Good Tax Preparers in Austin? (Round Rock, Bee Cave: rental, to buy, deductible)

[Jimbo43]

Hello,

We recently moved here and need a good CPA and/or Tax Preparer to do our taxes. We file Jointly and paid around $170 in Florida, but a few places I have called here want $250-400! Just curious if anyone knows of a good one? We live in the Bee Cave area but will go wherever if it saves $50-100.

Thanks in Advance.

[Sam.adams33]

TurboTax is $50. I have a business, a rental property, my wife has a business and we each have dependents (sometimes we separate for taxes, sometimes not).

It's literally point and click. Save yourself $200.

[10scoachrick]

Doesn't HRBlock say they will do your taxes for HALF what you paid last year?


Edit: Oops! Looks like that promo expired on the 15th...
http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7Jbd/h-and-r-...erica-50-offer

[clarksvillemom]

barneyschulz@hotmail.com he's in Round Rock. We like him a lot

[Gorfml]

Really...why pay some one when turbo tax is so easy any 3rd grader could do it?...

[iamwayne]

Originally Posted by Gorfml

Really...why pay some one when turbo tax is so easy any 3rd grader could do it?...

Probably someone who make more in a hour than it cost to efile for free and pay the software fee if you don't chose the free 1040ez form. Or someone without a computer with internet access or printer. Also when you're trying to deduct itemized expenses to reduce your tax bill and hope you don't get audited because you use a tax service when you should just pay the taxman what he wants and take the standard deductions and not shortchange with itemize deductions and they leave you alone. Or if you can't read or follow instructions.

I think that's it...

[Jimbo43]

Hmmm Well I might consider TurboTax. We have multiple accounts, Rental Properties, K-1's, etc so just want to make sure it is done properly. Have a lot to itemize. Just haven't done it myself before. My neighbor said the same ala TurboTax. For $150-170 I would happily pay someone else to figure it out. Thanks for the advice.

[Trainwreck20]

K-1's

Turbo Tax used to be a pain for K-1s, but it has gotten better.

I would almost recommend doing it via TT and a service, then checking to see what the differences are, at least for the first year you use TT. It is worth noting that if something gets screwed up, YOU are the one on the hook, not your tax guy. You are much more vested in the outcome, so even for complex taxes, it is worth knowing what the tax guy does is correct or not.

[Jimbo43]

Thanks Trainwreck. Actually, just read some reviews and TaxACT is rated much higher than TurboTax. Apparently TurboTax has upped their prices for different parts vs prior years by as much as 50-75%. Some CPA's here all want to charge $300-400. In Florida they going rate was $150-200. Why is it so expensive here? Our guy literally spent 30 minutes with us.

[Trainwreck20]

I will have to look, but for our 'business' version (I think that is what it is called), we payed $80, I think, this year? Might have been a bit less. They have a 'repeat' user discount which is not insignificant. Also, the software is tax deductible (although your tax account is, as well, I think), so you get a few bucks back there. It is more expensive in places with state income taxes, but there is none here (same as FL), so you only have to buy the 'federal' version and not pay for a state add-on.

There may well be better software out there, but we have not looked around since TT has worked so well for us.

As for the cost, I am not sure, I guess it is supply and demand somehow. I personally would not expect it to cost $150 if you have K-1s (multiple?), rental properties, lots of deductions, and multiple accounts. That would mean they are spending probably an hour or so on your taxes (maybe less) and that would make me a bit paranoid.