FreeTaxUSA(freetaxusa.com)
freetaxusa.com
FreeTaxUSA
https://www.freetaxusa.com/
121 comments
I had a similar experience! At first I thought freetaxusa was too good to be true so I filled out TurboTax as well. When I finished, my freetaxusa refund was larger! Like you, I had made a mistake when using TurboTax.
Can you explain the mistake that turbox tax makes? I'm wondering if I did mine wrong too
On form 1040, under “IRA distributions - taxable amount” (box 4b), TurboTax filled in the amount of my IRA conversion. It should have been left blank.
This caused my taxable income to be increased by the amount of the conversion. Not good. My biggest mistake was not being more diligent about looking over form 1040. I feel like it should have been a pretty obvious error.
This caused my taxable income to be increased by the amount of the conversion. Not good. My biggest mistake was not being more diligent about looking over form 1040. I feel like it should have been a pretty obvious error.
I despise that “minor clerical error in massively complex tax system with multiple forms causes significant money losing tax implications for your average end user” is even a thing in the first place.
The IRS has actually caught some that I've made, the only time they've ever complained to me has been to send me a larger check. First they send you a scary looking notice that they detected a discrepancy, and you have to agree, but each time it was an error that when fixed improved my refund.
I mean, I obviously agree that the complication in the US tax system is crazy, and also think that every country should do what the UK does in allowing PAYE income taxation (Pay As You Earn - most people in standard jobs have their company take the correct amount of tax from each salary payment and pass it direct to the government, the employee then doesn't even have to file taxes at the end of the year unless they have special circumstances).
But in this specific case of "minor error [...] leads to significant money losing tax implications" - it is really an error that would be possible in absolutely any "fill in your tax info situation", since the mistake they made was writing the wrong number into a "taxable income" field. That mistake can still be made even in a country whose tax system is as simple as "everyone pays X% of their income as tax, and fills in a one-field form where the only question is "what was your income for the year?". (But yeah, a simpler system would mean less opportunity for making simple mistakes, and easier to check if any have been made, for sure.)
But in this specific case of "minor error [...] leads to significant money losing tax implications" - it is really an error that would be possible in absolutely any "fill in your tax info situation", since the mistake they made was writing the wrong number into a "taxable income" field. That mistake can still be made even in a country whose tax system is as simple as "everyone pays X% of their income as tax, and fills in a one-field form where the only question is "what was your income for the year?". (But yeah, a simpler system would mean less opportunity for making simple mistakes, and easier to check if any have been made, for sure.)
I think you just made the point for me, if you have a system like PAYE there’s no room for minor clerical errors for the vast majority of people since there is no opportunity to even make the clerical error in the first place. You just look at the taxes and verify they are right and off to the races. This is how most civilized nations work, except the USA
This mistake was a consequence of the complicated tax system. It involved a complex maneuver (the backdoor Roth) that TurboTax supports but has a bad UX for. Presumably a less complicated tax system would eliminate these kinds of complex maneuvers
I wouldn’t be surprised if I made the same mistakes :S Been so far always using TurboTax, and I distinctly remember the backdoor Roth IRA gave me so much headache.
I find I have to do my taxes with turbo tax twice just to make sure I get it right and inevitably there is a problem the first time.
I used to use TurboTax Free Edition, constantly frustrated with all the dark patterns used to try to trick you into switching to non-free. Eventually I started making too much to use Free Edition, which is right around the time Credit Karma started offering free tax filing, but I hated CK's UI/UX. It made it easy to miss a deduction, and it did once. I used TT to basically "prepare" my taxes, but not actually file so I don't get charged, then prepared with CK and found a discrepancy. I was able to find and fix it and get my full refund.
But then some years ago, someone recommended FreeTaxUSA, and it's great. UI/UX is fine, federal filing is free, and state filing is only $15.
I've been using FreeTaxUSA for a few years now. 10/10 would recommend.
But then some years ago, someone recommended FreeTaxUSA, and it's great. UI/UX is fine, federal filing is free, and state filing is only $15.
I've been using FreeTaxUSA for a few years now. 10/10 would recommend.
California let's you file state taxes for free through the state:
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/inde...
