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Complicated taxes

Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 6:04 pm
by Blue456
I have complicated taxes. I have moved states, changed jobs, I am requesting amendment to my taxes to receive back large overpayment. We went to HR block every year but for some reason we lost confidence in them this year. First time around they told us we owe $5000 to NY state (we worked here only 2/12 months) then they told us that we actually don’t owe anything to NY state but owe to the Federal $16,000 but it happens that we overpaid $16,000 to the previous state we worked in. This thing is a mess. We would like someone more skilled in taxes to have a 2nd look at this. What are your recommendations? Is there an easy way to find a good tax preparer.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 6:08 pm
by RickBoglehead
Don't know what an addendum to taxes is. Do you mean extension?

What's so complicated about moving states and changing jobs? TurboTax handles that just fine. As discussed in several recent threads, you simply prepare the taxes with TurboTax, and it takes care of figuring out how much you owe NY and how much you owe the other state based on dates of residency and employment.

Keep in mind that each state has specific rules, which you can easily find on their websites, about how they figure these things. NY is renowned for clawing every single penny they can.

Any CPA that does tax returns should do better than H&R Block in my opinion, and will cost more.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 7:09 pm
by hachiko
Right now, you're probably pretty unlikely to get a good tax professional who prepares personal returns to be able to talk to you. Probably will have to wait a month or so.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 9:40 pm
by delamer
I’d try TurboTax, as suggested above.

It can sort through multiple W-2s and multiple states without a problem. It pretty much walks you through the data entry, and then does the calculations (including for multiple states).

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 8:22 am
by Katietsu
The easiest thing to do at this point for this year, is to go back to H&R Block and ask if they have an enrolled agent on staff. Sit down with this person and have them review your return. Around me, most of their offices do have one. If your particular office does not, ask if a nearby office does. Alternatively, see if you can make an appointment with the manager of the office. It does not sound like you have a particularly complex return for a decent tax preparer.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 8:28 am
by montanagirl
OP needs to get an extension and deal with this after tax day passes. In the Block offices usually the ones who work year round are EAs or close in experience and there is a lot less time pressure.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 8:34 am
by chris319
I am requesting amendment to my taxes to receive back large overpayment.
If you're talking about an amended return it means you've already filed a return which you want to amend. Have you?

Better hurry up and file an extension of time to file while you sort out your return; the filing deadline is this coming Monday.

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extensio ... tax-return

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 9:01 am
by hachiko
If you're getting a refund, the May 17 deadline is of little import, whether it's an amended return or an original. The only reason I could think of where that would be an important date is if the SOL on refunds happens to also expire on that date, but that would be a pretty big coincidence.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 9:38 am
by delamer
hachiko wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:01 am If you're getting a refund, the May 17 deadline is of little import, whether it's an amended return or an original. The only reason I could think of where that would be an important date is if the SOL on refunds happens to also expire on that date, but that would be a pretty big coincidence.
You still have to make sure you’ve made adequate tax payments (withholding, estimated taxes) by then to avoid penalties, even if you file for an extension.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 9:43 am
by hachiko
delamer wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:38 am
hachiko wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:01 am If you're getting a refund, the May 17 deadline is of little import, whether it's an amended return or an original. The only reason I could think of where that would be an important date is if the SOL on refunds happens to also expire on that date, but that would be a pretty big coincidence.
You still have to make sure you’ve made adequate tax payments (withholding, estimated taxes) by then to avoid penalties, even if you file for an extension.
Right, hence the "If you're getting a refund".

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 9:57 am
by NiceUnparticularMan
We found someone good by asking some colleagues who they used and whether they would recommend them and why.

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 9:59 am
by delamer
hachiko wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:43 am
delamer wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:38 am
hachiko wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:01 am If you're getting a refund, the May 17 deadline is of little import, whether it's an amended return or an original. The only reason I could think of where that would be an important date is if the SOL on refunds happens to also expire on that date, but that would be a pretty big coincidence.
You still have to make sure you’ve made adequate tax payments (withholding, estimated taxes) by then to avoid penalties, even if you file for an extension.
Right, hence the "If you're getting a refund".
You can be getting a refund and still owe a penalty if you haven’t paid enough throughout the year.

Admittedly, if you wait to May 17 to make a sufficient payment then it doesn’t really matter whether you file then or with an extension (in terms of penalties).

Re: Complicated taxes

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 5:00 pm
by hachiko
delamer wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:59 am
hachiko wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:43 am
delamer wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:38 am
hachiko wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:01 am If you're getting a refund, the May 17 deadline is of little import, whether it's an amended return or an original. The only reason I could think of where that would be an important date is if the SOL on refunds happens to also expire on that date, but that would be a pretty big coincidence.
You still have to make sure you’ve made adequate tax payments (withholding, estimated taxes) by then to avoid penalties, even if you file for an extension.
Right, hence the "If you're getting a refund".
You can be getting a refund and still owe a penalty if you haven’t paid enough throughout the year.

Admittedly, if you wait to May 17 to make a sufficient payment then it doesn’t really matter whether you file then or with an extension (in terms of penalties).
It's already May 17 (as a payment date). OP has already waited until May 17. I didn't say there's no way OP can be subject to penalties. I said "if you're getting a refund, the May 17 date is of little import." In other words, OP's refund amount is not affected by whether OP files on Monday or not. It also doesn't matter at all whether OP files an extension. The post I was responding to was telling OP to hurry up and file an extension.