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[eagle]

A friend looked at me in horror the other day when I said I have never sent my taxes by certified mail.  Am I crazy?  Or at least, in the minority?

[dr_crankypants]

I've never done it either.  It never occurred to me to do it.  Now that it has, I'm still not going to do it.  Maybe if I owed large sums of money and I wanted proof that I paid on time, I would.

Oh yeah, I guess I should do my taxes now....

[iomhaigh]

Nope. 

Never even crossed my mind.  I do watch and make sure that they postmark them, but that's just  my little bit of paranoia coming out. 

[dr_stones]

No. Just put the postage on them and hand them to the postal clerk at the drivethorugh at 11:58 PM.

[zharkov]

I file electronically, using Tax Cut or Turbo Tax.  No mailing to worry about.

And it is a lot easier than filling our paper forms. 

If you have a very simple return, you can -- I believe -- file online for free.

[just_dave]

I'd like to hear more about online filing.  A couple of years I've looked into it, but it always seemed to come down to some hitch about certification or something like that.  I'm reasonably bright about doing things online but I got totally bogged down on this each time I've tried to figure out if it was possible.

[zharkov]

I'd like to hear more about online filing.  A couple of years I've looked into it, but it always seemed to come down to some hitch about certification or something like that.  I'm reasonably bright about doing things online but I got totally bogged down on this each time I've tried to figure out if it was possible.

Those "hitches" have been fixed.....  If you use Tax Cut, for example, they will act as the middle man and efile (electronically file) it for 10 or 15 dollars.  The IRS and your state will have descriptions of how their systems work.

One nice thing about Tax Cut or Turbo Tax is you can import last year's data, so it carries a lot of things forward, making future year's filing a bit easier.

[infopri]

My husband has always sent the taxes by certified mail, with a return receipt.  But he's a lawyer (law professor now, but still a member of the bar), so I guess the need for "provability" just comes naturally.

[eumaios]

Many years ago, I asked my accountant about this. He said it was a waste of money and time. Certified mail with a return receipt shows that the IRS received an envelope. The taxman can say--and, according to my accountant, has said more than once--that the envelope had nothing in it. The taxpayer, said my accountant, simply cannot prove that the IRS received a completed income-tax return.

[sciguy]

I've always just thrown mine in the mail box.

Tried the free on-line thing one year, and after all the work filling in everything that I had already calculated it wouldn't let me e-file. Why?  My wife has two middle names (hence 2 middle initials) then e-file would only take one and therefore the IRS said NO.

In any case I just download the pdf files from the IRS site and fill them out in acrobat (no messy handwriting!). 

In my opinion any one with a PhD should be able to figure out how to fill out a 1040, along with Schedule A and B along with any additional forms. 

And for those procrastinators out there - don't forget the one year phone tax credit (it's on the back page towards the bottom on the 1040). 

[just_dave]

Those "hitches" have been fixed.....  If you use Tax Cut, for example, they will act as the middle man and efile (electronically file) it for 10 or 15 dollars.  The IRS and your state will have descriptions of how their systems work.

So you still have to buy Tax Cut or Turbo Tax AND pay them money to file online?  I remember locating some "free" downloadable software but there was some problem there as well.

[anthroid]

I did mine through TaxCut or TaxPro or something (and it's $15.95 for federal on-line filing, and another $15.95 for the state filing, all of which is deductible, I hope).  I filed electronically 2 weeks ago and got my federal refund through direct deposit yesterday (woo-hoo!).

On the other hand, SO just finished his taxes about an hour ago and is sending his humongous checks via certified mail Monday (he inherited a ton of money this last year).

Dave, the on-line issue has to do with your adjusted gross income.  Over a certain amount the IRS seems not to want to accept an on-line return.  This year I was over that amount (but won't be next year...).  And, yeah, you have to pay.  Mine cost $24.95 for the fed and state software, and I'm getting a $10 rebate.  Big bucks.  I operate in the big bucks.

[infopri]

Many years ago, I asked my accountant about this. He said it was a waste of money and time. Certified mail with a return receipt shows that the IRS received an envelope. The taxman can say--and, according to my accountant, has said more than once--that the envelope had nothing in it. The taxpayer, said my accountant, simply cannot prove that the IRS received a completed income-tax return.

We just mailed out our taxes out today, at which time I learned that my husband now just drops the envelopes in the mailbox.  I guess academia has mellowed him out over the years.  (Or maybe he's finally figured out what your accountant already knew, eumaios!)

[kitmonk]

I got really burned earlier this year when a very important package I sent via regular mail got lost.  From now on, it's certified or not at all for me!

[zharkov]

Those "hitches" have been fixed.....  If you use Tax Cut, for example, they will act as the middle man and efile (electronically file) it for 10 or 15 dollars.  The IRS and your state will have descriptions of how their systems work.

So you still have to buy Tax Cut or Turbo Tax AND pay them money to file online?  I remember locating some "free" downloadable software but there was some problem there as well.

If your tax situation is pretty simple -- just regular income to report -- the free stuff is probably all you need.  But, IMHO, once you get involved with mortgages, selling stocks, doing consulting, health care spending accounts, etc. it pays to have the software.  And to be clear, the software is more than just a way to fill out the forms, but it collects your data and "interviews" you to prepare your return according to the latest tax laws. 

It works for me and it certainly worth the $30 plus $15 each for the Feds and State efiling.