[nite a]

Guys, i am a first time home buyer and bought my first home last July, I have an escrow account and pays like around $380 per month for the taxes and stuff. So from 09 july until 09 Dec, i paid more than $1500 on property tax but couldnt file those on my taxes cuz the escrow was not applied to the county until feb 10. So i was wondering should I keep the escrow account or take care of the taxes myself. Should I eliminate the middle man collecting my interest and paying the tax according to his convenience and not mine? What am i gaining from it? I think I am responsible enough to deal the taxes myself.I have VA loan, so i herad i dont have a choice. that sucks