[EYNewHire]

A few of my friends, knowing that I had almost finished the CPA exam, asked me to do their taxes. I know the basics but wouldn’t feel comfortable until I do my own taxes a few times. It made me wonder how many of you guys do your own taxes?

[missjones513]

I do my own taxes because they are simple. I don't feel comfortable doing anybody else's because honestly people lie and don't tell you stuff.

I took an H&R Block class which helped a little. It was more detailed on personal income taxes then my tax class in college.

REG - 5/29/12 (64), 10/1/12 (74), 5/20/13 (75, expires 12/31/14)
FAR - 8/14/12 (64), 8/5/14 (75)
BEC - 11/19/12 (70), 2/25/13 (72), 11/21/13 (73), 1/21/14 (73), 8/30/14 (72), 11/24/14 (75)
AUD - 4/22/13 (65), 10/12/13 (79)

I'm done!!!

Ethics - Pass

[tomq04]

I've done my own since I was about 16 I think, definitely since I was out of high school.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[CPA soon]

I wasn't comfortable doing my own taxes until the accountant that was supposedly doing mine screwed up and I got a bill from the IRS then I found out the accountant has people with no accounting degrees filling out the returns. We are more qualified than most people doing returns, CPA's don't acutally fill out 1040's for the most part. Do them yourself using a software it's pretty simple, I started doing them this year.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[StephAV]

I do mine, my in-laws and my sister in-laws. They are all pretty straight forward. I prepare the tax returns at work. I work for a NPO though, so they are pretty much informational. People are always impressed when I say that though… Bwahaha, they really aren't that complicated.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[taxgeek83]

I've done my own and friends' taxes for years – but I also have worked/volunteered in tax for years as well. So it comes pretty naturally anymore.

[OnMyWay732]

If they don't pay you, you still have an obligation not to commit fraud, but you aren't technically a “tax preparer” so I'm not sure how much it would fall back on you.

I plan on setting up a small shop once I get my CPA and I'm out of public

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[y_u_no_pass]

Always have. But this past year I've helped a few of my friends do theirs, too.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[Anonymous]

I've been doing my own taxes since I was 16. That makes 15 returns and counting. Based on my struggle with REG, the IRS should be auditing me any day now. 🙂

[Anonymous]

I have been doing my return and my family returns for years plus business returns (s corp's, LLC's). Like others have said its really not that hard with the right software. Now only if i could get a accounting job and maybe i can learn about doing taxes for estates and trusts, etc.

[impska]

I've been doing my own since I gained access to professional tax software (3 years now). I do an S-corp, payroll returns and 1040 for myself. These days, I also do taxes professionally.

I would recommend that you do your own taxes. You can use Turbotax/whatever if you think your firm's software is too complicated. Ultimately, you know your own tax situation best. There is a high likelihood that whoever you hire to do your taxes is just hiring some non-accounting-degreed intern to do your basic return.

I do not do my friends/family members returns. I tell them that my firm doesn't let me (not true). I don't do it for two reasons: 1) I'm busy enough during tax season that I don't need to be working for free; and 2) If a mistake is made (even if that mistake is because they didn't tell you about something), they will blame you.

People think tax accountants are magicians who have crystal balls that magically divine 100% correctness on their return. But we know that garbage in = garbage out. Try explaining to your mother-in-law that it's her fault that her return was wrong because she neglected to provide you with a 1099 from her new Tupperware business.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[Anonymous]

I've been doing my own since I was 17. I'm not going to pay someone to do my taxes when I can figure them out myself.

This past year was interesting – I had income from 2 states, we sold stock, and my husband became self-employed in April.

[Anonymous]

Doing your own taxes isn't that hard because you know basically what income you had. With a simple tax course and some software, you should be qualified to prepare simple returns for family and friends. It is easy to get the hang of the essentials.

[kpb]

I don't. But after seeing my mom dish out $230 bucks to HnR this year, i told her to buy turbo tax software and ILL DO it for her next year for free.

my husband did use turbo tax to do our first MFJ return and we just purchased a home. idk how well that went.

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[Author]

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