Overnight: 7"
Last 24hr: 14"
Last 48hr: 25"
Storm Total: 38"
BASE Total: 141"
YTD Total: 503"
Wow! Brighton has passed the 500" mark in total snowfall this year — and it's only early March! It's the season that keeps on giving, so make sure you don't miss out.
Current Brighton Season Pass holders have exclusive access to last year’s pre-season prices when they renew their pass online — but don’t wait, because these affordable rates go up March 11!
No-interest payment plans make it easy to renew your season pass and pay it off all summer long.
Roads are slick and 2-wheel drive cars are not permitted in the canyon. Please plan ahead to carpool in an approved 4X4 or all wheel drive vehicle (read 4x4 and chain requirements here).
Taking the ski bus reduces traffic and keeps you (and others) safe. Be smart out there!
By purchasing day tickets directly through our site, you will be receiving the lowest available single and multi day pricing available. Don’t sleep on these deals, inventory at specific discounts is limited!
Should I pay a tax professional word count: 750
to file my income taxes?
By Chris Hogan
Let’s be real. No one likes doing their taxes. There are so many rules that you may or may not be following correctly, even with the help of online software. If your financial situation is straightforward, filing your own taxes could be your best bet. But the truth is, most of us could benefit from having a tax professional provide their expertise.
Whether you’re a planner or a procrastinator, this article will help you decide if you should use a tax professional or file your taxes yourself. Don’t worry, I’m going to make this easy for you!
Do you need a tax professional?
You’ve heard me talk about the importance of getting professional help to build and protect your wealth. Now, I’m not just talking about working with a financial advisor. That’s one person you need on your side, but they’re not the only person. Another person you need to meet with is a tax professional.
People will ask me, “Hogan, how do I know if I need to work with a tax professional?” I get it. You want to save money where you can. There are some situations where you can probably file by yourself. For instance, if you’re a single filer with no dependents to claim and don’t want to itemize any deductions, you’re probably okay to file your taxes on your own.
Now, even if you could file on your own, you need to decide if you want to. Is it the best use of your time? Do you like crunching numbers? If not, you might want to use a tax pro to save yourself the time and headache that can come with self-filing.
You need a tax pro if…
In some circumstances, you absolutely need to work with a tax pro. Do any of these apply to you?
If you’re still not sure, I would encourage you to work with a tax pro. When it comes to the IRS, it’s better to play it safe now than regret something later!
Don’t believe the myths you’ve heard
Some people may think they’ll be better off using software than working with a tax pro. That’s likely because they’ve bought into one or more of the tax myths out there. Maybe you’re familiar with these myths, or even believed them yourself.
Myth #1: A tax pro costs too much money
The cost of working with a professional to file your taxes can vary widely, depending on how complex your finances are. On average, fees range from $176 to $457. The higher costs are for those who have extra forms, like if you have rental property or state income taxes. Before you decide to file on your own, listen up: A recent survey of 2,000 Dave Ramsey Facebook fans found that people who worked with a tax expert got an average of $791 more in their refunds than those who self-filed.
Myth #2: If I use tax software, my results will be 100% accurate
I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen my computer software do some wacky things. Call it user error if you want, but computers and software aren’t perfect. No, a human tax pro isn’t perfect, either. But the good ones will back up their work with some kind of guarantee. And, you can ask a tax pro questions that are specific to your situation. Try doing that with software.
Myth #3: It will be faster to do it myself
The American Action Forum estimates that taxpayers spend an average of 17 hours doing paperwork and preparing to file their taxes. Seriously, you need to ask yourself if filing your own taxes is worth the time and effort. Yes, you’ll still need to gather receipts and other paperwork if you meet with a tax pro. But if you keep up with that paperwork during the year, it shouldn’t take that much time to get things in order. Certainly not 17 hours…
Think about it this way: If a tax pro finds even one deduction, it was probably worth the cost. Not only that, but the fee you pay them may be deductible on next year’s tax return!
* Chris Hogan is a #1 national best-selling author, dynamic speaker and host of The Chris Hogan Show. For more than a decade, Hogan has served at Ramsey Solutions, equipping and challenging people to take control of their money and reach their financial goals. His second book, Everyday Millionaire: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth — And How You Can Too, was released in January. You can follow Chris Hogan on Twitter and Instagram at@ChrisHogan360 and online at chrishogan360.com or facebook.com/chrishogan360
