{"id":337,"date":"2025-02-07T16:45:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T16:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/?p=337"},"modified":"2025-02-07T16:45:23","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T16:45:23","slug":"why-your-military-tax-return-deserves-better-than-turbotax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/why-your-military-tax-return-deserves-better-than-turbotax\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Your Military Tax Return Deserves Better Than\u00a0TurboTax"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A call yesterday reminded me why I\u2019m passionate about my career as an Enrolled Agent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Navy service member reached out (fellow USNA Grad), overwhelmed with his new rental property and his wife\u2019s 1099 income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many, he started with TurboTax, but quickly realized he was in over his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what most tax software companies don\u2019t advertise: they\u2019re not built for military returns. Think about it\u200a\u2014\u200awhen was the last time TurboTax asked about:
 \u2022 BAH implications
 \u2022 PCS move deductions
 \u2022 Multiple state residency rules
 \u2022 Combat zone exclusions
 \u2022 Special rental property considerations for deployed service members<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Calculator vs. The Professional<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using tax software is like having a calculator for your math test. Sure, it can crunch numbers, but:
 \u2022 It won\u2019t tell you which numbers to input
 \u2022 It can\u2019t spot missed deductions
 \u2022 It doesn\u2019t understand military-specific rules
 \u2022 It won\u2019t defend you during an audit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of it this way: The IRS is the teacher grading your homework. When they find mistakes, they\u2019re coming after you, not the calculator you used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real Money Left on the Table<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my call yesterday, I pointed out several deductions this Navy member was missing:
 \u2022 Home Office Deduction
 \u2022 Home of Residence rules for military(recently updated for the better)
 \u2022 Certain Utilities and Phone Bills<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His response? \u201cHow do I sign up?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Needs Professional Tax Preparation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might need a pro if you:
 \u2713 Are active duty or retired military
 \u2713 Own rental property
 \u2713 Have 1099 income
 \u2713 Run a small business
 \u2713 Want peace of mind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Real Cost of DIY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The money you \u201csave\u201d using tax software often costs you more in:
 \u2022 Missed deductions
 \u2022 Incorrect calculations
 \u2022 Audit exposure
 \u2022 Time and stress<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready for Professional Tax Preparation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two easy ways to get started:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Visit <\/strong>https:\/\/militarytaxpro.com\/tax-prep-2025\/<\/strong><\/a> to sign up directly<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Schedule a consultation: <\/strong>Here<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What to Expect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Simple Onboarding
      \u00a0\u2022 Upload documents securely
      \u00a0\u2022 Complete brief questionnaire
      \u00a0\u2022 Schedule initial consultation(if wanted)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Expert Preparation
      \u00a0\u2022 Review all possible deductions
      \u00a0\u2022 Apply military-specific rules
      \u00a0\u2022 Maximize your refund
      \u00a0\u2022 Ensure compliance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Year-Round Support
      \u00a0\u2022 Access to tax planning
      \u00a0\u2022 Audit protection
      \u00a0\u2022 Question answering (I told my client, \u201ccall\/text anytime- I\u2019ll answer\u201d)
      \u00a0\u2022 Future tax strategy<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Don\u2019t let another year of deductions slip away. Whether you\u2019re stationed in San Diego or deployed overseas, we\u2019ve got your six when it comes to taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Remember: Tax season is stressful enough. Add military service, rental properties, or small business income, and it becomes even more complex. Let a professional handle it while you focus on what matters\u200a\u2014\u200aserving our country and taking care of your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Until Next Time,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Andrew \u201cUSNA Grad \u201819\u201d Samaniego, EA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Andrew Samaniego Tax Planning & Resolution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (619) 268\u20131084 | AndrewSamaniego.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      P.S.\u200a\u2014\u200aMilitary members receive special consideration and pricing. Thank you for your service.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      A call yesterday reminded me why I\u2019m passionate about my career as an Enrolled Agent.  A Navy service member reached out (fellow USNA Grad), overwhelmed with his new rental property and his wife\u2019s 1099 income.  Like many, he started with TurboTax, but quickly realized he was in over his head. Here\u2019s what most tax software […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-337","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=337"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":340,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337\/revisions\/340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewsamaniego.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}