I've used TurboTax for years and have always printed out my return and mailed it in-- mainly because I've been concerned about sending my financial info through a third part. The concern is snooping, identity theft, etc.
Is this a realistic concern-- or some left over paranoia? Should I print/mail as usual-- or file electronically?
Mailing in a paper file probably requires more folks to read your return than one that was efiled. And since you cross your fingers and hope the seasonal data entry clerk gets everyhing right on your return, there is more chance of error with paper filed returns.
Well, it's a realistic concern. Whether you should do one or the other really depends on your personal comfort level. Despite what they say in the ads, there is no foolproof way to protect your identity. Previous years when I mailed my return I always use USPS certified mail.
Personally I just did efile this year, sent them my bank acct. number so they draw funds directly from my acct. I am not holding my breath, but certainly checking my acct. religiously.
And filing on paper has other possible hazards. For example, the daughter of one of my overseas clients got fed up with the line at the post office on October 15, and just dropped the return into the mail box. The IRS didn't get the return until many months later, after we filed a replacement return. Not having the certified mail receipt complicated things for sure. The return had to be paper-filed, because the taxpayer's wife did not have an ITIN (and they didn't want to get one for her due to living in a country with a history of snooping).
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