Individual Tax Prep Advice from Phil Thow- Professional Services versus DIY Forms

How you prepare your taxes will depend on a few different things, according to Phil Thow. First, the level of complexity that is involved in your filing will make up a large part of the decision. If you have a lot of deductions or things to itemize, it might be too confusing to take on yourself. However, if you have a simple, straightforward return, doing it yourself can save a lot of money. Your own skill level, combined with the difficulty of your tax preparation will be the two main elements that you use to determine whether you can tackle your own taxes or if you should outsource to a professional service.

Many people have been doing their own taxes for years. The forms are almost etched in the memory, and filling them out is as simple as filling out a medical history at the doctor’s office. If you are one of the many people who have experience doing your own taxes, you might want to keep doing them that way to save money. However, if you’re not as familiar with taxes because yours aren’t as simple as they were in previous years or if you have always had yours professionally done, you might want to stick with professional tax services, according to Phil Thow.

Another reason to use professional services is for the convenience says Phil Thow. Beware, though, because that convenience comes with a price. Professional tax services usually aren’t cheap, and if you want instant money based on your refund amount, it will cost you even more. If you’re willing to spend a significant portion of your return on fast preparation and instant money, then by all means go right ahead. The great thing about doing your taxes is that there is something out there for everyone. Whether you like to do your own, or just don’t want to spend a lot on professional preparation, it’s still plausible to do your own taxes. However, if you need the help or the convenience, professional services are there for a reason.