If your taxes are complicated, you may need an accountant, lawyer or enrolled agent to make sure you comply with laws that get more complex every year. Here's how to find a good one.
Follow the rules, take advantage of free help, organize your records and know when you need a pro.
It's your name on the bottom line, so make sure you find someone who is ethical and competent.
Liability protection? Doubtful, and you'll get to spend more on your lawyer and accountant.
Anyone who makes up to $57,000 a year can use Free File. But you still might want to visit an accountant.
Add up deductions, credits for children, a few other credits and soon you're up to $79,000 in tax-free income.
New rules, which start next year, may help weed out the crooks.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
DATA PROVIDERS
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.
Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.
TOP STOCKS
Try as the bears might, they couldn't break U.S. stocks. But investors still face frothy prices and considerable headwinds.
MARKET DISPATCHES
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
FRUGAL COOL
Starting Monday, this site is joining forces with MSN Money Smart Spending. Here's why.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
SMART SPENDING
A new federal safety report shows toddlers and minority children make up a disproportionate number of drowning victims.
SMART TAXES
The IRS is struggling to combat identify thieves who file fraudulent tax returns in the names of older residents who don't need to file.
