Tax time!

Johnshan1

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 15, 2003
Messages
739
Well I havnt had a lot of tax experience (22 yrs old), so heres my question: What form do I want to use? I bought a house in July, got married in September. I thought of going to H & R block or someone to do my taxes but figured I would ask, as it may not be that hard. Also all of my vehicle expenses and milage I claim due to my line of work. Thanks for any advice, <br /><br />-John
 

Drowned Rat

Captain
Joined
Jan 20, 2004
Messages
3,070
Re: Tax time!

With the new house and getting married, go get a copy of Turbo Tax. It will answer all your questions and it won't let you miss anything. Going the paper route will involve a lot of reading on your part if you're not thoroughly familiar with the tax code. Turbo Tax knows all the rules and promps you for exactly what you need to enter.
 

Johnshan1

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 15, 2003
Messages
739
Re: Tax time!

Thanks for the advice, I used turbotax online last year seemed to work well, I just wanted to confirm.<br /><br />Also how does it work since we got married? Do we file under the same form or do we file different forms?<br /><br />Thanks!
 

Tyme2fish

Commander
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
2,481
Re: Tax time!

Turbo Tax will guide you. It may or may not be better to file jointly as married or each file separate returns. Fill it out each way to see which saves you on taxes.<br />My vote is for Turbo Tax
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Tax time!

Three votes for Turbo Tax.<br /><br />I will use a CPA this year because of the complicated laws regarding interest paid on an investment margin account and the gas rights lease, but I have used Turbo Tax for years and always made out better than estimates.
 

Johnshan1

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 15, 2003
Messages
739
Re: Tax time!

Thanks guys, as long as turbo tax guides me though the marriage and house part, turbo tax it is! Can ya tell I am a little happy to get this tax season going? I expect a big return this year, we shall see.
 

ndemge

Commander
Joined
Jul 15, 2002
Messages
2,644
Re: Tax time!

johshan.... same as the others, turbo did great for me last year,,,, house, dependands, rental property, business income etc... it covered it all.<br /><br />H&R Block is way over priced and all they do for a basic return like yours and mine is just enter it in their own version of Turbo :)
 

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: Tax time!

Start looking for other deductions since you will need to itemize to get credit for the interest and any points or property taxes that you paid. Also look carefully at the closing costs as there may be more you can deduct. Look for donations, church contributions, car registration fees, etc.. If you itemize you might as well get as much in there as possible..
 

mikecjn

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 8, 2003
Messages
238
Re: Tax time!

Another vote for Turbo Tax. Been using it for the past 5-6 years now and I think it is great. Merges Fed and State info together for you too. <br />It also checks everything over for errors.
 

FSHKPR

Ensign
Joined
Apr 6, 2003
Messages
921
Re: Tax time!

turbo tax tax cut both are good programs. i have used both. usually buy which ever one is cheapest.
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Tax time!

I am glad John asked his question. And yes, John, I have used Turbo Tax for several years, and have bought a house twice, and gotten married once, and it walks you through it, easy as pie. You shouldn't have any problem.<br /><br />If I may hijack a little. I need the group's opinion on my tax year, and if Turbo Tax will get me by:<br /><br />Married last year so no problem there but: Interest on two home loans, property tax paid on two homes, sold one home at a net loss, $25000 bonus paid in Feb 05($16000 net after withholding),had child in July, have close to $4000 out of pocket medical expense, bought car to start business where I am self employed, remodeled room downstairs that I will use 1/3 of as office, installed second phone line exclusively for business, purchased office furniture/computer equipment, drove car several hundred miles for business, only got paid $390 for the work I have done so far (much more is in receivable file, but not paid to me yet), interest on savings account, collected unemployment for about two months(had 10% withheld), Withdrew over $9000 from 401k to by car (car was $7600, but 401k withheld 20% for penalties and assumed income tax), converted remaining $1200 in 401k to IRA.<br /><br />SO what do you all think? Will I be able to get all these 1099's, and be able to follow along with Turbo Tax (I have all medical payments records and expense receipt for the new business). Or should I go to a pro this year, and also get the forms I will need to file quarterly from now on?
 

deputydawg

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
1,607
Re: Tax time!

Check out your deductions compared to income. It may be easier and just as good on the return to use the 10-40EZ form and standard deduction.<br /><br />My own position the standard deduction is better than if I would itemize. My mortgage interest does not come close to the standard, plus my income level I get earned income, head of household and all of the other poor people deductions. <br /><br />If you have been paying in from your paychecks at the single rate, now at years end file at the married rate you will be claiming more dependants than you with held for, so huge huge return coming your way. Just don't get stuck in the one way thought of finding deductions, be sure to compare to the standard for your situation. <br /><br />I also file mine online with Tax Slayer. My income level I get to E-file with them for free and get my return in about 10 days.<br /><br />Now back when I had cattle and horses, ranching and running the shop I had to itemize. But at the time had no choice between Quicken or paper. Chose paper, it was easier for me.<br /><br />Right now it would be a waste of money to buy a tax program for me, it isn't worth claiming any deductions other than the standard.<br /><br />Good luck with this.
 

KeltonKrew

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Joined
Jul 31, 2002
Messages
1,325
Re: Tax time!