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/inde...
Yeah, but for almost everyone on this forum who makes enough to even file taxes, the time that would be spent re-entering everything is probably more valuable than the $15 charge.
>Yeah, but for almost everyone on this forum who makes enough to even file taxes...
That number is $12,950, FWIW.
That number is $12,950, FWIW.
There are some limitations so those with higher incomes or more complex tax situations are unable to use this option: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/calf...
> Credit Karma started offering free tax filing
This seems much like an "illusion of choice" situation. Credit Karma and Turbo Tax are both owned by Intuit. (Not that you were fooled by the illusion, just that it stuck out to me.)
This seems much like an "illusion of choice" situation. Credit Karma and Turbo Tax are both owned by Intuit. (Not that you were fooled by the illusion, just that it stuck out to me.)
Credit Karma had to sell their tax filing offering to complete the sale, so Intuit doesn't own it: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN285275/
Credit Karma spun their tax service off to Cash App. So Intuit doesn't own both.
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These guys are the punchline of the joke that is the 'Intuit lobbies the federal government to make taxes hard' narrative. Free for most people, super cheap for everyone else, and the process is a breeze. It is a direct improvement on all axes compared to mainstream tax software for like 95% of the population.
It's not just a narrative, it was a discrete reality for years and years. Intuit stopped actively lobbying the federal government relatively recently. They did this for a few reasons, not just the smoke and bad PR it was getting them, but also because you can't grow a market that you have essentially captured.
Source: my company got acquired by intu and their new CEO was very and frequently open about their past bad behavior and how it was no longer relevant in today's market.
Source: my company got acquired by intu and their new CEO was very and frequently open about their past bad behavior and how it was no longer relevant in today's market.
> CEO was very and frequently open about their past bad behavior and how it was no longer relevant in today's market.
Sounds like:
Not “open about how the past bad behavior was bad and regretted and not how business should proceed going forwards.”
But “open about how bad behavior was useful until it succeeded utterly and thus other bad behavior could be useful in future and would be welcomed.”
Sounds like the Intuit we all know!
Sounds like:
Not “open about how the past bad behavior was bad and regretted and not how business should proceed going forwards.”
But “open about how bad behavior was useful until it succeeded utterly and thus other bad behavior could be useful in future and would be welcomed.”
Sounds like the Intuit we all know!
That is the subtext, yup. They bought us at the height of the pandemic, and I did not leave for another year or so (due to societal instability). They seemed fine to work for but the writing was on the wall.
so they're going to just allow their captured market to evaporate and disappear because it can't grow anymore?
That makes so little sense to me
That makes so little sense to me
I didn't say that. And they're not doing that.
What I said was that they stopped lobbying congress and that the market can't be grown.
I said nothing about letting it "evaporate and disappear".
What I said was that they stopped lobbying congress and that the market can't be grown.
I said nothing about letting it "evaporate and disappear".
Allowing the creation of a federal site to do free tax returns seems like it can only lead to the evaporation of their current customers. Who would pay them $150+ when you can just go to irs.gov/taxreturn (or whatever it is) and do it for free?
The lobbying was the only thing preventing that, so the stopping of lobbying seems like it is entirely giving up on the market.
The lobbying was the only thing preventing that, so the stopping of lobbying seems like it is entirely giving up on the market.
> Allowing the creation of a federal site to do free tax returns seems like it can only lead to the evaporation of their current customers. Who would pay them $150+ when you can just go to irs.gov/taxreturn (or whatever it is) and do it for free?
Again, you keep saying "allow", like they have a choice. They kinda don't. Congress got really pissed at them as did the public.
> The lobbying was the only thing preventing that, so the stopping of lobbying seems like it is entirely giving up on the market.
Honestly, I would say it's not the only thing preventing it. And they're not giving up on the market.
Again, you keep saying "allow", like they have a choice. They kinda don't. Congress got really pissed at them as did the public.
> The lobbying was the only thing preventing that, so the stopping of lobbying seems like it is entirely giving up on the market.
Honestly, I would say it's not the only thing preventing it. And they're not giving up on the market.
This provides exactly the same service as every $150+ overpriced tax filing product you've ever paid (ie been scammed) for. Highly recommend. Hopefully the new IRS software will make even this obsolete.
