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I file taxes for my family members and have used almost every tax program out there. Honestly, your return will be fine. The differences between tax software mostly come down to user interface and how they walk you through questions. The final calculations should be virtually identical since they're all using the same tax tables and formulas. The only potential issue might be if you had some unusual situation that one program handles better than others. For example, TurboTax is sometimes better with self-employment or complex investments, while H&R Block might be better for certain credits. But for basic W-2 income and standard deductions, there's no meaningful difference in the final result.
Thank you for this reassurance! Do you think I should download my previous returns from H&R Block for my records? And if I want to go back to H&R Block next year, will it be a problem to import this year's TurboTax return?
Yes, definitely download all your previous returns from H&R Block as PDFs and save them somewhere secure. It's always good practice to have your own copies of all tax documents regardless of which service you used. Going back to H&R Block next year shouldn't be a problem. Most tax software can import PDF returns from other providers, though the process isn't always perfect. You might need to verify some information. But H&R Block should be able to import the basic data from this year's TurboTax return. Worst case scenario, you'd need to enter some information manually, but your account and previous years' data should still be in their system.
Paolo Conti
i messed up worse than you lol. i used 3 different tax programs this year before finally filing - started with credit karma, then h&r block, finally turbotax. was trying to see which one would give me the biggest refund. turns out they were all within $20 of each other for my situation. wasted like $150 buying them all when i could have just stuck with the first one. the irs doesnt care which program you use!
Amina Diallo
ā¢Next time try FreeTaxUSA. It's way cheaper than TurboTax or H&R Block and works just as well for most people. I switched 2 years ago and saved like $70.
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Keisha Brown
One thing nobody has mentioned yet - once you've filed the identity theft affidavit with the IRS, you should also request an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). This is a 6-digit number assigned to identity theft victims that you'll use when filing your taxes. It prevents anyone else from filing a fraudulent return using your SSN. You can request an IP PIN online through the IRS website or when you talk to an agent. I've been using one for 3 years since my identity was stolen, and it gives me peace of mind that no one else can file under my number.
Sofia Gomez
ā¢Thanks for this advice! I've never heard of an IP PIN before. Does having this PIN slow down my refund processing at all? And do I need to get a new one every year or is it a one-time thing?
Keisha Brown
ā¢The IP PIN doesn't slow down your refund processing at all - it actually helps prevent delays because it verifies upfront that you are the legitimate filer. The IRS knows immediately that your return is the valid one. Yes, you do need a new IP PIN each year. The IRS issues new ones every January, and they'll mail it to you automatically once you're in the program. You can also retrieve it online through the IRS website. It's a small hassle to keep track of a new number each year, but definitely worth it for the protection it provides.
Make sure you get a copy of your wage and income transcript from the IRS too! This will show you exactly what income has been reported under your SSN and who reported it. When this happened to me, I found that someone had been working at a warehouse in another state using my number. The transcript showed the company name which I was able to give to the investigators.
Amina Toure
ā¢This is really good advice. How do you get the wage and income transcript? Can you do it online or do you have to mail a request?
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I'm a DIY tax filer who switched to a CPA three years ago when I started a side business and got into investing. My two cents: Pros of using a CPA: - Found deductions I didn't know existed - Saved me HOURS of research and stress - Peace of mind knowing it's done right - Year-round tax planning advice - Helped structure my business to be more tax-efficient Cons: - Expensive ($650 for my returns) - Still had to organize all my documents - Some CPAs are better than others (my first one sucked) For me it was worth it once my income hit six figures and I had multiple income sources. The deductions my CPA found paid for her fee twice over.
Diego Vargas
ā¢How much prep work do you still have to do before meeting with your CPA? Do you have to categorize all your expenses or do they do that for you?
I still have to do quite a bit of prep work. I organize all my income documents (W-2s, 1099s, investment statements), categorize my business expenses in a spreadsheet, and summarize any major financial changes from the previous year. For business expenses, I do the initial categorization (office supplies, travel, meals, etc.), but my CPA often reclassifies some items to more advantageous categories I wouldn't have known about. She doesn't do basic bookkeeping - that would cost significantly more. The more organized you are, the less you'll pay because they bill by the hour. The real value comes from their knowledge of the tax code, not data entry work.
Everyone's talking about CPAs, but I've had great experiences with Enrolled Agents (EAs) who often charge less but are still licensed tax professionals. Mine charges $275 for my return with business income and investments, compared to the $500+ most CPAs wanted.
I've never heard of Enrolled Agents. What's the difference between them and CPAs? Are they as qualified to handle complex situations?
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Something nobody has mentioned yet - make sure you understand if you'll be staying tax resident in Ireland or becoming tax resident in the UK. This has massive implications! In the UK, you're typically considered tax resident if you spend 183+ days there in a tax year. Since you mentioned being in Scotland for 7 months (~210 days), you'd likely become UK tax resident. However, Ireland has its own residency tests too, so you could potentially be considered tax resident in both countries. This is where the Ireland-UK tax treaty comes in to determine which country has primary taxing rights. Also, keep in mind that the UK and US tax years are different! UK tax year runs April 6 - April 5, while US is calendar year. Makes things even more complicated when you're trying to calculate time spent in each place.
Lucas Bey
ā¢That's a really important point I hadn't considered. So even though I'd be working for a US company, I could end up being a UK tax resident because of the 183+ days rule. Do you know if there's any way to maintain Irish tax residency instead, since that's where my permanent home would still be?
You could potentially maintain Irish tax residency by ensuring you spend enough time in Ireland and limiting your time in Scotland to under 183 days per UK tax year. Ireland has a similar 183-day rule, but also considers other factors like maintaining a permanent home there. One approach some people use is careful day counting across tax years - for example, spending just under 183 days in the UK in each UK tax year, but timing it so those days fall across two different Irish tax years. This requires very careful planning and documentation of your whereabouts. Keep in mind though that if you're physically performing the work in Scotland, the UK will have taxing rights on that income regardless of your residency status. The difference is that as a UK resident, they tax your worldwide income, while as a non-resident, they only tax UK-source income.
Don't forget about social security/national insurance contributions! This is completely separate from income tax and follows different rules. The US has "totalization agreements" with both the UK and Ireland that determine where you pay social security. Generally, if you're temporarily posted to the UK (less than 5 years), you might be able to remain in the US social security system rather than paying UK National Insurance. But since you're not a US citizen, different rules might apply. This is something your employer should definitely help sort out, as getting it wrong can mean either double-paying into two systems or having gaps in your social security coverage.
Really good point about social security! When I moved from Ireland to the UK for work, I was able to get a form from the Irish authorities confirming I was still covered under the Irish system, which meant I didn't have to pay UK National Insurance. I believe it was called Form E101 or something similar. Worth looking into!
Carmella Popescu
You mentioned he's behind on child support. Be aware that in many states, unemployment benefits can be garnished for back child support! That might be a factor in why he's applying for the dependency allowance - to try to get more benefits since some will be redirected to his support obligations.
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Kai Santiago
ā¢This is exactly what happened with my ex. He tried to claim our kid on his unemployment to get the higher benefit amount, knowing a portion would be garnished for the back support he owed. Kind of sneaky but at least some money was coming to support the child.
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Lim Wong
I haven't seen anyone mention this yet, but you should check your custody agreement if you have one. Some agreements specifically address who can claim the child for tax purposes. If yours does, and it says you have the right to claim the child, you can remind your ex of this legal obligation. If he violates the agreement, your family court could hold him in contempt.
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