I'm going to have to have 3 states done for 2005 (NC - MO - IL) - NC is for ~47 weeks of pay whereas MO and IL are for about ~5 weeks each - does anyone have any experience with the best way to go about getting them done in a timely/cost efficient manner

i've done my taxes in the past online (first full year out of school - graduated dec '04 - it was always easy online before) but i was wondering if paying someone like h&r block would be worth it this year as opposed to doing it online or buying the extra states for turbotax (or any other application)

i can expense some of the cost whichever way i go - i think the limit is about $60

1/23/2006 3:29:16 PM

bttt

1/24/2006 12:32:02 PM

When I filed in two states I used the seperate versions of turbotax. I had them avaliable since my father does business in both states. I would use a tax service/accountant is your tax documents are more complex than the short forms. I guess it really comes down to how much effort you want to put into it.

1/24/2006 12:59:41 PM

^^i just used my normal accountant. but then i do that every year anyway. h&r bloack is pretty cheap honestly; something like $30-40 i believe.

[Edited on January 24, 2006 at 2:11 PM. Reason : er]

1/24/2006 2:11:08 PM

Quote :

"^^i just used my normal accountant. but then i do that every year anyway. h&r bloack is pretty cheap honestly; something like $30-40 i believe. "

That has to be a joke. If you really want to get a deal wait till March when Liberty Tax Service starts there free tax return program. And if you really want it done now I would still avoid H&R Block.

But getting 3 states done at Block is going to cost at least 100 plus the cost of your federal stuff. I cannot stress enough to avoid Block at all costs. There is a reason they are losing market share.

1/24/2006 2:58:57 PM

Damn, I just realized I'll have to do a return for two states...

1/24/2006 2:59:11 PM

As darkone stated, it really does come down to how complex your documents will be. I've used turbotax for 2 states before without too much trouble. But if you will be using anything other than the basic forms, just go to an accountant.

1/24/2006 3:36:43 PM

^^^k, i was just guessing. i have my own cpa that costs quite a bit more but she does a lot of other things for us financially. i do know that h&r block used to offer $25 deals.

1/24/2006 3:39:47 PM

H&R Block use to charge $25 for a student but they have thrown that out the window.

1/24/2006 4:38:27 PM

I've had to do GA and NC the past few years. Not a big deal, just gotta do 'em.

1/24/2006 8:16:14 PM

Why not just do it yourself? Its not that hard, especially with the free online programs.

http://www.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/index.jsp

1/24/2006 9:18:11 PM

bttt

1/26/2006 10:36:24 AM

Quote :

"Why not just do it yourself? Its not that hard, especially with the free online programs. "

For some its not that hard. But have you ever done 3 states? And also, have you ever done 3 part year resident states?

A couple things you need to look out for if you decide to take the plunge and do these yourself. I would start with the lower income states first. You will need to decide on those whether you were a part time resident or if you were a non resident. After those have been completed work on North Carolina. If you decide you were a full resident of the state of North Carolina then you will need to do the NC-400TC for taxes paid to other states. If you are a part year resident of North Carolina then you will need to allocate income so that you are only paying tax on the money you made while in North Carolina.

My best advice is to go to a tax professional and make sure it is done right.

1/26/2006 12:00:36 PM

I don't see what the big deal is. Do it online, file 3 state returns. It's not like the tax folks around here know anything about those states.

1/26/2006 4:53:51 PM

I haven't done 3, but I have done 2, which is pretty much the same, with a little more work. All you have to do is follow directions.

1/26/2006 6:34:12 PM

i filed NC and VA last year, but there was a place on base that would do your taxes for you for free, so it was basically a non-issue.

1/26/2006 6:53:35 PM

finally got word that i can expense up to $75 / state (not including my resident state & federal)

anyone recommend a service - I also have a $30 coupon for h&r block so that might be the winner unless someone recommends a better service / accountant

i want to put as little effort into this as possible - just hand it over to them and have them hand it back/mail it for me

[Edited on February 16, 2006 at 2:30 PM. Reason : .]

2/16/2006 2:28:30 PM

bttt

i've gotta fill out one for NY, one for NC, and one for Federal

good times

-ZiP!-

3/2/2006 11:18:51 PM