I am not sure how to evaluate security of my data across Saas tax web apps, but I am warier of smaller scrapier players on that front having worked at startups.
Their website is not reassuring to a web/database developer like myself who is aware of some of the loopholes, threats (insiders, developers) and protection options (separating db admin from masking admin, etc). They do/claim the very basics and that's about it.
I do appreciate their claim to not resell access to mydata at all. I have no confidence with Intuit when I have repeatedly evaluated their language/claims on that topic.
Their website is not reassuring to a web/database developer like myself who is aware of some of the loopholes, threats (insiders, developers) and protection options (separating db admin from masking admin, etc). They do/claim the very basics and that's about it.
I do appreciate their claim to not resell access to mydata at all. I have no confidence with Intuit when I have repeatedly evaluated their language/claims on that topic.
Can you put in your logins for all your brokerages and investment accounts and it pulls in the tax data automatically? This is hugely important for me since I make a bunch of trades (not enough to be a day trader, but enough to be annoying for tax purposes).
No, but you can enter a few numbers off your 1099-B and mail your trade history to the IRS. It took me about 30 minutes to enter a W-2, a few 1099-INTs, and 3 brokerage statements (plus 1099-DIV, futures, and 1256 contracts).
Super simple and quick.
Super simple and quick.
That’s too complicated and not immediate enough. Manual entering? Printing out and making a packet of trade histories for all my accounts, figuring out what address to send it to, manually going to the post office, waiting for confirmation of receipt weeks down the line, extra scrutiny because an agent has to manually review your paper copies etc. Yeah no thanks, that’s the opposite of super quick and simple. Super quick and simple is entering a couple of logins and clicking next and being done with federal and state taxes in 10 mins.
This is why you can’t take reviews of contentious software at face value. People are so sick of TurboTax (I am too) and their lobbying shenanigans that they will give glowing reviews to deficient competitors.
This is why you can’t take reviews of contentious software at face value. People are so sick of TurboTax (I am too) and their lobbying shenanigans that they will give glowing reviews to deficient competitors.
Ok, you can go pay TurboTax $200 or whatever then. You have to enter in like 3 numbers, total $ bot/total $ sold/$ of wash trades.
I’ll spend 30 minutes, $15 dollars, and my office’s mailroom to send one single 9x13 envelope once a year. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
I’ll spend 30 minutes, $15 dollars, and my office’s mailroom to send one single 9x13 envelope once a year. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
Yeah, that $150 is totally worth it for me because until the free software automatically integrates with external portals, TT is actually providing a valued service.
You don't have to submit a printout of every single trade... just totals. Like the parent said, it's like 3-4 boxes you fill out/copy-paste from your exchange paperwork.
You do need to be able to provide substantiated figures if you are audited. Which is easy, you print out the paperwork from your exchange...
Not exactly worth paying for that convenience. You can still eFile too.
You do need to be able to provide substantiated figures if you are audited. Which is easy, you print out the paperwork from your exchange...
Not exactly worth paying for that convenience. You can still eFile too.
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I am a (fairly) close relative of an employee and a happy user.
Feel free to ask me questions, and I'll pass them onto her!
Also, FreeTaxUSA is not only great for users, but they are fantastic to employees. My relative got to go on a cruise this summer, and she claims their pay has more than kept up with inflation.
Feel free to ask me questions, and I'll pass them onto her!
Also, FreeTaxUSA is not only great for users, but they are fantastic to employees. My relative got to go on a cruise this summer, and she claims their pay has more than kept up with inflation.
No question, but can you tell them thanks?
I used TT for years and even as a student it was always a hassle and difficult to just use the free service without ending up on a screen that made me pay or redo everything.
Edit: actually, a question. Can we add better 2FA? I know it is a once a year thing, but I'd prefer something better than email or phone number.
I used TT for years and even as a student it was always a hassle and difficult to just use the free service without ending up on a screen that made me pay or redo everything.
Edit: actually, a question. Can we add better 2FA? I know it is a once a year thing, but I'd prefer something better than email or phone number.
She says they have an Authenticator option now, which makes me happy because I've been asking for it too!
