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I’m at least as old as Frank and have never filed taxes his “used to be” way. I’ve been doing it on the computer ever since home computer tax software existed.
This cartoon grew out of trying to file paperwork for my son’s college, if I remember correctly. Lots of starting over, lots of brand new passwords, lots of logging back in for reasons we couldn’t determine, lots of swearing at the machine because you apparently had done everything you’d been asked for before it sent you back to the first screen and asked who you were… all the while we were praying that the stuff we were filling out were the actual things we were supposed to be filling out, without any way to find out for sure.
I’m a CPA and have prepared taxes for clients for over 30 years. I find with the information I am given (questions asked with honest answers given), most of my clients (about 90%) would be able to prepare their own returns, if they read the instructions. When I mention this to them (Yes, I am a conscientious CPA), their reply is they appreciate the comfort they receive by having me prepare them.
The other 9% are those with complex issues that require the skills I have acquired from years of training and experience.
The remaining 1% are those that should have gone to me but did not and eventually end up needing my help anyhow, because of trouble they have created since they had complex issues but wanted to be cheap and save a few bucks. I remember saying from the old muffler commercial “You can pay be now or pay me later”. Well in this case later also includes penalties and interest to the IRS.
My wife did ours on paper, and I checked her work, for our first 21 years together. Then my mother died and we had to figure out which of her insurance, unpaid pension, and estate were taxable and which not. So we went with a CPA. Even without those complications, she considers paying for the work worth the time and stress saved.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member about 6 years ago
Amen.
Nachikethass about 6 years ago
Not really! I find online filing to be miles easier… But then, Frank is a generation older, so maybe it’s different for him.
HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member about 6 years ago
I’m at least as old as Frank and have never filed taxes his “used to be” way. I’ve been doing it on the computer ever since home computer tax software existed.
gregcartoon Premium Member about 6 years ago
This cartoon grew out of trying to file paperwork for my son’s college, if I remember correctly. Lots of starting over, lots of brand new passwords, lots of logging back in for reasons we couldn’t determine, lots of swearing at the machine because you apparently had done everything you’d been asked for before it sent you back to the first screen and asked who you were… all the while we were praying that the stuff we were filling out were the actual things we were supposed to be filling out, without any way to find out for sure.
karmakat01 about 6 years ago
kinda true, adding all the times they keep ASKING TO REDO IT!
Gary Fabian about 6 years ago
I’m a CPA and have prepared taxes for clients for over 30 years. I find with the information I am given (questions asked with honest answers given), most of my clients (about 90%) would be able to prepare their own returns, if they read the instructions. When I mention this to them (Yes, I am a conscientious CPA), their reply is they appreciate the comfort they receive by having me prepare them.
The other 9% are those with complex issues that require the skills I have acquired from years of training and experience.
The remaining 1% are those that should have gone to me but did not and eventually end up needing my help anyhow, because of trouble they have created since they had complex issues but wanted to be cheap and save a few bucks. I remember saying from the old muffler commercial “You can pay be now or pay me later”. Well in this case later also includes penalties and interest to the IRS.
Sorry, did not mean to write book here.
gcarlson about 6 years ago
My wife did ours on paper, and I checked her work, for our first 21 years together. Then my mother died and we had to figure out which of her insurance, unpaid pension, and estate were taxable and which not. So we went with a CPA. Even without those complications, she considers paying for the work worth the time and stress saved.