Taxes 2008 for Dummies

When I first bought this book, YEARS ago, and read it, I had written a review which the author found worthy of publication in the introductory remarks. Nothing has changed except the SIZE of the book. It has gotten larger...I still believe EVERY person in the United States, as part of a high-school curriculum, should be REQUIRED to read this book. You WILL understand the tax system, why you pay taxes, how much you should pay, and END the STUPID, RIDICULOUS comments about a "FLAT TAX" and television commercials about "getting a refund." If one understands the tax system, you learn you SHOULD NOT get a refund. You should NOT owe, either. You should PAY ONLY what you should pay--and understand WHY you owe and pay what you do. (How can a Presidential Candidate (Steve Forbes), who should be a financial genius, push a "flat tax"? Does he NOT understand, that the tax system is DESIGNED to give your employer a tax-benefit for your salary he/she pays you? A tax benefit for your health-insurance benefits you get? A FLAT TAX would destroy your employer's ability to GIVE you a job!) Yes, the tax system is complicated--but it is complicated for a REASON--and this book will help you understand why that is. It is complicated to HELP the tax-payer (although that seems at times counter-intuitive). I do not mind paying taxes--I just don't want the governmental agencies to WASTE my tax money! I like good roads; I like public parks and good schools. I'm proud of my state university (all paid with tax dollars)...I have purchased this book every year since it has been published. (A note to the authors: maybe a section, alone, that summarizes the changes from the prior year ONLY would be helpful...and be careful, it's getting too big--go back and look at the FIRST publication...that was IDEAL!) Recommended highly; there is NO substitute. Do NOT buy the tax books written by the accounting firms (unless you're a tax professional or an accountant; if you're just a good ol' fashioned American who wants to understand you 1040, then buy THIS book ONLY!)

I read the book from front to back. It was a lot of information. However, good stuff. You definitely can learn to do your own taxes on 1040EZ. The others are a bit more difficult, but doable; just need patience and some time to cross reference what you are doing depending on how complicated your tax situation. Although, doable even for complex tax stuff in myriad deductions and credits; I'd suggest doing it with a professional; then get those prepared tax papers then do a mock tax for yourself as a practice and see if your numbers came out correctly, if so, then do next years yourself.

I purchase this book every tax year. It is so helpful, full of easy to understand information, helpful tips and it is a great transalation of the IRS Tax Rules and the cartoons are good to. A good buy for anyone doing their own taxes.