TurboTax FTMFW
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From: Longmont, CO
Originally Posted by chrisjgiuliano,Feb 21 2008, 10:45 AM
TurboTax is the shit. It found me $4k in refunds that I never would have found. I know $4k is not a big refund, but I am 22 and fresh out of college at my first real job. This wonderful tax software also got me $1k back in California state refund.
If you don't mind sharing the information with us, would you check your Schedule A for us? At the bottom of the page is a line called "Total Itemized Deductions", it's number 29. If you don't have a Schedule A, then TurboTax simply used the standard deduction - and the software didn't "find" any refunds for you, you simply overpaid your taxes during the year, and would have come up with the same refund amount simply by spending ten minutes with a 1040EZ form.
Don't get me wrong, I like TurboTax, and have used it since 2000, but it cannot create money out of thin air.
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Elistan,
I think I overpaid during the year. I went home and looked at it some more last night and it's pretty apparent that I'm king Doosh and overpaid. I made the necessary adjustments to my withholdings this morning and hopefully this year will break even. I guess I was a little premature with my happiness yesterday. My girl seems to think that my prematureness is a recurring problem...
I think I overpaid during the year. I went home and looked at it some more last night and it's pretty apparent that I'm king Doosh and overpaid. I made the necessary adjustments to my withholdings this morning and hopefully this year will break even. I guess I was a little premature with my happiness yesterday. My girl seems to think that my prematureness is a recurring problem...
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From: Napa
The thing that might have really helped the OP is the software asked him about moving expenses which he says he had not thought about. Moving expenses are not an itemized deduction, so he gets them whether he itemized or not, so that could have generated a grand or more towards his refunds. For that one question, it was probably worth the price of the software, in this case.
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From: Longmont, CO
Indeed you're right, Morris - moving expenses go onto line 26 of the 1040 form, part of AGI calculation, and seperate from itemized/standard deductions. So if chrisjgiuliano had just dived into a 1040EZ, he would have paid tax on that money. Good catch. 
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From: Calgary
Originally Posted by JonBoy,Feb 22 2008, 08:24 AM
I had a similar situation. I moved to the USA for four months and worked, came back, went to school, changed homes, and also worked in Canada...all in one year. TurboTax handled it just fine for me.
For a move, remember that you can charge meals ($15 per meal, I think?) for weeks prior to and/or after the move to cover for your not having a house/residence set up to cook meals and such. That adds up - nearly $50 a day for 21 days. Take a look at the Revenue Services Canada bulletin on moving expenses - there are a few little nuggets in there that you can claim to boost your return.
For a move, remember that you can charge meals ($15 per meal, I think?) for weeks prior to and/or after the move to cover for your not having a house/residence set up to cook meals and such. That adds up - nearly $50 a day for 21 days. Take a look at the Revenue Services Canada bulletin on moving expenses - there are a few little nuggets in there that you can claim to boost your return.
I actually have a contract document in-hand stating that I am out here for a limited period as well. I suppose that means I COULD claim a huge amount of the money I spend on things while I'm here, but I don't want to do anything sneaky.
I'm going to check out the Revenue Canada site for that. I threw my receipts in a basket for the first 4 months I lived here so they're a mixed up mess that I need to sort out.
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