And I've passed on the thanks!
And I've passed on the thanks!
2 things.
It might be too late to change the name, but the name is misleading. As cheap as it is, it is not completely free. I understand needing to make money, but the first thought I had when I saw that it was not in fact free, was, what else are they misleading about.
Please please please support expats. I've never lived in the US, and although I don't technically pay taxes, filling is so expensive that that in of itself is a tax for me.
It might be too late to change the name, but the name is misleading. As cheap as it is, it is not completely free. I understand needing to make money, but the first thought I had when I saw that it was not in fact free, was, what else are they misleading about.
Please please please support expats. I've never lived in the US, and although I don't technically pay taxes, filling is so expensive that that in of itself is a tax for me.
My relative and I have asked about a name change. They can't see the problem. :( Their marketing is so bad.
I have asked about expats before (I thought about living abroad). She says it is on the roadmap, but it isn't very lucrative, so it is low priority. They do implement new stuff every year, but they only have so much time to fo so.
I have asked about expats before (I thought about living abroad). She says it is on the roadmap, but it isn't very lucrative, so it is low priority. They do implement new stuff every year, but they only have so much time to fo so.
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Any plans to support receiving refunds as Paper I-Bonds? i.e. Form 8888 ( https://www.irs.gov/refunds/using-your-income-tax-refund-to-... )
My relative says that they do support Form 8888. Must be new this year if so.
I barely know anything about taxes but I've heard restructuring an LLC into an S corp can help specific tax situations but you have to have a firm handle it so you can pay out taxes every month instead of only once a year. Is that something FTU can do?
She says they don't handle paying out taxes, just the taxes from receiving contributions. Sorry.
You can see more detail here: https://www.freetaxusa.com/self-employed .
For my part, I have an LLC that is not an S Corp. The reason is that you have to pay yourself a wage, and programmer wages are R&D. I think the rules were changed recently such that R&D can't be fully expensed.
But talk to a professional.
You can see more detail here: https://www.freetaxusa.com/self-employed .
For my part, I have an LLC that is not an S Corp. The reason is that you have to pay yourself a wage, and programmer wages are R&D. I think the rules were changed recently such that R&D can't be fully expensed.
But talk to a professional.
Ah good point about the recent R&D tax mess, I heard about that. Thanks for the info!
i'm curious: the first time i heard the name FreeTaxUSA.com i thought "it must be a scam", slightly because of the name, until someone else i trust mentioned it and said they used it and i finally looked into it
is this rare/uncommon/common?
is this rare/uncommon/common?
It is common, and my relative does not like it either.
If they have a weakness, it is their marketing. It's uniquely incompetent.
If they have a weakness, it is their marketing. It's uniquely incompetent.
I wish they shared more info about what the deluxe version includes. I have a small business with very simple operations, but that often precludes me from using other tax filing software. They don't seem to have any info on whether they cover that in any of their versions.
They have that info right here: https://www.freetaxusa.com/deluxe
And they specifically state small business support here: https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing
And they specifically state small business support here: https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing
Deluxe just adds more support features.
As far as filing and forms, FreeTaxUSA supports EVERYTHING for federal taxes, for free. The $8 deluxe upgrade just gives you live chat and priority support. Pro gives you personal phone support to a tax pro.
As far as filing and forms, FreeTaxUSA supports EVERYTHING for federal taxes, for free. The $8 deluxe upgrade just gives you live chat and priority support. Pro gives you personal phone support to a tax pro.
Not quite everything, there's a (short) list of unsupported forms here: https://www.freetaxusa.com/forms-federal
I found this out one year because they don't fully support Form 8283, which I needed in order to handle a deduction of a cryptocurrency donation to charity.
But apart from that, they've been great. And your main point is correct in that they don't upcharge for any of their supported forms.
I found this out one year because they don't fully support Form 8283, which I needed in order to handle a deduction of a cryptocurrency donation to charity.
But apart from that, they've been great. And your main point is correct in that they don't upcharge for any of their supported forms.
As far as I understand it the deluxe version is basically the “the online help isn’t answering my question and I want to talk to a real person” / “I may need to file amended returns” option. But none of the actual filing functionality is locked behind it. I know none of the simple 1099 self sole proprietor stuff needed deluxe in previous years.
