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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: better late on January 20, 2018, 11:56:48 AM

Title: A single tax question - Who to ask?
Post by: better late on January 20, 2018, 11:56:48 AM
We've been using tax software for our taxes the last few years, but I have a question that is complicated enough that I would like a professional to weigh in on it.  Who would you ask this type of question? Have you used some of the online tax help? Turbo tax now offers this type of help for $150 - has anyone used this? Advice appreciated.
Title: Re: A single tax question - Who to ask?
Post by: secondcor521 on January 20, 2018, 12:41:27 PM
I would do either or both of the following:

1.  Carefully read all of the actual IRS documents related to the question and make a reasoned judgment on my own.
2.  Post the question at E-R.org or bogleheads.org or here and see if I got any answers that sounded like they came from a smart and knowledgeable person.
Title: Re: A single tax question - Who to ask?
Post by: Laserjet3051 on January 20, 2018, 12:46:06 PM
Agree with the other posters comments but would add that a good accountant is worth his (or her) weight in gold. Trick is finding a good one that charges a reasonable hourly consulting/tax planning rate. This is one area where it usually does not pay to be cheap.
Title: Re: A single tax question - Who to ask?
Post by: better late on January 20, 2018, 02:37:02 PM
Agree with the other posters comments but would add that a good accountant is worth his (or her) weight in gold. Trick is finding a good one that charges a reasonable hourly consulting/tax planning rate. This is one area where it usually does not pay to be cheap.

Wondering how you found someone like that, who is ok with more of a consultant role. I tried to switch our former accountant from filling out everything for us to being more of a consultant and got vigorously yelled at.  I still feel badly about that.
Title: Re: A single tax question - Who to ask?
Post by: Sibley on January 21, 2018, 04:05:09 PM
You can call an accountant and be very specific that you would like tax consulting, not tax prep.

FYI - don't feel bad because your former accountant was unprofessional. They were out of line. Do NOT call them.