Filing My Taxes With The Pros- H&R Block
This post is sponsored by H&R Block but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
This year I celebrated my Five-Year Bloggiversary! I can’t believe how fast the time has gone and how much my little Internet home as grown. What started as a simple hobby has turned into my full-time job and one that I’m incredibly proud of. At a time where blogging was still a new career path, I went full force with this passion and haven't looked back.
One of the many things I love about being a blogger is that I can work from the comfort of my own home and be my own boss. Which also means I have to be extremely disciplined because no one is going to be behind me reminding me of deadlines or motivating me to put in the work. The most important advice I have for someone who is looking into working from home is to set up a home office for yourself and get organized!
I was guilty of working from my couch or if I was feeling lazy, my bed — both horrible choices for your posture and productivity. The moment I converted my spare room into my office, I saw that I was more focused and would get more work done. Feeling inspired is vital and if your space doesn't do that for you, then you need to change it up. Whether it's working from home or a coffee shop, find somewhere that can help boost your creativity.
When you view influencers or bloggers on Instagram, it sometimes can be deceiving how hard we work. Being a blogger means you're frequently a one-person show. You need to know about photography, social media, marketing, photo editing, public relations, website design, networking and many more aspects of running a business. It can be overwhelming at times but knowing that you built something from the ground up is a satisfying feeling.
Fortunately, when it comes to filing my taxes, I can leave that to the pros.
When I first started blogging, I didn't make any money. It wasn't until the second year that I received income from sponsored posts and collaborations. Bloggers are considered self-employed and when you have an LLC like me, taxes can get tricky. I knew I didn't know a single thing about filing taxes so using a tax professional made sense. When it comes to taxes, you don't want to make any mistakes or miss a deduction that could save you hundreds of dollars. This year, I chose to file with the experts in taxes: H&R Block. H&R Block makes filing taxes easy, helps you understand how the latest tax reform changes impact you and gives you the confidence your taxes are done right– no matter how complex they might be.
With H&R Block you have many choices on how to file your taxes. I chose to file in person because I like having the opportunity to talk to my tax professional face-to-face so I have that guidance and the peace of mind that my taxes are being filed correctly. Booking an appointment online was super easy and convenient. I scheduled an appointment the next day with Mrs. Pete, a wonderful lady from my local H&R Block office who is a tax expert familiar with the blogging world. Such a difference from when I filed my taxes three years ago. It took a long time to find someone who was somewhat familiar with blogging and even then, I didn't leave confident from that experience.
I loved that H&R Block allowed me to select my tax pro and made sure to take care of the ALL the heavy lifting – they even helped guide me on what to bring to my appointment with a tax prep checklist. Being organized assisted with securing all the documents I needed. Another tip when working for yourself- organization! It will make your business run more smoothly and filing your taxes a lot easier.
When I first met with Mrs. Pete I knew instantly she was the real deal. I was the second blogger she had helped that month, and she even told me that her little niece was looking into starting a blog. That made me feel great. Sometimes when I mention I'm a blogger, people don't take me seriously. Mrs. Pete not only valued my work but was impressed as well. Such a great feeling!
During my appointment, she explained the process in detail and helped me find every deduction. After going through everything, Mrs. Pete informed me that I had to pay less than what I was expecting! I think I screamed and cried tears of joy in her office. It's always a great feeling when you get money you didn’t expect.
Another great benefit from filing with H&R Block- you know the price of filing before you begin, so you’re not blindsided by an amount you’re not prepared for.
Overall, my experience with Mrs. Pete was the best tax filing experience I've ever had. From the ease of booking my appointment to filing with an expert who understood my business, I would highly recommend filing with H&R Block to anyone, whether you're self-employed or not.