Deluxe gets you live chat if you need it. Pro gives you phone support. That's basically it.
The free version gives you everything else. For small/individual biz, you can file Schedule C, K-1, etc with free version.
The free version gives you everything else. For small/individual biz, you can file Schedule C, K-1, etc with free version.
Used FreeTaxUSA for the first time last year and the 1099-B related stuff was even easier than TurboTax. I saved about $120 as well. So glad to be done with TurboTax
Been using them for 3 years now with moderately complex taxes (1099 of many kinds, rental property, pass-through LLC) and I’ve been pretty happy.
Honest question: Why don't more people (especially high earners) go with a CPA firm to take care of their taxes? With the amount of money involved, and the potential legal trouble for getting it wrong, the cost/benefit calculation seems to strongly favor hiring a professional to guide you.
CPAs aren't cheap, and most people's tax situations really aren't that complicated. Even for high earners with lots of investments, it mostly comes down to collecting a bunch of forms and either doing manual data entry or sending the forms to the CPA to do a bunch of data entry. It's not particularly clear that the CPA's work will be more accurate.
In a situation where there's some complex tax issue, absolutely, go with the professional, but for most people, the CPA is mainly there to provide peace of mind.
Also, if you make a good faith effort to pay your taxes correctly, the potential legal trouble for getting it wrong is pretty minimal. You'll need to pay the correct amount plus interest and penalties, but "interest and penalties" are pretty light (effectively 14% simple interest on the amount of the underpayment). And since the IRS doesn't usually take more than a couple of months to say, "hey, you screwed up," interest and penalties usually add up to like 3% of your underpayment.
In a situation where there's some complex tax issue, absolutely, go with the professional, but for most people, the CPA is mainly there to provide peace of mind.
Also, if you make a good faith effort to pay your taxes correctly, the potential legal trouble for getting it wrong is pretty minimal. You'll need to pay the correct amount plus interest and penalties, but "interest and penalties" are pretty light (effectively 14% simple interest on the amount of the underpayment). And since the IRS doesn't usually take more than a couple of months to say, "hey, you screwed up," interest and penalties usually add up to like 3% of your underpayment.
I went to a tax preparer once in my life. All she did was read the questions from the "Turbo Tax for Professional Tax Preparers" software on her computer. Whenever there was a subject that I wasn't clear about, her "help" was to simply tell me option A and option B and ask me what I wanted to do.
Worst $500 spent in my life.
Worst $500 spent in my life.
Important distinction that a tax preparer != a CPA.
Yeah, I know. That's why I specifically said a preparer and not CPA despite the thread topic.
I just searched the site of the person I used (it's a private family company, not one of those cubicles set up in Walmart) and there's no mention of "CPA" anywhere on their site.
I just searched the site of the person I used (it's a private family company, not one of those cubicles set up in Walmart) and there's no mention of "CPA" anywhere on their site.
I was happily paying a CPA to do my taxes for maybe 6-7 years. He charged me something like $400/yr, which I thought was very reasonable.
He decided it was time to retire, recommended another accounting firm in my area, and they charged me $750, and all it was was an Intuit frontend where I had to fill everything out myself. I did that one year, then I switched to FreeTaxUSA and was super happy with it.
I probably would go back to an individual CPA if I could find one like the guy I had, but I've been burned by the first CPA and this most recent one. 1/3 isn't a good prior.
He decided it was time to retire, recommended another accounting firm in my area, and they charged me $750, and all it was was an Intuit frontend where I had to fill everything out myself. I did that one year, then I switched to FreeTaxUSA and was super happy with it.
I probably would go back to an individual CPA if I could find one like the guy I had, but I've been burned by the first CPA and this most recent one. 1/3 isn't a good prior.
Having used four different CPAs in the past to file taxes, I spent far more money to spend about the same time working on it. I was audited three times, have never been audited since using FTU.
If you only have W-2 or 1099 income, taxes are relatively easy if you are comfortable reading forms. It might take 2 hours the first year, but after that it should be a breeze.
