It’s tax time again and I wanted to ask a couple of questions:

Who does your taxes? You, someone you know (for free or a fee), or a service (H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, etc.)?

If you use a service, is it because you cannot do them yourself or because you want a rapid refund?

When do you decide to do them or get them done? February, March, or last minute in April?

If you are a last minute person, do you wait because you have to pay, you’re a procrastinator, and/or you have lost some pertinent paperwork?

Last but not least, if you plan to receive a refund of $250 or more, will you spend it immediately or save it for some predetermined purpose (travel, education, home purchase, etc.)?

I usually go to the free services offered by the government.

Then for WB stuff...there's a designated person that handles that and all similar programs that are housed under the same umbrella.

i have an accountant who does them for free.

happens to be a relative.

always file in january/february.

if i get a lot back, like i did the first time i filed with a dependent. i do something fabulous. that's how i went to iceland. and i saved the other half.

i never do rapid refund. or anything tha costs me money to get money i'm owed. it's ridiculous. patience really is a virtue.

i've also learned (after owing money last year) NEVER to count on getting a certain amount of money. i plan my life as if the return doesn't exist. if i get it, great. if not, oh well.

turbo tax and i normally get down every year whenever i feel like it. this year i'm bucking the trend and paying someone to do it (because i realized i can get more back that way.) i'm also gonna file as soon as i get my w2's - i have bills to pay and a new computer to buy.

i did the rapid refund thing once years ago and i ended up having to pay it back + the interest because the gov't took the refund for my husband's student loan. i never did it again - i learned not to count my chickens before they hatch and to never file a joint return again.

i normally use the money to get ahead in bills and pay for a trip. april - i like the iceland idea. that IS fabulous. i'm a creature of habit so i always hit south beach and then go somewhere with my children.

It Pays to Take Your Time With Taxes
Common errors can create headaches and delay refunds

http://www.blackenterprise.com/ExclusivesekOpen.asp?id=1548

i do them myself w/h&r block software as soon as i get my w-2s and other forms.

this year though i went into h&r block, 'cause my situation was more complicated and i wanted to save time and make sure the complication was handled. found out the hard way i coulda did 'em myself. i was sitting there helping the tax preparer...

next year i'm going back to status quo...

I'm so late filing this year...I hope I can still find a freebie filer.

you can file online for free here: www.taxfreedom.com

It's so easy. If i do them myself, this is what I use...if you don't qualify for free tax prep, then they direct you to the other site.

Where do your tax dollars go?

http://nationalpriorities.org/taxchart

i did them myself one year, worked out kinda well. i let someone else do them the second year, but i owed alot of money then. i'll probably let them do them again this year cuz it's free and i never wanna have to pay extra money, especially if i owe something.

I usually do them when i get all my papers back. my bank and my student loans usually come a little later than everything else.

the last time i got something back i bought some much needed furniture for my apartment.

i've been watching this finance lady on CNBC and she said you're not even supposed to get money back from taxes. you're supposed to put the right number of exemptions and if you do that you won't get anything. alot of people spend their money thinking it's something extra, but it's really money you should have already had. she said essentially what you're doing is giving the government a interest free loan, and they wouldn't do that for you! so you might as well keep your money 2 yourself. from now on if i do get anything back, i'm saving it.

Has anybody finished filing their taxes and received their refund yet (if expecting one)? Also, what will you do with the $300 or $600 that the government will be sending you in May/June?

I think its a good thing as long as there are no strings..