Five Reasons Why You May Want to Hire a Tax Professional
As you
progress through your life, your finances get more complicated and preparing
taxes becomes more time consuming and stressful. In fact, according to the IRS,
it took an average of 37.8 hours to prepare the regular Form 1040 in 2006, even
when using even when using tax software. No wonder tax season is declared by
various pollsters as the second most stressful time of the year just behind the
Christmas season.
If you are one of many Americans who prepare their own
taxes, the following list should help you consider whether to hire a tax
professional (e.g. CPA or EA) or continue to self prepare using online tax
software.
Tax-filing season is in full swing, with millions of filers already sending in their forms -- primarily because they are expecting a refund from the Internal Revenue Service.
Regardless of whether your cash back from Uncle Sam is a few hundred dollars or several thousand dollars, any amount of money can go a long way if you think before you spend. Try one of these money-smart suggestions:
1. Pay down credit card debt.
OK, so this doesn't sound as appealing as a new flat-screen TV. But if you can knock out -- or knock down -- the balance of even one high-interest credit card, you're making money. Think of all the interest you won't be paying.
More from Bankrate.com: • 10 tax laws you gotta know • Marriage can complicate tax life • 9 crazy tax write-offs |
2. Open an IRA.
Or, if you already have one, use your refund toward your annual contribution. Been putting this move off until you had "a little extra money?" Today's your lucky day. Any amount "will compound nicely," says Chris Farrell, author of "Right on the Money."
3. Take stock.
Historically, stocks have produced nice returns, and even a few hundred dollars can get your nest egg off to a nice start.
"The biggest mistake people make is thinking (what they have) is too small an amount to invest," says Ric Edelman, author of "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth." "Rich people start off as poor people. The difference is they take the nickels and dimes and they invest it -- they didn't spend it all at the mall," he says.