For federal income tax, there is also this spreadsheet that is very handy:
https://sites.google.com/view/incometaxspreadsheet/home
For federal income tax, there is also this spreadsheet that is very handy:
https://sites.google.com/view/incometaxspreadsheet/home
If you're in a typical situation (salary, investments), doing your own taxes isn't particularly hard. If you're a freelancer or business owner or you have a lot of weird sources of income, sure, paying an accountant is probably worth it.
It's unlikely the CPA provides any additional liability protection as usually it all flows back to you as being responsible.
If it makes you feel better you can use a CPA once, and then mimic what they did in the years later. The best service they can do is recommend things that may minimize tax or reduce complexity. Note that minimizing tax may not be the best goal, however, especially with investments.
Or you can pay a CPA to do your taxes to feel like a "big boy".
If it makes you feel better you can use a CPA once, and then mimic what they did in the years later. The best service they can do is recommend things that may minimize tax or reduce complexity. Note that minimizing tax may not be the best goal, however, especially with investments.
Or you can pay a CPA to do your taxes to feel like a "big boy".
I think the main reason is that most people have very straightforward tax situations, regardless of the amount of money involved. A high earner at a W2 job doesn't necessarily have anything more to report than someone working at a fast food restaurant. The tax brackets are higher but it's really all the same.
Different story if you're self-employed, own a business, or are involved in various types of investments.
Different story if you're self-employed, own a business, or are involved in various types of investments.
The legal trouble for getting it wrong is only if you don't pay what you owe after the IRS sends a correction. Most high income people are sufficiently liquid that this isn't an issue. It's only an issue if you are heavily leveraged and micromanaging cash flow, in which case any large unplanned cost is potentially ruinous.
I contacted a real live accountant a few years ago and was not impressed. I needed help implementing nanny tax for the first time. I wanted a one stop shop that would reduce it to just signatures for me. Instead it was more work than doing it myself and I wasn’t confident in the end result.
For me, I don't always go with a CPA because I've had bad experiences where they've made mistakes or didn't know about some basic things and I still ended up doing a lot of work to gather and pass along the information.
Because single/join income W2s with some retirement accounts, other investments here or there, a mortgage interest deduction and some charitable donations is still low complexity. Bigger number on your W2 is still just a W2.
You have to verify their work.
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Cash app let's you file both federal and state taxes for free. It was formally Credit Karma's free tax filing program that was divested after they were acquired by Intuit.
State is $14.99 but each year I find a coupon online for a couple dollars off. Using them for years almost no complaints except for a couple UI tweaks that are relatively minor. Great interface overall.
Does this allow folks who are out of the country use it?
For whatever reason, most US tax filing systems refuse to allow non-American addresses.
For whatever reason, most US tax filing systems refuse to allow non-American addresses.
A great company. I've used them for years for my self employment taxes. My kids all use them.
FreeTax is the Kagi of tax prep.
FreeTax is the Kagi of tax prep.
It's CPS time again. Related:
IRS to begin trial of its own free tax-filing system - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38892044 - Jan 2024 (323 comments)
13 States join the IRS direct-file test after tax prep firms dropped the ball - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37937894 - Oct 2023 (189 comments)
Free IRS-run tax filing pilot to be available in 13 states - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37920633 - Oct 2023 (329 comments)
GOTO https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37921113
IRS to begin trial of its own free tax-filing system - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38892044 - Jan 2024 (323 comments)
13 States join the IRS direct-file test after tax prep firms dropped the ball - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37937894 - Oct 2023 (189 comments)
Free IRS-run tax filing pilot to be available in 13 states - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37920633 - Oct 2023 (329 comments)
GOTO https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37921113
I've used turbotax for the last decade.
They lure you in with free services for enlisted military or other discounts, then make it feel as annoying as possible to switch.
Realizing how much I've been ripped off now I think this is the year I'm finally going to switch.
Realizing how much I've been ripped off now I think this is the year I'm finally going to switch.
Not just that you're ripped off, but they heavily lobby to keep taxes as frustrating as possible so their existence isn't irrelevant. I hate hearing about late stage capitalism, but this is essentially that.
The increase of the standard deduction has eliminated the real "need" for TurboTax for so many people that may not even realize it.
