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Why do I pay some one else to prepare my tax return?

I'll tell you why! I always used to do my own taxes. I would sit down on the evening of my W-2 form arrival. Take out my receipts and other tax information and start on the EZ forms. In an hour or two, I would finish the deal, put it in an envelope and mail it to the IRS. In seven to ten days I would receive my refund, since I was always among the first to file. It was always a piece of cake, until......the advent of the E-File.

I finally was able to purchase my own computer. I was a member of the on-line community. Now there would be no more messy paperwork. All my records would be retained from year to year for easy reference. No more envelopes or stamps would be necessary. I was ready to E-File.

An inexpensive purchase of a computer tax program for approximately $34, and I was ready to do it the easy way, all by myself. The program worked well, but was lengthy. After answering all of the necessary questions, it told me that I didn't have to itemize my deductions. It took hours to download the state tax program on my slow modem, but it did the tax quickly. The program then asked me if I would like to file electronically, or print out and mail the forms. Since my printer was out of ink, I decided to file on line. The printer problem would come back to haunt me next year. The program then told me that for about $15 each the taxes could be filed electronically. And I could have a direct deposit into my account for an additional bank fee of $20. By now my inexpensive on line filing would cost $84 but at least I would receive it immediately, or so I thought.

I placed my electronic signature on the forms and filed. I was then told that I would receive notification of acceptance on the next day. Twenty four hours later I was back on line to hear that my forms had been accepted and I would receive notification of my refund in two to three weeks. As I recall my paper forms refunded in seven to ten days.....

The program also recommended that I make copies of my tax forms for my records, but of course my printer was out of ink and so I neglected to make copies. About half way through the year, my computer crashed..... All of my previous tax records were lost. And, here it was tax time again. Not to worry, I know how to E-File now.

I purchased the $84 program with which I was familiar and followed the program exactly as on the previous year without a hitch.....until it came time to sign electronically. This year it was necessary

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