what changes for next year?

Well if you're referring to the competency thing, tax preparers are going to have to take tests to be qualified to do your taxes.

By tax preparers, I assume you mean someone whom you pay, like a tax professional? If I do my own, they aren't going to require me to take test to do my own taxes, are they?

Um, so since I moved to Minnesota in November I am assuming that I need to fill out a return for both states. Is it that simple, or does it get lamer?

Yes you have to do a return for both states. You basically fill out a partial-year resident form for both states, assuming you have had a job since you moved to Minnesota. The one for Wisconsin isn't so bad, but I don't know about Minnesota. The one for New York sucks big time.

Wisconsin is going to Eff you dry. I moved from WI to MN at the end of Jan 2007/

No, they're just making it so other people have to in order to do your taxes. I assume there's an implied "they're accepting money" for doing it, so it's also the case that if your dad does your taxes, he's exempt, but maybe not. They're just making it like other industries where if you're going to take money to provide a service, you have to have shown you can actually provide said service competently (or very competently) .

Should I be getting $400 for Making Work Pay on my return? I'm using H&R Block online, and maybe it will make more sense by the time I get to the summary, but it's confusing me right now in the credits section.

Lame!!!!!!!!!!!!

First-Time Homebuyer Credit Form 5405
Important Filing Information
* Late tax law changes prevented the IRS from including this form in its 2009 e-file program. You must print and mail your return.
* The IRS expects to begin issuing refunds based on the homebuyer credit in late March.

I shouldn't be including 2009 real estate taxes that I paid in 2010, right?

Edit: Pretty sure that's right. And note to self, next year only put down the amount that I paid for myself, not the total bill.

I think you qualify for the $400 credit. They're making people paper file their returns who have that credit because they want to eliminate some of the fraud that's going on with it. Don't ask me how that'll changes things, that's just what they've decided to do. So, it'll take extra long to get your refund. Do not include your 2009 real estate taxes you paid in 2010 on your 2009 return. I think you're eluding to it, but you don't get to take the full deduction next year I'm assuming, since the seller gets to take the deduction of real estate taxes that showed up as a credit to you on the closing statement. So even though you wrote the check for the full amount, you don't get all the credit since you've been compensated for the seller's portion already. I may have just repeated myself there, which can't be good because it's too early in the season for me to be this burned out. Good times!

Fair Tax

They probably haven't printed all the new money yet

Is it just me or were there some pretty decent and new student credits this year on the federal level?

The American Opportunity Credit or whatever the crap it's called? Yea, it's alright.

Is that on top of the lifetime learning credit?

no instead of.

Hmm, I see the max amount is $500 higher than the LLC.

Yeah, the American opportunity credit was a lot higher. Plus you can't take the Lifetime after taking it so many years in a row.

Are you thinking of the Hope Credit? That's only for the first two years

I'm pretty sure you can deduct any sales tax paid on the purchase of a new car, and that it is deductible even on top of the standard deduction. First of all, am I correct about this? And, where do I claim that? I am HR Block Tax Return program, and I cannot find where to claim that.

edit: On second though, just consider this a public service announcement. Because literally, 2 seconds (really, about 2 seconds) after I posted the comment I found it one the very page I was just looking at in the program.

Yea the standard deduction this year isn't very standard. Sales tax, real estate taxes (up to $1000 I think) can all get added in addition to that.