This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

This year’s tax deadline, April 17,  is looming. Have you done your taxes, yet? If you’re opting to hire a tax professional to complete your taxes, I share 8 tips for finding a reliable tax preparer.

• Check the preparer’s history. You can check with the Better Business Bureau to see the ratings and complaint record on the preparer.

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Monday, April 2, 2012· 6 Comments »
Tagged: accountant, cps, federal, file, forms, Free, irs, state, Taxes

There are plenty of ways to do your taxes yourself and not pay a dime, especially if you make less than $49,000 (see three ways to do this below). But if you are going to hire someone, here are nine tips from author and CPA Stacy Johnson to help you choose a tax pro.

Get referrals from friends with similar tax situations.

Look for credentials. “In order of most-educated when it comes to taxes, there’s tax attorney, then CPA, then enrolled agent,” Stacy said. “There are also other designations, and none: professional credentials aren’t required to charge for tax preparation.”

Ask about experience. The more, the better.

Ask for referrals. You can learn a lot from someone by how they react to a request for referrals. “Of course, only an idiotic professional would provide you with a customer that’s going to bad-mouth them, however, so you can’t put too much weight on this one,” Stacy says.

Shop around. Compare the information you gather about each person before making a decision.

For the last four of Stacy’s tips for choosing a tax pro, visit his site, MoneyTalksNews, and scroll down to below the video. 

Resources to file taxes for free

If you make less than $49,000 you can get free tax preparation and e-filing through the IRS’ VITA program.

File your taxes for FREE through AARP, even if you’re not a senior.

No matter what your income, file your taxes for free online through the IRS’ Free File Fillable Forms.

And there are lots of coupon codes for tax software, like this tax software coupon for 25% off at H&R Block At Home.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010· 5 Comments »
Tagged: accountant, cps, federal, file, forms, Free, irs, state, Taxes

Get 15 percent off H&R Block At Home tax software plus a 12 percent cash rebate when you purchase the software through eBates.com. The deal includes their deluxe and premium software. With the two discounts here’s how the pricing breaks down:

Premium tax software sells for $49.95

Minus instant 15 percent = $42.45

Minus cash rebate of 12 percent = $37.36

That adds up to 25 percent off the starting price!

Deluxe tax software sells for $29.95

Minus instant 15 percent = $25.45

Minus cash rebate of 12 percent = $22.40

That adds up to 25 percent off the starting price!

Basic tax software is free!

If you don’t use these H&R Block coupons, you can file your taxes for free. There are also a lot of coupons for state and federal tax filing. And if you are 50-plus, you can get free tax preparation and filing through AARP.

If you are new to eBates, see No. 3 on my earlier post about online shopping coupons and discounts.

Friday, February 19, 2010· Comments Off
Tagged: federal, filing, forms, state, tax, Taxes