How long does it take for your taxes to be ready?
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Joanne929 · 02-22-2011, 10:02 PM

We went and had our taxes done on February 3rd. Of course, we waited (again) for 40 minutes for our appointment. I called this past Thursday to ask when they'd be done so we could sign them. I was told "end of this week, beginning of next week". So, I called today at 4 pm. Now I'm told they've been having 'computer problems' and sorry, but not, they're not ready, but we'll call you when they are. And, we do the 'EZ form', and they have all of our information from last year.

(Last year, we waited 40 minutes for our appointment, and THAT was because their computers CRASHED over the weekend and they were trying to get them repaired. They guy basically did ours on paper with a pencil!!!!)

If you have your taxes done by someone else, how long does it usually take for yours to be ready? Am I just being impatient? Of course, not getting a straight answer is adding to my impatience.

**Cam22** · 02-22-2011, 10:06 PM

Luke does our using H&R Block Tax Cut. It took him about 6 hours to complete.

pflamingo · 02-22-2011, 10:42 PM

My mom used to do my taxes. She used to work for H & R Block, and she had some stories to tell! People would show up without all their forms, claim 6 kids but didn't have SSNs for them, you name it, she heard it. They used to have computer trouble regularly, too.

She did my taxes for years after she left Block, but her eyes are pretty bad now and she has trouble entering the figures. She showed me how to use one of the on-line tax programs last year and I did it myself.

So, how long does it take to do my taxes? Til around April 1st to dig out all of my receipts from assorted boxes and purses where I've stashed them and about a six-pack to get it all entered on the computer!

I know, I'm no help at all!

JoanneS · 02-22-2011, 10:58 PM

We do our own taxes, but my Dad has someone do his for him. The guy comes to his house with a computer and does everything in a couple of hours. But Dad is very good at organizing receipts and tax info. An EZ form is very simple to complete, it really shouldn't take that long. I hope they're not charging you a lot for this.

Joanne929 · 02-22-2011, 11:24 PM

Years ago I did it myself, online for relatively cheap. Then, the CPA that helped out at our office did them for us (very inexpensively) and he'd come to the house, get our paperwork (which is all ready when I have my appointment, regardless of who it is), and he'd have all the paperwork back to me within 2 weeks. (He has since kind of disappeared so I had to find someone else.)
This place just seems to have a lot of excuses and they act like they're doing you a favor, which if I'm paying for it, isn't a favor.
I just don't understand - he had all of our info from last year up on the screen, had all of our paperwork for this year, it isn't difficult, when does it actually get done? I hate to be told one thing, then another thing, and still no straight answer . . grrrrrr . . . I will be calling them again before the end of the week.

I think I'm going to go back to doing them myself next year!

tessatilli · 02-23-2011, 01:15 AM

You can go into a walmart or alot of stores and sit down with an agent for H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt, etc and be done in 1hr!!! I would NOT let it ride keep on their butts and if they keep giving you the run around I'd ask for my paperwprk back and either do yourself (1040ez is pretty darn easy) or take to another tax preparer. Good Luck

HollyH · 02-23-2011, 06:18 AM

I always do our taxes myself. It takes me several hours. If you are doing an EZ form, honestly I would do them yourself. It really is easy if you're not messing with deductions, credits, etc. Even easier if you use a tax prep software. Good luck!

**Colexis Mom** · 02-23-2011, 08:40 AM

Doesn't sound like it should take that long especially if it's just an EZ form!

I just Turbo Tax online for mine. Takes a couple of hours, if that.

CinderAbby · 02-23-2011, 08:40 AM

I too do them myself but when my dad was alive, he and mom took their taxes to a CPA and it was probably about a month before they got their paperwork back. After dad died, my mom went someplace else that was closer and they had them done in about 2 weeks or so I'd say. Now mom has cut out the tax people and has me do them. With all the software out there, it really isn't too bad - even with the long form (what mom needs to file). For me, it's time consuming as I double check every single entry - even carry over info from last year (and I have found differences - new street address, new dept number, etc) - but it's still done in a few hours versus weeks.

MichaelF · 02-23-2011, 09:10 AM

I do my own taxes and have for many years. It takes 3-4 hours and that includes double checking everything and getting it prepared to send out.

niccole · 02-23-2011, 09:14 AM

In the past we did H&R and they were done right in front of us in less then an hour (bring a kid they tend to work faster, just bring something for said kid to do quietly)

The past few years We got our W2 and hubby had them done on turbo tax in an hour or so, This year we had our return direct deposited in the bank 2-3 weeks later. (Last Friday)

We paid $20 for the direct/software. It really is easy. I don't know why it would take that long?

RobDVC · 02-23-2011, 09:21 AM

We make an appointment with a CPA and he does them in an hour while we're there with him, even submitting the return electronically.

MichaelF · 02-23-2011, 09:39 AM

I done mine the old fashioned way with the forms for years. I also tried it with Turbo Tax this year and got the same results so I will be going with that in the future. It is very easy and quicker. Years ago I went to a CPA and he had my taxes so screwed up I ended up doing them myself. I never trusted anyone to do them after that and it was a lot cheaper.

KathyL · 02-23-2011, 07:08 PM

We have used the same accountant for years. The accountant comes to our home to pick up our paperwork (W-2s, receipts for deductions etc.) and ask any questions he may have and discuss anything new we may be able to benefit from. He then takes all the stuff to his office where he puts everything together. We get our package back (via mail) in about a week. We don't hear from him usless he has any other questions or until we get his bill!

Chrissi · 02-23-2011, 07:54 PM

We dropped ours off late Thursday night 2 weeks ago and our accountant e-filed them for us the next morning. She mailed us some stuff to sign for her records, but otherwise it was done overnight. We should have our refund by direct deposit in the next few days.

Our accountant is the mother of one of DH's childhood friends. DH tried doing our taxes the first few years after we got married, but he made a REALLY expensive mistake that cost us $4K in payments to the IRS. So now Miss Lucy does it for us.