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Tax Preparation
Tax preparation is often a stressful and time consuming affair for many taxpayers. Whether you choose to hire someone to help you with your tax preparation often depends upon how complicated your situation happens to be.
If you are single and do not make more than a certain amount of money then you may be able to handle your tax preparation on your own using one of the simple 1040 forms. On the other hand, if you are filing jointly and you and your spouse both have income that might cause you to need to complete the long form then you might feel more at ease in gaining professional assistance with your tax preparation. You might also need assistance with tax preparation if you own a business and/or if you have investments in stocks, bonds or real estate.
When looking for someone to help you with tax preparation it is important to look for someone you can trust. Check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if there have been any complaints filed about that tax preparation service. Talk to your friends and family members to gain referrals for possible services you might use when you are ready to file your taxes.
Keep in mind that if you are a senior citizen and/or you have a fixed or low income then you may also qualify for assistance in preparing your taxes as well. Many localities offer free tax preparation assistance to the elderly, the disabled and those with low incomes. Your local library may have more information about services which may be available in your local area.
In addition to hiring someone to help you with your tax preparation you might also think about using a software program to help you. In the last few years many taxpayers have turned to using tax preparation software to assist them in completing and filing their taxes. Tax preparation software can be advantageous because it allows you to prepare your taxes right at home without the need to gather up all of your documents and take them to an outside location. You can also take care of it when it is convenient for you rather than having to make an appointment. There are even tax preparation programs that will walk you step by step through the entire process, asking you questions along the way to help guide you in preparing your taxes.
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