Trying to figure out if I need an accountant

[93LXHORSE]

I'm not any kind of a tycoon or anything, but I own a home and it is being used as a rental and I occasionally incur expenses - for instance I am going to be putting up a fence soon and maybe some tree trimming, etc..

I have a full time job that has put me in a tax bracket that's a bit higher than ever before, and I have another job I do contract work for and am going to get a 1099 at the end of the year.

So, I have questions like - can I establish a basis for my home being an investment / rental property such that expenses can be written off?

And, is it time to start itemizing ? And how / what do I itemize? I believe the rule is it's only beneficial to itemize if I can do better than my standard deduction with my total itemization...?

And, I will probably be getting married within a year's time....

If there is a way to help myself out taxwise based on any of the above circumstances?

[YALE]

You need an accountant.

[jefehbk]

Are you trying to itemize the cow skin rugs? If so a CPA is the way to go.

[Gasser64]

I'm sure slow99 will come in here and talk about how he's great at it

[YALE]

I'm sure slow99 will come in here and talk about how he's great at it

He's not an accountant.

[Broncojohnny]

I think if you are getting 1099'd then you need an accountant. You should be writing off every trip to the airport, every mile you drive and every meal you eat while on any of those jobs. And even a lot of that stuff while you aren't. Don't forget that if you are getting 1099'd then the fee that the CPA charges can also be written off.

[DON SVO]

Both of my parents are (were) CPAs. My mother did personal and SMB accounting. She had a gentleman come in for a consultation. After going over the previous returns (one triggered an audit) she priced him to amend previous returns and do his current EOY. He balked at the fee. she explained it to him pretty much as, "yes, I'm going to charge you $600 that you can write off as an expense, keep the IRS from giving you a colonoscopy and save you close to $8,500 over this mess your last accountant made."

Yes, Chris, get a fucking accountant LOL

[yellowstang]

if you think you need one, then you need one.

[BLAKE]

A good accountant more than pays for their services by finding deductions you wouldn't and keeping you out of federal pound-you-in-the-ass prison.

[Denny]

Well, I already see that svo and pattymelt are tagged, so I've got nothing more to add.

[Gasser64]

He's not an accountant.

Doesn't seem to stop him

[YALE]

Doesn't seem to stop him

Link to some of his accounting advice?

[Gasser64]

Link to some of his accounting advice?

Advice? Or just veiled bragging?

[YALE]

Advice? Or just veiled bragging?

I'll take either, provided it's relevant to his accounting skills.

[Denny]

LMAO! This ought to be good.

He's going to out that bean counter!