Do you do your own taxes or pay someone else to do them?

[Mockingbird]

For those last minute filers (or for next year), here's a link to a FREE tax software. Just fill in the info, print them out, and mail. Only downside is that you cannot do a Netfile with this program.

http://pacificcoast.net/~gthompson/

[Rickson9]

Do you do your own taxes or pay someone else to do them?

My wife and I have fairly detailed tax returns so we pay to have them done. We're not confident that we would be able to take advantage of everything that we may be entitled to under Canadian tax laws.

However, we always follow the motto, pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.

[Rickson9]

... taxes are a real pain, you have to constantly be aware of tax law changes, it can take a lot of time to stay current.

This is pretty much the reason we pay to have ours done.

[Four Pillars]

I do my own - but I think I will hire someone (who?) for at least one year to make sure I'm not missing out on anything.

[canabiz]

I have been doing my own taxes (and for the parents as well) for the past 10 years. Come as a result of some questionable attitude by a family acquaintance we asked to help do our taxes back then...I promise my folks I would do what I can not to bother said person anymore and I have kept my promise since.

Doesn't mean I got all my bases covered because I am not a tax accountant by trade but it's a great feeling doing what you can within your abilities.

[Retired at 31]

Used to do them myself, but things are getting more complex... paid over 1,000 this year... in accountant fees

[stardancer]

I always did my own, along with doing family members' returns. Now however, my daughters are grown up and out of town, so they take care of theirs. I still do my mother's- very simple (3 basic sources of income and rental rebate). Since I work at H&R Block I get mine (and hubby's) done for free. With rental, capital gains/losses and pension splitting, things have become more complicated, and having a system figure things out is really nice.

[Rickson9]

Unless you are a tax accountant or have a very simplistic situation (ie 15 year-old with a summer job at the mall), if you do your own taxes you are leaving a lot of money on the table (for the government to take/keep).

[lb71]

Unless you are a tax accountant or have a very simplistic situation (ie 15 year-old with a summer job at the mall), if you do your own taxes you are leaving a lot of money on the table (for the government to take/keep).

I don't agree. Unless you have your own business, very few individuals would need an accountant to do their taxes. If you are not comfortable with doing your taxes, sure pay someone for that piece of mind. But they won't find you a penny more than any of the software out there.

[MoneyGal]

I do my own taxes, and tax for a bunch of other people as well. I am intensely interested in tax policy, and this is a way for me to keep current about tax stuff.