Hi again, everyone, Update on the above info, offered by my friend the accountant whom I first met at the investment group about 5 years or more ago. The guy who retired last year, without a pension, and who now borrows at about 6% (interest deductible when used for investment) and puts it out to earn about 12% (much of current return at low tax rate, some of it deferred, to be taxed at low rate when withdrawn). He says that the amount of current income that that can be obtained free of tax is closer to $50,000.00. Same provisos as outlined above - with possibility of bumping up the amount that is received free of tax given some of the situations as mentioned. Sorry that the situation applies only to Canadian residents, folks. Good wishes to you and yours. ole joyful P.S. We had a visitor/new member at our investment group last week, who said that she felt rather at sea, among such skilled investors. We told her not to feel bad - that in the investment game, there are no stupid questions. That she should ask any of us to explain various terms or situations that were unfamiliar to her. Each of us learns as we go, a step at a time. Compensation usually increases commensurate with increased knowledge! o j

I'm going to add a little wisdom here based on my experience. I've been a tax preparer for 14 years, completed over 3500 returns, and taken more than 500 hours of training. I've had experience with various types of tax organizations. Deciding who to go to to prepare your taxes can be confusing. Let's change that! Here is an explanation of the differences of a CPA, tax preparer, and an EA -- and -- some information about how each of them work. I hope this will help you pick the one that best works for you! ~ An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a designation by the IRS that the individual has passed a knowledge exam on taxes that allows the EA to represent a taxpayer infront of the IRS. An Enrolled Agent may be a tax preparer or a CPA. Not all tax preparers or CPA's are Enrolled Agents. ~ A CPA is Certified Public Accountant. They received this designation by passing knowledge exams on numerous accounting areas. Many CPA's specialize in a specific area of accounting. If you go to a CPA make sure they specialize in taxes. Not all CPA's specialize in taxes or are Enrolled Agents. The CPA must be an Enrolled Agent to represent you infront of the IRS. ~ Tax preparers are trained to prepare taxes. Often they have a educational background or work in accounting but not necessarily. Their knowledge varies based on the number of years they have prepared taxes and educational courses they have taken. Tax preparers at H&R Block begin with a basic training course of 66 hours of class time plus additional hours for updates on new tax law changes and on-the-job training hours. Students of the basic training course must pass a final exam to qualify to work for H&R Block. Experienced H&R Block tax preparers are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of training each year plus additional hours for updates on new tax law changes. Many tax preparers at H&R Block and smaller tax prep firms are Enrolled Agents. ~ H&R Block charges are determined by the forms used and what is filled in on the form. If you require H&R Block to do bookkeeping (you know that brown bag of receipts) they will charge an additional hourly fee. ~ Most CPA's charge on an hourly basis. From my personal experience the cost of going to a CPA is about 2X the cost of going to H&R Block. Some local firms are even less but may not have an EA or year-around office to help if there is a problem. ~ If you go to H&R Block you will sit with a tax preparer as they prepare your return. The preparer will ask lots of questions, answer questions, and make suggestions for future tax savings. Unless there is a complex tax issue that needs to be researched or missing information, the preparer will complete your return while you are there and you can take it with you when you go. ~ If you go to a CPA they may have you sit with them as they prepare and complete your return -or- they may just have you leave the tax information and call you to pick-up the return when it is completed. ~ Many CPA's hire tax preparers such as myself (often current or former H&R Block preparers) to complete the return. The CPA reviews the completed return and signs it as the preparer and presents it to the client. This is very common in our area especially with larger accounting firms. ~ Tax laws are complex and change each year. I've amended returns prepared by individuals, H&R Block, other tax prep firms, and CPA's. Anyone preparing your return can make a mistake. ~ If you prepare your own taxes on-line be sure to print a copy for your records. The on-line programs are great for simple returns (such as those with just W2's and interest). ~ If you want to purchase tax software Turbo Tax and Tax Cut are the most popular. Be sure to print a copy of your return for your records. The software is a great choice for a return that is not complex and if you are willing to take the time to research items that you are not sure of. ~ If you choose to go to H&R Block or a smaller tax firm call and request an appointment with an experienced preparer and let them know you would like a preparer that will spend time reviewing and explaining your return in detail. They will schedule you with a preparer that meets your needs if they know when you call for an appointment. ~ To find a good CPA or tax preparer ask friends and family for recommendations. Ask them why they like their preparer and see if it matches what your looking for. If you find a someone you like then call next year to schedule an appointment specifically with that person. As for the original poster ... from her explanation they have a rather simple return. If she felt confident to do her own return she could go online and do it. It sounds as though she wants to learn but would like some help this year so going to a professional might be a good idea. Since the return seems to be rather simple I think an experienced tax preparer would be less expensive than a CPA. I'd suggest calling for an appointment in advance and requesting that the appointment be scheduled with an experienced tax preparer that will be willing to answer lots of questions.

I have used HR Block on line for years..Think it cost 30 dollars or so and its a hand holding simple walk you thru it, read carefully and fill in the blanks. Its free to do it until you go to file and that is when you pay. I dont even have to enter our basic information anymore..Its all saved..of course it gives you the chance to change anything that might need to be changed..ie when our daughter got married and we could no longer claim her. Give it a try!

I use tax software to do my taxes, but I also do 5 other people's taxes too (because they know I bought the software!!!!!). I, like fellow Canadian joyfulguy, took the time to learn how our income tax works. Doing it manually really gets you to learn. I scoured our government website, and actually reviewed as many help guides in the tax software i could. There are cheaper versions out there than the one I got, but once you buy one version, your kinda stuck with it each year, as it "remembers" stuff you put on last year and carries them forward for this year. I did get it done professionally once. I believe it is still a good idea to do that, just to reaffirm yourself that you are capturing all the deductions and claiming everything you are entitled to.