insomnia and taxes
Two things real quick, then I'll get to my comments regarding taxes.
1) I have slept for 8 hours (total) in the last 72 (total)
2) I have gotten so much done since I haven't been sleeping! Insomnia has really helped me get things cleaned up around here.
Okay, on to the real topic - taxes. So, as mentioned, I did my taxes in the wee-morning hours of Saturday, since I wasn't sleeping. And also as mentioned, I did them on both TurboTax (TT) and H&R Block's (HRB, from here on out) websites. I also did them on esmarttax.com (EST because it's easier) because it's not free to file state returns on either TT or HRB, and it was on this website. Here are my winners:
Overall - TT
- it is just so darn easy. They really do guide you through everything and ask the questions in terms that anyone can understand. HRB was easy, but it wasn't as easy as TT. HRB also guided me through the process; but, they used some tax jargon that I didn't understand in some questions and often didn't have a feature to clarify what the question was really asking for (which TT had at every step but I never needed because they explained what they needed without jargon). EST was also kind of jargony at times; but also pretty easy.
State taxes - EST
- It was free to file online, which is a big plus for me. It costs like $28 to file state taxes with either TT or HRB. In addition, my state taxes are kind of complicated because: I'm a California resident, living in DC, working in Virginia. Both TT and HRB got really confused with my state taxes, which make me confused and frustrated. EST was able to remain unconfused with all of my complications. My only complaint was that I had to input all of my federal tax info and couldn't just do my state taxes. (I simply opted to not electronically file, since I had already done that with TT) I did try the California tax website, which has their own program that I have used before; but, it also became confused, because I didn't make any money in California this year. It was all made out of state.
Details - TT
- They really paid attention to little things to make the whole "taxes" process easier. There were just a bunch of little things that I though TT did better. For example, when entering my social security number (or phone number, date) TT automatically entered the dashes or backslashes. This is such a minute detail; but it was really helpful. Neither HRB or EST had this, I had to enter the backslashes myself, which I forgot on many occasions. Also, instead of having to hit 'tab' or click on the next box to be filled in TT moved it to the next place automatically. Like I said, little things; but, it made it easier.
Cost - Three-way Tie
- All were free for my federal taxes. And as mentioned, only EST was free for my state taxes, though I think they all should have been based on the requirements. If you make under a certain amount of money each year (I don't remember what it is) they could be free for you too. Even if you don't qualify for free, both TT and HRB had some cheap options.
Refund - HRB & TT
- Both found the same amount of money for me. EST missed a $400 (refundable!)credit; but TT and HRB were essentially identical and either would have netted me the same amount of a refund.
1) I have slept for 8 hours (total) in the last 72 (total)
2) I have gotten so much done since I haven't been sleeping! Insomnia has really helped me get things cleaned up around here.
Okay, on to the real topic - taxes. So, as mentioned, I did my taxes in the wee-morning hours of Saturday, since I wasn't sleeping. And also as mentioned, I did them on both TurboTax (TT) and H&R Block's (HRB, from here on out) websites. I also did them on esmarttax.com (EST because it's easier) because it's not free to file state returns on either TT or HRB, and it was on this website. Here are my winners:
Overall - TT
- it is just so darn easy. They really do guide you through everything and ask the questions in terms that anyone can understand. HRB was easy, but it wasn't as easy as TT. HRB also guided me through the process; but, they used some tax jargon that I didn't understand in some questions and often didn't have a feature to clarify what the question was really asking for (which TT had at every step but I never needed because they explained what they needed without jargon). EST was also kind of jargony at times; but also pretty easy.
State taxes - EST
- It was free to file online, which is a big plus for me. It costs like $28 to file state taxes with either TT or HRB. In addition, my state taxes are kind of complicated because: I'm a California resident, living in DC, working in Virginia. Both TT and HRB got really confused with my state taxes, which make me confused and frustrated. EST was able to remain unconfused with all of my complications. My only complaint was that I had to input all of my federal tax info and couldn't just do my state taxes. (I simply opted to not electronically file, since I had already done that with TT) I did try the California tax website, which has their own program that I have used before; but, it also became confused, because I didn't make any money in California this year. It was all made out of state.
Details - TT
- They really paid attention to little things to make the whole "taxes" process easier. There were just a bunch of little things that I though TT did better. For example, when entering my social security number (or phone number, date) TT automatically entered the dashes or backslashes. This is such a minute detail; but it was really helpful. Neither HRB or EST had this, I had to enter the backslashes myself, which I forgot on many occasions. Also, instead of having to hit 'tab' or click on the next box to be filled in TT moved it to the next place automatically. Like I said, little things; but, it made it easier.
Cost - Three-way Tie
- All were free for my federal taxes. And as mentioned, only EST was free for my state taxes, though I think they all should have been based on the requirements. If you make under a certain amount of money each year (I don't remember what it is) they could be free for you too. Even if you don't qualify for free, both TT and HRB had some cheap options.
Refund - HRB & TT
- Both found the same amount of money for me. EST missed a $400 (refundable!)credit; but TT and HRB were essentially identical and either would have netted me the same amount of a refund.