It seems like scummy people work at H&R block and Jackson-Hewitt or Liberty. Giving up all that information to a scumbag, low end person like that seems really unwise.

That happens all the time. A CPA like me is the only way to go. Tax prep starts at just 375 dollars.

Sure everything is rigged against you. Get back down the stairs, and stay in the basement.

I'll bring you a snack in a little while.

When I qualified to file tax returns the IRS had an extensive clearance process for me to go through. However they did not ask one question about the people working for me. I have been in business for 20+ years. I am licensed and regulated by the state. I have insurance. So I have an incentive to try and hire trustworthy people. The same is not true for operations that close up at the end of tax season. If you are going to spend more for your tax preparation than the cost of a Turbotax program, shouldn't you spend enough to hire a competent professional?

I am pretty sure my identity was stolen that way. It turned out okay but it was a huge hassle that lasted over a year. I use turbo-tax now. You can't trust anyone for sure any more.
If your taxes are too complex for tax software it is well worth the extra expense to get a real accountant. If you are poor and don't have much to lose you are probably okay with one of these cheap tax places.

If you are broke or close to it one of these places like H&R Block is okay. If your net worth is more than a hundred grand you need a real, trusted accountant.

is just don't file. I have a hot dog cart, so everybody pays cash. You have to pay an "estimated tax" to DC, but they let vendors just estimate it and pay a flat fee.

I just don't file and don't pay. Nobody knows I exist, except DC, and they know I don't live there, so they don't care as long as I just pay the "estimated tax". IRS and VA don't even know I exist. Have PA DL, so even DMV doesn't know I exist. pay cash for rent. Pay cash for everything else. Owe nobody, pay nobody, get drunk even when I', selling hot dogs. I just pay this guy to come and pick up the cart every night and drive me home. He picks me up in the morning and drags my cart to the corner and I pay him cash. I sell hot dogs and get drunk all day, then go home and get more drunker, I'm drunk now.

What I do Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> is just don't file. I have a hot dog cart, so
> everybody pays cash. You have to pay an
> "estimated tax" to DC, but they let vendors just
> estimate it and pay a flat fee.
>
> I just don't file and don't pay. Nobody knows I
> exist, except DC, and they know I don't live
> there, so they don't care as long as I just pay
> the "estimated tax". IRS and VA don't even know I
> exist. Have PA DL, so even DMV doesn't know I
> exist. pay cash for rent. Pay cash for
> everything else. Owe nobody, pay nobody, get
> drunk even when I', selling hot dogs. I just pay
> this guy to come and pick up the cart every night
> and drive me home. He picks me up in the morning
> and drags my cart to the corner and I pay him
> cash. I sell hot dogs and get drunk all day, then
> go home and get more drunker, I'm drunk now.

That's our kind of Democrat!

Tax paying man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you are broke or close to it one of these
> places like H&R Block is okay. If your net worth
> is more than a hundred grand you need a real,
> trusted accountant.


That is damn good advice!

It depends much on the employees of each local H&R branch. If they come from a country/culture where stealing is common, it is best to avoid. The employees of the local branch reflect the local population. Read the user reviews of the local branch you are planning to use on Google, Yelp, etc. You can also get a gut sense of people behind the counter walking through the door, as they say you can get a very good sense of a person with just a 30 second interview. If its bad, walk out, and if polite (no explanation needed or can use lame excuse "Oh, I just remembered that I forgot to bring a critical document with me.") there is no law against changing your mind in such a situation on the spur of the moment.

Beware: Incompetent People work at the H&R block across The street From the FX Library.

The bottom line here.......

If you are poor (less than 10k in savings) one of the shitty tax places like Liberty H&R Jackson Hewitt is fine.

If you have some money like a couple hundred grand, use the tax software yourself.

If you are fairly wealthy and have multiple assets of say 1 to 2 million. Get up off 400 bucks and use a good Jewish CPA.

2 million and up, use a attorney who has CPA skills and pay what needs to be paid.

A small percentage of tax preparation people take the job solely to find a couple of victims to steal identities from. They usually prey on the elderly. Best bet is to use the software from block or turbo. Or hire a CPA.

Stealing identities by “tax preparers” is nothing new.
Larger Question is :
How long can you live without a paycheck?
No one’s gunna steal your identity when your ass cannot manage money.
#need another shutdown to weed out debtors

No, you are much more likely to have your soul stolen when you go to church. Steer clear of those places!