I struggled for some time with whether to use a tax professional this year. We decided we’re going to use one though, and thought I’d share my perspective on when you should as well.
This past year we got married, and with marriage comes a lot of elements that can lead to overlooking tax deductions. We also started giving, which helps with a tax deduction. We are also relatively new homeowners, and with that comes a lot of perplexing tax advantages that I’m afraid I’d miss out on on my own.
Yes, tax software can catch many of these deductions and caveats, but software isn’t so good at answering questions. It’s always a good thing to have someone you can bounce questions off of, and who better when you’re doing your taxes than a tax professional?
Tax software is inexpensive, but if you’ve gone through some major life changes, it’s best to leave taxes up to the professional. Even if you feel slightly uncomfortable doing your taxes, try going to a tax professional. It’s better not to have to worry about having issues with the IRS.
If you’re single, don’t own a home, aren’t investing, and have had no major changes in the past year, you can probably get away with using some tax software. Otherwise, I advise using a professional.
Have you done your taxes yet for 2009? What did you pick? Have any riveting tax stories? Let us know in the comments! I’d love your input!
! John wrote two articles for the book: "Budgeting for Groceries" and "How Grocery Stores Work."
