Despite the increasing popularity of do-it-yourself tax-return electronic software, such as the heavily advertised TurboTax and H&R Block's online TaxCut, local tax preparers say the personal touch still prevails.

"The majority of people do not do their own taxes," said Rich Blackburn, general manager for Liberty Tax Service in Centerville, which just opened. "Some people just don't want to mess with it."

Aware of the their convenience appeal, Liberty tax preparers plan to go to area employers and offer to do employees' taxes on-site during their workday, he said.

Despite do-it-yourself options, about 50 percent of filers use a tax professional to do their federal taxes, said Chris Kerns, media specialist for the IRS, whose office is in Cincinnati.

But last year was the first time more people — 51 percent — filed electronically. But those weren't first-timers firing up the TurboTax: Most of those were filed by professional preparers using Web sites like the one offered by the IRS, Kerns said.

Mitch Deis concedes competition from tax computer programs, but he's not so worried. He's seen the downside.

"They think because it's on a computer they can do it, but they still have to have knowledge of where things go," said Deis, owner of Deis and Associates, a 30-year-old father/daughter tax preparer agency in Huber Heights.

Case in point: A client filed his return using a computer program. But he made an error and had to return to Deis.

Blackburn, also, isn't worried. What is it they say about death and taxes?

"This is not an industry that sees itself tailing out in the future," Blackburn said.
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