STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

bex · Chanel

i could cry--- tax refund related

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

If it makes you feel any better, I get about that same amount back every year (stupid state), so I never get much...

But that would be quite painful if you thought you were getting a 4-digit amount back and ended up with a 2-digit one instead. That also sucks that you can't take your vacation that you were looking forward to; I know that would make me mad!

Blah, taxes suck.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

that really sucks. But at least you don't owe money!

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I'm sorry bex. I'm not anywhere near an expert in taxes but have you thought about getting another opinion? maybe there are things you can claim that your sister might be missing?

NCshopper · Hermes

Oh Bex, that sucks! Maybe this year you can adjust your W-2 form to have more withheld from your paycheck so that you can get a return next year!

bex · Chanel

NCshopper wrote:

Oh Bex, that sucks! Maybe this year you can adjust your W-2 form to have more withheld from your paycheck so that you can get a return next year!

unfortunately, i am S-O so there is no more that i can get withheld. i'm basically screwed!!

bex · Chanel

Aurora wrote:

I'm sorry bex. I'm not anywhere near an expert in taxes but have you thought about getting another opinion? maybe there are things you can claim that your sister might be missing?

eh, i talked to my mom about it and we both decided it would be in my best interest not to question her. we don't want to rock the boat. next year though, i may just go to a H&R block kind of place and see what they have to say...

Liz · Kenneth Cole

That sucks Bex! I'm hoping for a substantial return, too. My car is on its dying days and needs to be put out of its misery already. I'm going to try to do my taxes myself this year using that turbo tax thingy. Hopefully save myself the 170 bucks that I usually dish out to H and R Block.

HeatherLynn · Gucci

That sucks. I'm scared to do mine this year because being single, no kids, no house or school, and making the money I do- I'm going to get killed!

So I am right there crying with you.

Oh, and I hold out the most amount possible.

bex · Chanel

HeatherLynn wrote:

That sucks. I'm scared to do mine this year because being single, no kids, no house or school, and making the money I do- I'm going to get killed! So I am right there crying with you. Oh, and I hold out the most amount possible.

yup- my income skyrocketed up the charts when i took this job and i am in the same boat as you.

good luck! i hope you get more than i did back!!!

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

Liz wrote:

That sucks Bex! I'm hoping for a substantial return, too. My car is on its dying days and needs to be put out of its misery already. I'm going to try to do my taxes myself this year using that turbo tax thingy. Hopefully save myself the 170 bucks that I usually dish out to H and R Block.

Yikes $170?! I did my taxes online this year through H&R, but I followed the link from the IRS site and they filed my federal taxes free. The state file is $25 more, but they'll waive it if you put the refund on their H&R VISA Debit Card. And I'm getting way more $ back than last year. Maybe you should check it out.

rlutz · Chanel

Your all better off than I am ..my company did nto withold very much from my paycheck...so this year I owe $2,000 to the federal gov and $1,200 to the state...ahhhhh

HeatherLynn · Gucci

bex wrote:

HeatherLynn wrote: That sucks. I'm scared to do mine this year because being single, no kids, no house or school, and making the money I do- I'm going to get killed! So I am right there crying with you. Oh, and I hold out the most amount possible. yup- my income skyrocketed up the charts when i took this job and i am in the same boat as you. good luck! i hope you get more than i did back!!!

Honestly, I'm just hoping to break even. I had to pay in last year (bc I was in college and my parents couldn't claim me, but I made too much money) so this year I am just hoping that won't happen. I will let you know!

Liz · Kenneth Cole

BargainQueen wrote:

Yikes $170?! I did my taxes online this year through H&R, but I followed the link from the IRS site and they filed my federal taxes free. The state file is $25 more, but they'll waive it if you put the refund on their H&R VISA Debit Card. And I'm getting way more $ back than last year. Maybe you should check it out.

Maybe it was so expensive because I went into their offices? I dunno. I'm clueless when it comes to taxes. I just figure that my taxes are pretty straight forward, so I'll just pay myself the $170 to plug in the numbers.

honey · Gucci

Liz wrote:

BargainQueen wrote: Yikes $170?! I did my taxes online this year through H&R, but I followed the link from the IRS site and they filed my federal taxes free. The state file is $25 more, but they'll waive it if you put the refund on their H&R VISA Debit Card. And I'm getting way more $ back than last year. Maybe you should check it out. Maybe it was so expensive because I went into their offices? I dunno. I'm clueless when it comes to taxes. I just figure that my taxes are pretty straight forward, so I'll just pay myself the $170 to plug in the numbers.

i used to use h&r block (online) but switched to turbo tax last year. they're cheaper (i think the total was $35 for both federal & state) and i got more money back than with h&r.

Elle · Hermes

Holy cow - $170 for H&R block? Most private accounting firms don't charge over $100, and that's if you're walking in with quite a bit more than just a W-2.

The year I was 17/18, I lived with my parents for 6.5 months of that year. They decided it was their right to claim me, so they got thier child tax credit and I got to pay $400 to the federal government.

I think we're going to get a reasonable amount back this year, since FH didn't start his lucrative job until June so his income is about half what it'll be next year, though we've got the single/no house/no schoo thing working against us still. Next year, we are going to be totally screwed. Screwed.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

And I thought I was getting the short end of the stick with $563! I only paid a mere $40 for federal.

bumblebee · Coach

Elle wrote:

Holy cow - $170 for H&R block? Most private accounting firms don't charge over $100, and that's if you're walking in with quite a bit more than just a W-2.

i don't think this is necessarily true. mine charges me $395, but believe me, it is worth every penny. plus, you get to deduct the preparation fee from your next year's taxes, so it's easier to swallow. last year was the first year i used this accountant and she got me back close to $2K. the year before, i had gone to H&R Block and they charged me $150ish, plus i had to pay in almost $1500. i don't think the people at H&R Block do you any favors--they just go straight by the book and get you exactly what you could get yourself if you did it online. i think H&R Block is the bigger ripoff, actually.

Elle · Hermes

bumblebee wrote:

i think H&R Block is the bigger ripoff, actually.

Absolutely agreed - they're quite known for 'losing' peoples paperwork actually. I guess what I'd be willing to pay would depend on how much I made - if you're in a lower tax bracket, that $395 would probably eat up most if not all of any refund you'd get, ya know?

I have a close friend that does mine - she gives both FH and I the F&F discount, so it only costs us $35 a pop . Neither of our taxes are very complicated, so it would really tick me off for anyone to plug two numbers in on my form and be charged $100+. We're still standard deduction folks though.

If you're itemizing, I think paying a little more for someone to do a good job would be more worth it.

halleybird · Hermes

Ugh! I know how you feel. For some reason, my employer decided to withold less $ this year, even though I didn't change my documentation. I was hoping to use the $ to go on vacation for spring break, but we'll be lucky to break even.