Many, many people no longer need to claim the mortgage deduction and so no longer need to itemize.
Many, many people no longer need to claim the mortgage deduction and so no longer need to itemize.
I used to love FreeTaxUSA, but switched because of integrations, specifically Robinhood and such. Does anyone know if they've made that integration or otherwise easier to import said data in the last few years?
The dirty secret is you don't really need the imported data, only the "results" - especially if the detail was provided to the IRS directly.
Best way to file taxes. I'll usually do this and one or two of the more expensive services just to make sure my numbers line up, and then file with FreeTaxUSA.
I did that my first two years - H&R Block for me. The numbers came out identical.
Does anyone have a comparison between this and turbotax?
I know there are some ethical issues w/ turbotax but the price relative to
peace of mind is not that big of an issue and the guide-through UI does provide a lot of time savings relative to say filling out the raw forms.
e.g. part of me believes that due to the lobbying etc, returns that come through turbotax have a lower rate of auditing or sth.
e.g. part of me believes that due to the lobbying etc, returns that come through turbotax have a lower rate of auditing or sth.
You can run your taxes in both (or redo last year's in FTU) and compare.
I think the wording on some of the questions it asks you are slightly different, so it may get a bit of a different answer on some things. Would have to compare to the IRS documents itself to see which is "right".
I think the wording on some of the questions it asks you are slightly different, so it may get a bit of a different answer on some things. Would have to compare to the IRS documents itself to see which is "right".
great and cheap product, I remember using this when I realized I was paying so much for H&R. I don't remember the exact amount but I remember being shocked at seeing how cheap it was (low 2 digits if I recall). pretty easy to use as well. highly recommend for anyone who has just a couple of w2s and maybe a trading account or two.
Weird, it wasn't working in Safari a few days ago - or chrome. Had to login via Firefox.
Now it's working in Safari again.
Seems performant and usable, can't really say TurboTax did much more except be flashy. And now that they closed the sharing loophole, I guess it's time to try a switch.
I might even file state with these guys, usually I would print and mail.
Now it's working in Safari again.
Seems performant and usable, can't really say TurboTax did much more except be flashy. And now that they closed the sharing loophole, I guess it's time to try a switch.
I might even file state with these guys, usually I would print and mail.
I've been using them for a while now. Federal return is free and state return is like 20 bucks or something.
I will probably try to go this route this year. Previous years I was using CreditKarma/Cash, and then before that TurboTax of course. I should probably get an actual accountant.
Does anyone else find this process a little fun? Finding all the opportunities for deductions?
Does anyone else find this process a little fun? Finding all the opportunities for deductions?
Filling out taxes is kinda fun, but there's really no "finding opportunities" unless your situation changed majorly from the year before. The most useful part I find is digging around a bit and trying to notice things for the year(s) to come.
> Does anyone else find this process a little fun? Finding all the opportunities for deductions?
It helps to love financials which I do. I have always done my own taxes just because I want to be knowledgeable about it. Some folks truly hate it.
It helps to love financials which I do. I have always done my own taxes just because I want to be knowledgeable about it. Some folks truly hate it.
It's already the same thing on at least HRBlock website for many years - federal is free, state is a fee, and some extra stuff they sell.
I've used TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct software in the past, before switching to freetaxusa a few years ago. The major difference is that Freetaxusa isn't constantly trying to upsell you into different products, or starting you out on a "free" tier and then 80% of the way through saying actually, you need the paid version, or you need to pay extra to efile, or something like that.
Free Federal, $15 state, that's it.
Free Federal, $15 state, that's it.
The dirty secret is TurboTax will tell you to upgrade to Deluxe Professional Premium, but you can just access the forms directly and enter the numbers if you need to.
But you might as well just use FTU.
But you might as well just use FTU.
I use these guys since whatever I was using years ago jacked up their prices. Filing state is not free, but it isn't highway robbery.
[deleted]
I switched and they saved me a ton of money. Easy to use and doesn’t support a company absent of morals
codefeenix(1)
The mistake was user error in entering a backdoor Roth IRA contribution. Freetaxusa makes it easy to enter correctly, and turbotax makes it easy to screw up.