Community Chat

[september]

If something needs to be snail-mailed, you ask for delivery confirmation. It only costs a small amount more.

[shoekitty]

On 3/14/2015 only shops online said:

It actually takes me a little longer to file online, than to do it on paper. But, I like the fact that I get confirmation numbers and receipts when I file both the state and federal forms online. And, I'm not depending on the USPS to get our forms properly delivered.

I filed our taxes last Saturday, and both State and Federal funds were deposited to our account on Wednesday evening.

Sweet Mother of Bob Dylan, that is fast!! Wow! Good for you!

[Financialgrl]

I buy tax s/w, download it onto the computer and prepare my taxes offline. When I am ready to efile, I hook into wifi and hit send. Its on my desktop and I can go into or out of the file as often as I want and make copies at any time. It's $35, allows 5 free efiles and I do 5 family returns so that's $7 per return - very cheap. I understand those saying they use an EZ or short form and don't mind mailing and even keeping your mind sharp.

However those not efiling due to fear of hackers - - you do realize that mailing a return means someone at the IRS enters your info into their database so it's there whether you put it there or not. All documentation has a statement saying that info has been provided to the IRS - and that's all done electronically. Mailing your return - its not like people don't know what's inside since IRS is part of the address so you are subject to someone stealing that as well or it falling behind some cabinet and not making it to the IRS in the first place.

If you have Medicare, receive SS, get a pension, your info is all out there on those databases as well. Each one of us is much more electronically connected to many more databases than we are probably aware and this one is no different.

[kze]

On 3/14/2015 BlingQueen022 said:

My accountant filed on paper for years until last year. I don't know if this is true or not, but he said by law now you have to file online. He said he much prefers to do it on paper and now he's obligated to file online. So far, so good. He didn't mess up last years taxes, lol.

Yes, the law does require tax preparers to file online. I have a good friend who is a CPA.

[RedHeadedWench]

We only file our state taxes in hard copy, because the idiots in our state charge $36.95 to e-file. Federal we do electronically via HR Block at home.

[RainCityGirl]

I used to file it the old fashioned way when it was easier to do. Then I got an accountant when investments were involved. He was expensive and didn't get much back for me because he assumed I would know everything to submit. Now I do Turbo Tax, and have found that I was missing out on a lot of deductions that I didn't know about, plus Turbo helps me with investment income as well. I file electronically and I have my refund automatically transferred to my credit union. I filed in February and have already had my refund deposited within three weeks after I filed. The one things I did do when I was filing the old fashioned way, was to send it signature required. It cost a little more, but then I had proof of mailing and of their receiving it.

[Mom2Dogs]

On 3/14/2015 Kalli said:

We pay an accountant to do our taxes. He files online.

...same here, we have a small business as well as our investments, to much for us to do ourselves.

[CouponQueen]

On 3/14/2015 Apple Head said:

On 3/14/2015 ROMARY 1 said:

I know folks who get 'return receipt requested' (or whatever it's called) at the post office, when mailing their forms/payments/whatever. That way, they receive confirmation that the gov. received their forms/payments/whatever. Makes sense.

You can also get a Receipt of Mailing. It's a receipt that they stamp for you at the post office and if your mail didn't get where it's supposed to, you have confirmation of it being sent. Although, it won't track the item for you.

It's about $1.79.

I have been told by the PO that they can state the envelope was mailed but they do not know what the contents were..they cannot prove a check or a tax form was in that envelope..