Are consumer tax preparation programs right for everyone?

Tax season officially opens January 28, 2019, so this is the time to think about preparing your taxes.  The answer to the above question depends on the complexity of your tax situation. If you have only W-2 income and claim the standard deduction, you can probably prepare your own tax return or the available programs would be fine.  However, if you claim deductions, have investment, rental or other income, or own your own business, I would suggest a professional tax preparer.  This past year congress made sweeping changes in the tax laws, renewing some tax helps for the taxpayer, ending some and making changes to others. As you can see, changes are constant and it is very difficult to keep up with them.  We have a full-time accountant on staff and we can efficiently and correctly prepare the simplest or most complex return for you at a fair price.