[mobespierre]

i'm sure a million people have asked about this, but i searched through the forums enough already.....

fellow americans, did you do your own taxes or did you go to a tax preparer? i made a few enquiries, but man are places expensive around here!!! i started my own returns with turbo-tax, but i am sincerely doubting that i did it correctly, and would like someone who knows what they are doing to at least take a look. can anyone recommend someone and fast?

(btw i'm not a slacker- i just got my w-2s from former employers last week.... i never wait this long to do my taxes!)

[NickN]

We're using a tax preparer for ours. I tried to figure this out on my own, but it was too confusing..especially for last year which involved the sale of a home, moving overseas, and income in both the US and HK. I'll probably try to file on my own next year, taking what I'll have learned through this filing.

This is who we are using: http://www.yp.com.hk/swtfp/default.htm

He seems pretty good, responsive to my emails. Hard to say for sure, though, until it's all complete!

good luck!

[Jawni Hingh]

Originally Posted by mobespierre

i'm sure a million people have asked about this, but i searched through the forums enough already.....

fellow americans, did you do your own taxes or did you go to a tax preparer? i made a few enquiries, but man are places expensive around here!!! i started my own returns with turbo-tax, but i am sincerely doubting that i did it correctly, and would like someone who knows what they are doing to at least take a look. can anyone recommend someone and fast?

(btw i'm not a slacker- i just got my w-2s from former employers last week.... i never wait this long to do my taxes!)

I'm no tax expert and I did my taxes myself for the first time this year using TurboTax and it was extremely easy. I doubt you can screw up badly, given that the "wizard" walks you through everything step by step. Did you use the Deluxe version? In addition to just following directions and answering questions and inputting numbers, TurboTax incorporates a tax review (one is built in to go over simple inconsistencies, and for a fee, you can have a professional review it as part of the program). I'm definitely glad I saved the $200 or so that I've been paying professional CPAs to do my simple returns. You can definitely do it better than the monkeys do it at "tax shops" like H&R Block here, and I imagine it's the same locally in HK.

[mobespierre]

Originally Posted by Jawni Hingh

I'm no tax expert and I did my taxes myself for the first time this year using TurboTax and it was extremely easy. I doubt you can screw up badly, given that the "wizard" walks you through everything step by step. Did you use the Deluxe version? In addition to just following directions and answering questions and inputting numbers, TurboTax incorporates a tax review (one is built in to go over simple inconsistencies, and for a fee, you can have a professional review it as part of the program). I'm definitely glad I saved the $200 or so that I've been paying professional CPAs to do my simple returns. You can definitely do it better than the monkeys do it at "tax shops" like H&R Block here, and I imagine it's the same locally in HK.

hm i did turbotax and it gave me an insane return. i didn't file it out of extreme doubt. i have been communicating with a us tax consultant here who wants to charge me an arm and a leg and my first three unborn children to do these taxes... i'm inclined to say no, but i own a business here in HK, and the tax person said i have to do additional forms and stuff for that. eek! Nick (as in beth?) i think i may check your guy out......

thanks!!!

[shwetapershad]

NickN, what is fee that these people charge? We used PWC earlier through my husband's employing comapany. But this year we must file ourselves.

[NickN]

yep, mobespierre, this is beth's nick!

Our guy is charging HK$4500. Pricier than I would have liked, but worth the peace of mind of not having to do it myself!

[Dee Dee]

Did you guys know that there is a big change in tax that is affecting us (Expats)?

"If you claim the foreign earned income exclusion or the foreign housing exclusion Form 2555 or Form 2555-EZ, you must figure your tax using Foreign Earned Income Tax Worksheet found in the Instructions for Form 1040"

As a result of this, my tax payment is MUCH MUCH higher than last year! OUCH!

Does any of you know why there is such a change without any news ever talking about it? I was in the dark until I saw my bottom line.

[shwetapershad]

Hmm.....HK$4500 sounds not too bad as compared PWC's fee. You think these guys would do a last minute filing for us?

Also what is the deadline to file US taxes?

[NickN]

Originally Posted by shwetapershad

Hmm.....HK$4500 sounds not too bad as compared PWC's fee. You think these guys would do a last minute filing for us?

Also what is the deadline to file US taxes?

I think you'd be fine, provided you have your information in order. Actually, I seem to remember reading something that said US expats automatically have the deadline extended to June, but you'd want to confirm that.

[HKfornow]

Originally Posted by shwetapershad

Also what is the deadline to file US taxes?

deadline should be June 15th