topic Re: Finished tax return in record time in Community Chat

Finished tax return in record time

catmama — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 22:29:08 GMT

I use Turbo Tax and I was done in 28 minutes.

I remember for years the dread of having to file our tax return. All the forms and documents we needed to keep and the hours spent putting everything together and then manually filling out the forms.

We're both retired, no deductions and our income is SS, 2 small pensions and our RMDs from our IRAs (we're both over 73).

28 minutes! and a nice tidy refund coming our way.

I wish it had always been this easy.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

Somertime — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 22:35:16 GMT

FYI: IRS will start to accept returns on Monday, January 26.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

Kachina624 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:42:34 GMT

@catmama. That certainly is good new as that annual chore is my least favorite, although mine too is very simple.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

Bella8888 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:54:07 GMT

Mine are quite complicated. So, I'll see youse guys later in April. LOL

Re: Finished tax return in record time

tends2dogs — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:08:50 GMT

We haven't received all of our forms yet.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:14:49 GMT

Years ago, our corporate CPA said he was very impressed with FreetaxUSA if you can do it yourself.

Both my sister and I have filed through them for at least five years now, and I'd definitely recommend them if you wish to do it yourself.

Not only is it easy to stop and start as you wish, but it also explains everything and points out any changes that differ significantly from the past year.

It also points out things to consider that might not be obvious.

Filing taxes takes time because you want to be careful, but all things considered, it's very easy to use.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

Mz iMac — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:56:47 GMT

@Bella8888 wrote:

@Bella8888

Re: Finished tax return in record time

SilleeMee — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 02:03:25 GMT

I'm still waiting for my 1099s, different ones.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

CalminHeart — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:51:45 GMT

I have everything except one thing entered in turbotax.

I'm irritated. Even with the new senior tax credit, my federal income tax is higher than last year. I'm on a fixed income!

Re: Finished tax return in record time

wagirl — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:53:28 GMT

My taxes ae easy peasy too--takes longer to find my documents online, then to actually file.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

songbird — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:26:49 GMT

Ours is very complicated. The stocks and mutual funds, etc. We always have to go to an accountant to compile it. We normally go in late March. And we usually have pay plenty!

Re: Finished tax return in record time

SilleeMee — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:44:57 GMT

I got it done. Mine was fairly simple. Used FreeTaxUSA dot com and it was so easy. 👍

Re: Finished tax return in record time

scrapperlisa — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:56:45 GMT

I love this time of year. After I retired, I started working as a tax preparer at H&R Block. There are sooo many tax law changes this year. I can usually find more deductions for clients than they can find on their own. I love my job, especially when I can help people get a bigger refund (or owe less). And we charge waaay less than most CPAs. Good luck everyone!

Re: Finished tax return in record time

AuntMame — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 04:31:26 GMT

I can usually complete our federal tax return in short order with H&R Block tax software. It's the state return which is the killer. There are so many questions to answer, even after the software has imported data from our fed return. Do we qualify for the Retired Farmer, Forklift Driver & Donut Maker Heavy Metal Mining Real Estate Research Tax Relief Program? Are we currently receiving funds from the Groundwater Abatement & Emergency High-Wire Land Allocation Hand-Off Crisis Program? Are there currently any Railroad Workers in the household? Just clicking No...No...No...is a process that seems to go on for hours. And once our state return is printed out, it's the size of a book.

I usually allocate two afternoons for the state return, for answering and re-checking everything, for making sure I understand everything it is asking me, after spending only about an hour on the federal return.

Part of the problem is that H&R Block's tax software doesn't handle the state return interview very thoroughly or carefully. It's pretty slap-dash. In fact over the years I've found some very serious errors in the tax software's handling of our state returns.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

UpNorthGorgy — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:49:47 GMT

@songbird I understand! I inherited investments. It was a unexpected grateful surprise. I consolidated with my meager savings and left it all in California where my Aunt/Godmother lived. I think in mid February I receive their paperwork. It is on line but like you... no hurry. I pay in quarterly as it is.

My tax preparer whips through it reading the small print and I sit amazed. Done and sent. My former preparer who retired took a week, as went over the forms a second time . I used to have to go in later and pick up the copy.

Re: Finished tax return in record time

AuntMame — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:44:48 GMT

@UpNorthGorgy wrote:
@songbird I understand! I inherited investments. It was a unexpected grateful surprise. I consolidated with my meager savings and left it all in California where my Aunt/Godmother lived. I think in mid February I receive their paperwork. It is on line but like you... no hurry. I pay in quarterly as it is.

My tax preparer whips through it reading the small print and I sit amazed. Done and sent. My former preparer who retired took a week, as went over the forms a second time . I used to have to go in later and pick up the copy.

I inherited a few small investments too, and it was a major hassle transferring them to my name, especially the stocks. In fact an estate lawyer I know tells me he usually tells clients to abandon inherited investments if the value is small, because the ownership transfer is so time-consuming. I did the transfers myself so it didn't cost me anything beyond express-mailing documents.