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H&R Block rip off?
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I just had a tax professional prepare my taxes for the first time. Overall my tax situation is not super complicated. I am self employed, but do not own any business, no mortgage payment, etc. Well, the guy at H&R block just came back to me with a bill for $500. This seems outrageously high to file my federal and state returns. Has anyone experienced this before with a tax preparer? I expected to pay around $300.
Top Comment: I am self employed, but do not own any business, these two statements explicitly contradict each other
Liz Truss prepares to rip up tax cut plans
Main Post: Liz Truss prepares to rip up tax cut plans
Top Comment:
Snapshot of Liz Truss prepares to rip up tax cut plans :
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Richmond Personal property tax "license fee" (rip off?)
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Every year I wonder what the license fee is on my personal property tax bill for my car, so I finally emailed the city and asked.
After having to follow up on the email two or three times someone said: "a vehicle license fee is assessed by localities in Virginia as part of your personal property taxes for any vehicle that is garaged and registered in this locality." (they also mentioned that the city council votes annually on the rate of vehicle tax relief and license fee rates)
The problem with that is...that's what the personal property tax is and doesn't at all explain this separate fee.
Someone else replied and said "The city of Richmond had at one time used a city decal to identify taxpayers that paid their taxes. The decal color was changed from year to year. These decals were mandated to be displayed on the vehicles and windshield each year. On January 1, 2006, the city of Richmond stopped the use of decals as a collection tool. The decal fees have been renamed a license fee, because a decal is no longer issued. In 2016 license fees were increased."
I just responded "So just to be clear- the fee was for a decal, the decals have not existed for over ten years, but the fee is still assessed?"
Top Comment:
Most if not all Virginia localities have this fee and most have gone away from the need for a sticker. It's a local tax mechanism that's not tied to the value of a vehicle that allows them to ensure a steady income to provide stuff like roads (especially in the city which aren't covered by VDOT) and other fun things. The car tax, while locally done, also involves the state thanks to car tax relief efforts from a while back. So localities have more flexibility in charging for a license fee instead of rolling it into the property tax.
All of that said, if they didn't charge you the license fee I'm sure you'd see the property tax hike up to cover the difference.
Turbotax trying rip me off
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Because of simplest situation (single, renting, no stocks, etc) I've always prepared my taxes by hands. This year I've decided take a look what is turbotax. Input all my digits, it said: "look, your state taxes (6400) bigger than standard deduction (6300) let's itemize! We will save 30 bucks on federal return!". Hm, ok. But when i've look at state taxes, i've mentioned there is no state deduction, because itemized federal, so my state taxes should be increased on 200. (numbers approximate). Did i missed smth or who the hell needs such helping software?
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Yeah there's almost no such thing as a simple return any more. That's a very astute catch on your part, but some states will let you take their standard deduction if it saves you taxes, even though you itemized for federal. Maybe your state does too, but TT is not doing it right.
Because my state's standard deduction is so much lower than the federal, I often force itemized deductions on federal to save more on state taxes than it costs in federal taxes.
The other thing I have to do is force sales tax instead of state tax, because it can also save more in state taxes than it costs in federal taxes. Also, it makes the state tax refund not taxable the following year! Can't forget to factor that in!
Does your head hurt, cuz mine sure does.
Got my taxes and paid my phone off rip lol
Main Post: Got my taxes and paid my phone off rip lol
Top Comment: Yeah that’s how it’s been for awhile now.
RIP Hulu – 2007-2012 | Death and Taxes
Main Post: RIP Hulu – 2007-2012 | Death and Taxes
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So far this is just rumors. Some of the sites spreading this rumor even say that it won't apply to Hulu plus subscribers, just to the free version of Hulu. I'd be fine with that. Honestly that makes the most sense. I can't understand any way that Hulu could benefit from essentially requiring customers to purchase a competitor's product.