com or some other online service, go for it. But check out the hype and don't get bait and switched. Be a smart consumer. And remember, software and most online services aren't there to help you after April 15th.
Happy tax season.
posted by me at 5:03 PM
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