Greetings from Amoy! (Xiamen, China).
April 15 is looming again here in Amoy, China, but this time I did my U.S. federal and state taxes in less than 4 hours, compared to 3 days about 5 years ago--thanks to H&R Block--but though the program itself is great, the pricing is very tricky. Here's how to avoid paying double--by getting it at Amazon.
Last year, HR Block sent me a link for a special price--$34.95. I clicked it, did my taxes, and when I went to e-file my return, they charged me $49.95. I wasn't about to start over (as they well knew), so I just paid it. Then they wanted $19.95 for State filing, but I did it online for free (very easy, fast--if you live in Reedley, California and use CALFILE--see the end of the 2nd paragraph below).
This year, HR Block sent me a special price for the Home version (knowing I've always used Premium, because Home is not enough for my specific needs). The Premium this time was $80, but I found two links for $72 and $70--and then I thought--why not download the H&R Block program at Amazon? I get everything else there (a lifesaver for folks in China). Sure enough, on Amazon, the program was only $34.95, and it said it gave me 5 free Federal efiles (who needs 5?) and software for 1 state--or so it said.
The Federal went smoothly. I was done in 3 hours--much better than 3 days! But once I completed the one "free" State software, they demanded 19.95 to file it! That's like giving someone a free lunch but charging to eat it--or free unlimited parking, but then charging you not for parking but for leaving the lot. So I simply, like last year, filed the State for free California E-file online at CALFILE (https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/efile/allsoftware.shtml)
But tricky pricing notwithstanding (which seems the norm nowadays--everyone is selling snake oil), H&R Block's programs are fast and very straightforward.
IRS Currency Exchange Rates: If you live abroad and need to know the IRS conversion rate from. a foreign currency ( Chinese Yuan, Euros), to U.S. dollars, click the IRS site for their own IRS Yearly Average Currency Exchange Rates. I was happily surprised to learn that their rates were far more favorable than what I would have used. Saved me quite a bit.
And if in doubt, phone the IRS. I've spent hours on the phone from China talking to the reps, and they've always been helpful and patient--often themselves not knowing the answer to my convoluted questions, but searching until they found it.
Lastly--I complained about taxes to a Chinese colleague and his reply was, "Be thankful we earn enough to be taxed; many don't earn that much." Good point, especially given the way the economy is today.
Enjoy Amoy!
Dr. Bill
April 15 is looming again here in Amoy, China, but this time I did my U.S. federal and state taxes in less than 4 hours, compared to 3 days about 5 years ago--thanks to H&R Block--but though the program itself is great, the pricing is very tricky. Here's how to avoid paying double--by getting it at Amazon.
Last year, HR Block sent me a link for a special price--$34.95. I clicked it, did my taxes, and when I went to e-file my return, they charged me $49.95. I wasn't about to start over (as they well knew), so I just paid it. Then they wanted $19.95 for State filing, but I did it online for free (very easy, fast--if you live in Reedley, California and use CALFILE--see the end of the 2nd paragraph below).
This year, HR Block sent me a special price for the Home version (knowing I've always used Premium, because Home is not enough for my specific needs). The Premium this time was $80, but I found two links for $72 and $70--and then I thought--why not download the H&R Block program at Amazon? I get everything else there (a lifesaver for folks in China). Sure enough, on Amazon, the program was only $34.95, and it said it gave me 5 free Federal efiles (who needs 5?) and software for 1 state--or so it said.
The Federal went smoothly. I was done in 3 hours--much better than 3 days! But once I completed the one "free" State software, they demanded 19.95 to file it! That's like giving someone a free lunch but charging to eat it--or free unlimited parking, but then charging you not for parking but for leaving the lot. So I simply, like last year, filed the State for free California E-file online at CALFILE (https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/efile/allsoftware.shtml)
But tricky pricing notwithstanding (which seems the norm nowadays--everyone is selling snake oil), H&R Block's programs are fast and very straightforward.
IRS Currency Exchange Rates: If you live abroad and need to know the IRS conversion rate from. a foreign currency ( Chinese Yuan, Euros), to U.S. dollars, click the IRS site for their own IRS Yearly Average Currency Exchange Rates. I was happily surprised to learn that their rates were far more favorable than what I would have used. Saved me quite a bit.
And if in doubt, phone the IRS. I've spent hours on the phone from China talking to the reps, and they've always been helpful and patient--often themselves not knowing the answer to my convoluted questions, but searching until they found it.
Lastly--I complained about taxes to a Chinese colleague and his reply was, "Be thankful we earn enough to be taxed; many don't earn that much." Good point, especially given the way the economy is today.
Enjoy Amoy!
Dr. Bill
Bill's 2 eBooks on Amazon:
"Fujian Adventure"Bill Brown
Xiamen University
www.amoymagic.com
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