FREE tax filing

[JWade]

i did it last year, and havent seen itposted yet. IRS through their website overs links to do free online tax filing through numerous tax places (i.e. H&R Block, etc.)

http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

you do usually have to pay for state, got my federal back last year in like 10 days. no need to buy any software.

edit: forgot to add, it starts Jan. 16th

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

State Farm last year, offered this and I took advantage. They use Turbotax Online so it even had all my stuff from years past.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Thanks. I was lucky enough to snag some of H&R Block's software for free last year. (promotional code) But doing it online for free is just as good.

 

[jono8]

Must have AGI of $52,000 or less

 

[Link]

Originally posted by: jono8
Must have AGI of $52,000 or less

Darn! I'm not qualified.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
State Farm last year, offered this and I took advantage. They use Turbotax Online so it even had all my stuff from years past.

I wonder if they'll do it this year, that's who I use.

 

[starwars7]

Thanks ok, looks great!

 

[Cuhulainn]

Originally posted by: Link

Originally posted by: jono8
Must have AGI of $52,000 or less

Darn! I'm not qualified.

Darn! I am qualified!

Since when do you get to complain about making too much money?

I do this every year, and usually pay the 10 or 20 bucks for them to do my state as well.

 

[straubs]

I did this in Texas last year (no state tax) and wouldn't you know, even though H&R Block claimed FREE FEDERAL FILING (I read all the fine print), after wasting my time entering the details, they decided they were going to charge me $20 to send it in for federal only! :| I was VERY angry at that point so I didn't pay anything to H&R Block. Instead I printed out the ONE PAGE 1040EZ, filled in the same details as the H&R Block form, applied a stamp and mailed it in. $20 vs $0.39?

Let this be a warning that if you try to file federal only, it will NOT be free.

[edit: Long rant about collusion between tax companies and the IRS removed]

NOTE: If you actually have an intense tax form and can't use the 1040EZ, it may be worth $20 for all the automatic calculations they provide for you, but if you CAN use the 1040EZ, I think $20 is highway robbery for what amounts to an electronic stamp.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

If you're filing a 1040EZ I think you can even phone it in so you can save even the $.39.

 

[GreggyD]

TaxAct is FREE for everyone, regardless of income. Also includes free Federal e-file.

http://www.taxact.com/

 

[ClockerXP]

Originally posted by: Link

Originally posted by: jono8
Must have AGI of $52,000 or less

Darn! I'm not qualified.

Guess that's actually a GOOD thing for you unless you have AGI of something like $52,040.

 

[GTFan]

For the life of me I can't understand why the states don't have the same deal via the IRS site. They (and us) would save a ton of money on processing.

 

[eklass]

Originally posted by: GTFan
For the life of me I can't understand why the states don't have the same deal via the IRS site. They (and us) would save a ton of money on processing.

*cough* flat tax *cough*

 

[Maestro]

I tried to use the "free" service before and then got charged $20 by H&R - by the time you enter all the info they have you. They claimed I was charged becasue I did not use the "free" link the second time I logged in to fininsh my taxes. I noticed TurboTax had the same policy at the time so be aware.

 

[funboy6942]

Marked for tax time

 

[cyberkost]

I once tried to file online for free (I'm not sure I'll meet the AGI cap this year). It was a royal PITA -- you basically have to type in all of the numbers from your W-2, etc. forms manually into a browser (not just income, but tax code for your employer(s), etc. -- a lot more numbers than just the $$ numbers). Doing paper is much quicker. My advice is that if your tax return is fairly uncomplicated (certainly if you're doing 1040EZ) go with paper and DIY. If it's fairly complicated -- go to H&R or whatever, they may actually get more for you and they would be responsible for whatever errors your return has (e.g., sometimes you're not sure if you can claim this or that and you decide to play it "safe" leaving money to IRS, but H&R and the likes know a bit better than an average taxpayer what's gonna fly and what's not).

 

[cubby1223]

There was one year when the irs allowed free 1040ez filing directly to them, but the next year they quit that and just provide these links to websites I would best describe as "shady". H&R Block is not free, they do charge money. It sucks that the irs cannot accept direct e-filing. I'd definately recommend just filing out the form and mailing it in than to give all your tax information to some random website.

I did try it once many years ago to find the most legit looking website, but no matter what I could never get past the first step to begin the process. I don't quite remember what that was, this would have been like in 2000 or 2001, I think it might have been where the SSN is entered and the site tries to look up if it can process the return. None of the sites ever worked.

 

[ViviTheMage]

uhmm, what about State filings? That usually costs 8-10 $ doesnt it?

 

[JWade]

i only had to pay for the state tax filing last year.

 

[GTFan]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
uhmm, what about State filings? That usually costs 8-10 $ doesnt it?

Yup, that's where all these 'free' services get you, which is why I posted the statefarm.com totally free filing thread.
But in most states it's pretty trivial to just file it by hand since they depend on your fed numbers anyway. I've done that in some years because I just refuse to pay for e-filing - it saves the states money and they should pass that on to me with incentives for these tax software outfits.

 

[osiris3mc]

Originally posted by: eklass

Originally posted by: GTFan
For the life of me I can't understand why the states don't have the same deal via the IRS site. They (and us) would save a ton of money on processing.

*cough* flat tax *cough*

*cough* FAIRtax *cough*

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: GTFan
For the life of me I can't understand why the states don't have the same deal via the IRS site. They (and us) would save a ton of money on processing.

You have to use the proper linkages from the get go - See the Tax Thread in OT

 

[GTFan]

Your tax thread is for questions, not deals on cheap ways to do taxes. You can't have just one thread for taxes in OT if you're not going to address this in depth. But thanks.

 

[knightc2]

I have been using taxslayer.com for the last 5 years or so and I like it. Costs a total of $9.95 for Federal AND state. Not free but very reasonable.