It's Tax Season again. How do you do your taxes every year? Do people use the tax center?

SSG Robert Burns — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:42:34 -0500

I've used Turbo Tax online almost every single year. Works well for me. I've never used the tax center on post but am curious to how good it is if there's just a bunch of soldiers from all kinds of MOS's working there?

What services do you use and which ones do you avoid?

What are your horror stories?

Response by MAJ Laurie H. made Jan 15 at 2014 3:04 PM

MAJ Laurie H. — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:04:42 -0500

I use Turbo Tax every year too, but I have a lot of friends who swear by Military OneSource

Military OneSource

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Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 15 at 2014 3:44 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:44:42 -0500

We're Turbo Tax fans here. Been filing that way for the past can't remember how many years.

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Jan 15 at 2014 3:45 PM

LTC Jason Bartlett — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:45:03 -0500

Tax Slayer free for military. Been using for 7 years or so.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 15 at 2014 3:50 PM

SFC James Baber — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:50:54 -0500

I am also a TurboTax advocate, for many years I used the tax center on post where ever I was stationed, but I first tried TurboTax in in 2002, and been a subscriber to it since, I have checked out other like TaxAct, FreeTaxes,com, and a few others just to see if they offered anything different, but always use TT in the end.

I start out with the free version, but since I have itemized in certain years, I always end up paying for the processing at the end, but it is still worth the $30 I pay each year, as it maximizes out my deductions and gets it back the quickest of any I have seen or heard of.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jan 15 at 2014 4:33 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 16:33:17 -0500

I got to H&R Block due to having some filings that are a bit complicated for me to devote a lot of time to. They do a great job but seem to cost $100+ minimum, depending on the complexity of your tax filing.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2014 11:02 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 23:02:14 -0500

Another vote for Tax Slayer - was free for military before everyone else became free. I had to stop using the on base tax center because we owned a house and they wouldn't work on our taxes. We started using H&R block then found Tax Slayer. Love their service and always remain loyal as long as they do.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2014 11:06 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 23:06:52 -0500

I use TaxACT.com

They save my return from the year before and make it fairly easy to fill out and update and change things to see how it changes the result.

I would never go to the tax center unless I was only using the EZ form. With a website I can do it 10 min here and there when I have time. At the Tax center I have to go to the tax center.

Response by SFC James Rigdon made Jan 16 at 2014 5:17 AM

SFC James Rigdon — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 05:17:45 -0500

this is the first time I have had a mortgage company to take care of my property. Does it make a difference that I have renters and a property manager I was just going to use Taxact, or whatever is free for my Net income at the time. But my wife thinks since we lease or property then we need to go to the Tax Center. any advice?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2014 11:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 23:20:12 -0500

I've used turbo tax for like 7 years now. I love it because you don't have to be a tax genius to do them. Their software will guide you through everything. If you pay a little more you'll get representation in case of an audit. With H&R they charge too much.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2014 11:56 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 23:56:33 -0500

My wife is an accountant. She helped start a CPA firm here in Clarksville, TN. She does the taxes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2014 9:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 09:21:56 -0500

SFC Rigdon

I have two homes that are rented and we use a property manager for it. I believe we just used taxslayer last time. My wife did it since I was deployed but it was easy to use with rental properties.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2014 8:54 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 08:54:59 -0500

I use HR Block, it is a free service if you set up an account through Military One Source. I used it for the first time last year, it was quick and pain free.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2014 9:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 21:39:50 -0500

I always go to H&R Block and we always get an obscene amount of money back. ($13K last year for 2 SFCs.) I just hate the hassle of taxes and everyone is shocked to hear how well we do.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2014 8:23 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 20:23:47 -0500

I have used taxslayer.com for the last 5 years and it is awesome and free for military. Let me give you a word of advice, my wife worked for the dept of revenue and 90% of the taxes that were done wrong were from H & R Block and the other 8 % were from Jackson Hewitt. Just an FYI.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2014 11:44 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 23:44:40 -0500

When it was just me by my lonesome, with my military pay and my federal technician pay, I just used Turbo Tax. All I had to enter were those two W-2s and my college loan interest information. Now that I am married to a guy who bought his first house 8 years ago, has a cattle business, investments, and a huge budget tracker, we use his family accountant. She does a great job and doesn't really charge us anything, because his tracking is so squared away. He collates all his receipts and gives her all his spreadsheets. He tracks literally every expense and updates our net worth every 1 Jan. I told him he should charge for his spreadsheet and send it to people, but I doubt others would not be as detailed as he is...

Response by COL George Antochy made Jan 20 at 2014 10:23 AM

COL George Antochy — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 10:23:59 -0500

I remember back when I was a 2LT one of my additional duties was unit Tax officer. I had to attend a training course and then my job was to make myself available to the Soldiers in our unit to prepare their taxes. This was in the years before the personal computer. I did simple returns and advised those with complicated issues to seek professional assistance. I personally use Turbo Tax, probably for the last 20 or so years.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 11:15 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 11:15:32 -0500

I used the on-post tax center on my first tax return as a private in AIT. I ended up owing $200 dollars in taxes, which honestly does not make sense in retrospective.

I've been using TurboTax for the last few years and I've never had an issue. Right now, their regular free file is still free but the military discount for the basic version is is no longer free for E-6 and up.
I may check out tax slayer.
On that note, my taxes are simple. No property, one income, one W-2, and no stocks.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 11:20 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 11:20:10 -0500

Man, you trying to get me in trouble or something? HOUSEHOLD6 is in charge of that operation, PERIOD! 

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 23 at 2014 6:18 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:18:32 -0500

When I was still in we always went to the tax center. It didnt matter to me because the return was off limits to me.

Response by SSG Daniel Deiler made Nov 23 at 2014 8:44 PM

SSG Daniel Deiler — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 20:44:40 -0500

Tax Slayer for about a decade now. Free for service members.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 8:52 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 08:52:42 -0500

I have been using Turbo Tax for years. I enjoy it. Easy and simple. But I may look into the other reccomendations that others have been imputting for this year's tax return. What will everybody be spending their tax return on?