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Monday, February 10th
Ever wanted the option to get expert help, but you're too busy (or too tired) to go in person and get your taxes done by a pro? Liberty Tax offers an impressive compromise. You can take photos of your major tax documents and send everything relevant to one of the Liberty Tax CPAs who will remotely handle everything for you. It's all the benefits of self-filing from home without the stress. If you're more of a hands-on person, you can also do your own tax preparation through Liberty Tax. This financial assistance company has been open since 1997 and there are now over 2,200 retail locations for those who don't like remote filing and prefer an in-person consultation.
Three ways to prepare your taxes
Whether you're a confident taxpayer who is used to the process each year, a newbie, or someone just looking for some moral support, Liberty Tax offers an option to help you get your taxes squared away for the season. You can choose between doing your own tax preparation through the Liberty Tax online portal, sending in all the details to one of their tax representatives to get remote assistance, or you can find one of Liberty Tax's many brick-and-mortar locations and go grab some advice in person. The different tiers of online filing include Basic, which covers Forms 1050 and 8853 as well as Schedules A and B. The Deluxe option is for those who have a more complicated tax situation and includes support for forms 1040, 4562, 8829, 4136, 8839, and 8853. You'll also be able to file Schedules A, B, and C. Finally, the Premium tier is best for self-employed individuals and those who are freelance or contractors. This includes all of the forms of Deluxe as well as forms 4684 and 4853, and you can file Schedules A, B, C, E, F, and K-1.
Quick sign-up with high security
To get started at Liberty Tax, you can either sign up for an account online or book your appointment with an in-person location. If you want to use the remote assistance approach, you'll need to download the Liberty Tax mobile app to get started (and also create an account). During registration, you'll be asked for the usual email and phone number as well as asked to create security questions to protect your Liberty Tax account. Depending on your filing needs, the final price will update automatically among the three packages (Basic, Deluxe, and Premium).
Pricing from $45.95 to $85.95
Like a few other platforms that offer online and in-person tax preparation, Liberty Tax doesn't list prices for in-person sessions on the website. The only information is that the cost will vary by location. For online self-filing, the prices start at $45.95 for the Basic package (which most other sites offer for free). The Deluxe will cost $65.95, and the Premium costs $85.95. So, while it is comparable to other companies, Liberty Tax does lump self-employed in with contractors at the highest tier, which can make 1099 filings much more expensive than with other tax preparation services.
Guaranteed support with a free consultation
Liberty Tax offers a free consultation at participating locations, so your first visit will be free of charge. They also promise an accuracy guarantee that includes reimbursement for any penalties or interest incurred due to Liberty Tax's error. Finally, Liberty Tax offers Audit Assistance where someone from your local office will accompany you if you get summoned for an IRS audit.
Dissatisfaction with cost and staff
Liberty Tax holds an "A” rating from the Better Business Bureau, but unfortunately it's not terribly popular with third-party reviewers. On Trustpilot, Liberty Tax holds an average of just 2.9 stars out of 5, and more than half of the listed reviews gave the company 1 star. Customers claim that the final cost for their in-person assistance was "way overpriced”, and many of the reviews include complaints about staff members at specific branches. Taxpayers who used Liberty Tax reported the final total for their filings to be between $300 to $400 for simple returns (not even complex options for self-employed individuals).
Too many complaints to compete
With rampant dissatisfaction across reviews, Liberty Tax doesn't stand out from the pack as well as it could. One of the main complaints is that this tax preparation service is very costly (with prices rising year after year), and many customers would advise you to stay away from Liberty Tax altogether. While it may be a better experience for online filing, that too is more costly than many competitors. While remote filing is a unique idea, it isn't quite enough to make Liberty Tax more competitive.
Let's face it: tax season is nobody's favorite time of the year. Whether you're a W-2 employee or an independent contractor, taxes are a source of stress every spring. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Tax preparation services are there to ease the process (and are particularly helpful if you own your own business).
So, what do tax preparation services actually do? Most services offer planning to understand your tax situation and filing. You may receive preparation of your actual return, or advice on different aspects of your taxes like individual tax returns, estate tax planning, personal financial planning, deductions, property tax assessments, tax credit reviews, and more. The tax advisor (individual or website) can make taxes make sense and help you avoid many of the pitfalls.
A few years ago, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) estimated that there were around 1.2 million paid tax preparers available in the US. Tax preparation can be completed by a range of licensed agents, accountants, or businesses who can take the weight of tax season off your shoulders.
The most important thing about finding a tax preparation service is to make sure you work with one you trust. The three best professional credentials to look for include Enrolled Agents (or entities), who are licensed directly by the IRS and must pass an examination to demonstrate their understanding of federal tax planning, individual and business taxes, and representing you properly; Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who have studied finance at a university and passed charter exams and requirements for accounting; and, Attorneys who are licensed by state courts and have passed a bar exam in financial law.
Now, keep in mind, there will be fees for using most tax preparation services, but these will be minimal compared to the high fines and charges from the IRS if you make a mistake on your return. For even small errors on your taxes, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in fines. A one-time fee for a tax preparation service is no sweat in comparison. Most tax preparation and filing costs between $30 to $500 (though some really comprehensive services cost more), so you'll want to make sure you know what you need before you start.
If you're ready to simplify tax season, but don't know which service to choose, we've put together some factors that can help you find the best tax preparation service for your financial situation:
To help you find the best service to get your return filed this tax season, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top tax preparation services out there today. Take the stress out of tax season and hand the nitty-gritty details over to an expert (or enjoy a guided DIY approach that is as simple as a step-by-step guide). After that, you just need to sit back, relax, and wait for those lovely tax returns!
Select any 2 Tax Preparation Services to compare them head to head