tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993984.post-1141607025795947612006-03-05T19:06:00.000-05:002006-03-05T20:03:46.000-05:00I started doing my taxes on January 31st and only just finished them tonight (whew!). I had started by entering my data into TurboTax Online so I could assure myself I wouldn't owe. But after doing a <a href="http://clutter2cash.blogspot.com/2006/01/tax-filing-options-mini-roundup.html">price comparison of several tax filing services</a>, I chose a cheapie cheap mccheapster option to give it a whirl. Well, <a href="http://clutter2cash.blogspot.com/2006/02/esmarttax-review-dont-bother.html">eSmartTax left me high and dry</a> unable to serve up their own pages even in early February (and I absolutely hated their interface), so I chose to go the lazy route and finish what I had entered into TurboTax Deluxe.<br /><br />All I had left was to enter in all our non-cash donations to hopefully beef up my $500+ refund. I had no idea we had donated so much stuff in 2005! We made 8 donation trips last year and according to <a href="http://www.itsdeductibleonline.com/">ItsDeductible!</a> donated goods worth $1881 (we always used to undervalue goods, now I make sure to use ItsDeductible). <br /><br />Putting in the detail on our non-cash donations basically doubled my refund and I'm now <span style="font-weight: bold;">expecting a federal refund of a little over $1100</span>! I chose to e-file in hopes of getting that money via direct deposit very quickly. I entered my HSBCDirect account so it heads right into an interest bearing account, but I'll have to make a decision about whether to use it for the emergency fund or jump starting my 2006 Roth (you know how I love to get my Roth-O-Meter on).<br /><br />Oh! And right before I paid TurboTax, I found out that as a <a href="http://personal.fidelity.com/planning/tax/">Fidelity customer I could get $10 off the federal preparation fee</a>. So my total tax preparation costs were $34.90 total which wasn't too bad. (I had to log in via the Fidelity link a few times before the right price registered).<br /><br />Unfortunately I do owe state taxes but I won't have to pay that $297 until April. I know your heart bleeds for me ;)<br /><br /><br /><div class="tags">Tags:<ul><li><a href="http://del.icio.us/Clutter2Cash/Clutter2Cash+taxes" rel="tag">taxes</a></li> <li><a href="http://del.icio.us/Clutter2Cash/Clutter2Cash+saving" rel="tag">saving</a></li> </ul></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10993984-114160702579594761?l=clutter2cash.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099173870125319819noreply@blogger.com8