This is the 4th year in a row that I’ve used TurboTax for the web to prepare my personal tax return.  You gotta understand, me and paperwork don’t get along.  I can ignore it for months, even years.  Add to that the fact that we live in a motorhome and there’s no place to spread papers out, and you got the picture.  I avoid filling out forms until I have no other choice.  Web-based systems are *made* for me.

The fact that I’ve used TurboTax for the web for 4 years now helps SO much, I almost want to kiss the screen.  All our personal info is already filled in, I just keep clicking ‘next…’ ‘next…’.  All our acct numbers are already filled in.  The 1099’s that I received last year are all there.  My only job is to fill in this year’s numbers.  And, this year I didn’t even have to do that because my bank is a participating institution.  I do all my banking online.  This year TurboTax has a button to click to retrieve all 1099DIV info directly from my bank/broker.  I’m in heaven.

I always choose to file electronically and to receive my refund electronically.  I just pressed ‘Transmit my Return’ this morning.  I expect to see money show up in our personal bank account in 10 days to 2 weeks.  All this convenience cost me $19.95. 

I also had to file a corporate return.  TurboTax doesn’t have any online system for that.  But, I can get the forms I need from www.irs.gov and they are now ‘fill-in forms’.  In years past I either needed to handwrite in the forms or find someone with an old typewriter.  Neither of those would be a feasible option living in a motorhome.  The fill-in forms are great.  I have to do the calculations manually, unlike with TurboTax, but at least I can make a change and just reprint the form.

I know lots of people who would not like the fact that their income tax return information is all ‘out there’ online, in TurboTax’s computers.  Well, they don’t have to use it.  Maybe I’m not paranoid enough.  I may sing a different tune if I ever get burned.  But, so far, so good.  There are risks of identity theft no matter what methods you use to transmit sensitive information.  From what I know, I truly believe that electronic transmission is just about the most secure method you can use.  It’s certainly the fastest and the most accurate.  I’ve already received confirmation that my return was received. 

I *almost* look forward to using TurboTax online for filing my taxes again next year!

Oh yeah - and I’m using the free WiFi provided in this park to get online.  It’s a good thing cuz there are too many trees to raise our dish.