I use TaxAct online (or download it for free). Used it the last several years. Used TaxSlayer before that.<br /><br />I find that with my houses (1 is paid for, the other is not much interest), that it is better for me to take the standard dedcutions. I tried to itemize and didn't even come close!<br /><br />If you want to see, go to www.taxact.com and do their online version. you can do several scenarios and see what works best for your particular situation.
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Tax time!

itemizing has not been a question for me in the past, my interest paid, plus property taxes ($2400/yr on just the house) put me over the standard when I was single and when I was married. Not sure how the baby will give me that much more of a standard deduction.<br />I guess my specific question is, does Turbo Tax, TaxSlayer, or TaxAct know what questions to ask me? Or do I have to dig within their program to be able to claim all the deductions that I think I can? In the past Turbo Tax always asked me, Did you pay interest on a Home Loan? Did you pay property tax? So will it now ask, "Did you incur business expense due to self employment?" stuff like that. :confused:
 

deputydawg

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
1,607
Re: Tax time!

I missed where you said you claim vehicle expenses and mileage. That will make a big difference.<br /><br />Your deductions won't change much being married, but the amount of witholdings they ask for from married people is less than single. If you have a child it gets even better. You don't neccessarily get more deductions, but you get hit at a lower rate. <br /><br />I am married claiming 5 dependants. My boss is single claiming himself only as dependant. His take home check is a couple hundred less than mine each month, but his gross is a couple hundred more than mine each month. Married rate of paying in is less.<br /><br />I used to have decent luck with the families portion of my ranch accounts using Quicken. I used it throughout the year, then at tax time everything was there and came together easily. <br /><br />If you have a bunch of items to claim with vehicles, mileage, closing costs on house, possibly any repairs or upgrades on the house if a portion of it can be claimed as a home office it might be worth the money going to H&R or somewhere this first year. Less headache.<br /><br />Go to www.irs.gov and check out the forms. They have decent help there. You could probably still use the 10-40EZ form, but you might need other forms to go along with it.<br /><br />It has been a few years since I have done our taxes, my wife does them now online. I think the standard deduction is around $5,000. So if all your deductions with vehicle and home expenses come up to less than that there is not much sense itemizing. When you itemize don't forget charity donations and maybe some medical.<br />Above someone posted a site where you can compare each method of filing. Check standard dedustions vs itemizing, joint vs separate etc.
 

jtexas

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 13, 2003
Messages
8,646
Re: Tax time!

Turbo tax will do the job, TilliamWe. It'll walk you through Sched. C, Sched. SE, Form 4562 and whatever else you need.<br /><br />Keep a written log of your mileage, where & why & who you meet with. T/T will help you optimize actual expense + depreciation vs. standard mileage but be advised that you must pick one method or the other the first year & can't switch back & forth.<br /><br />For the home office deduction make sure the office space is purely office...it don't matter that it's not a separate room. The sq. footage of office divided by total sq footage of your home (don't count the garage) times all the household expenses (utilities, repairs, interest, taxes and insurance, etc.) and depreciation will be your home office deduction. The amount of interest & taxes deducted as a business expense will reduce your itemized deductions but as business expenses they will also reduce your self-employment tax (at 15.3%) also your AGI which might increase your medical deduction (depends). To figure depreciation on the house use purchase price from your closing statement plus cost of any improvements, minus the value of the lot. You might have to look at your property tax statement to get that distinction. Be aware that any depreciation you take on your house now might generate taxable income if you sell it at a gain in the future.<br /><br />In my experience the biggest shock most people encounter when starting new businesses is the self-employment (social security) tax - you have to pay both the employer's and the employee's portion, total of 15.3% of your business income tacked on top of your income tax...be prepared for that.<br /><br />You'll be okay to claim the revenue as you collect it, so you should have a loss for '05...you can deduct it against your salary income.<br /><br />Turbo Tax will also guide you through the Forms 1040-ES which will be your quarterly payments. with any luck you'll have a refund from '05 to apply to your 1st '06 payment.<br /><br />After saying all that, a lot of folks are more comfortable with a CPA-prepared return the first couple years of their business...but it shouldn't be a problem for a do-it-yourselfer like you.<br /><br />Good luck!
 

magster65

Commander
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
2,573
Re: Tax time!

Can American home owners write off mortgage interest and property taxes?
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Tax time!

j, thanks for the blow by blow. I was unsure about the office having to be a separate room (was considering a cubicle divider, but I think they are ugly!). And I realize that I will only get to claim things once, you know the property taxes will be divided among my personal itemization, and my business expenses. J, I sure wish this board allowed private e-mails, cause I'd love to keep picking your brain (like about the depreciation of the car and the house), but I will go the Turbo Tax route, and if I get confused, I'll post again.<br /><br />DD, I was kinda thinkin the whole H&R route this year only, but I am too cheap to pay someone to do something that I can do. I am going to trust jtexas, and get Turbo Tax Deluxe (same as I have the past three years), and let it walk me through. What do I have to lose? $30 on Turbo Tax, and bankruptcy if I can't pay my tax bill! ha ha<br /><br />Mag, yes, interest paid on a home loan, and property taxes are deductible, but only if you are itemizing all deductions. We get a "standard deduction", and only if other deductions add up to more than that, do we get to claim them. Make sense? (Hope so, cause it's stupid to me!)
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Tax time!

So I will say in response to John's original thread, your taxes should be easy to do on Turbo Tax. Sorry to hijack your thread.
 

Elmer Fudge

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 25, 2003
Messages
1,881
Re: Tax time!

Originally posted by magster65:<br /> Can American home owners write off mortgage interest and property taxes?
er...Yeah what TW said :)
 
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