Who's ever done their income taxes online?

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I don't have a whole lot of deductions (property & auto taxes and mortgage interest), but I did have a small 401k I had to cash in last year (they took out federal tax but not state). I would like to file online for a change.

I live in Georgia. Can I file online for state tax, too?

Who's done this and what problems, if any did you encounter?

[Zsofia]

I've done it for three years counting this one, but I have very simple taxes (1040 EZ, I usually fall under the automatic deduction until now, etc.) In SC, I can file state online but not through H&R Block, which is where I file my free federal online. Here I have to go to the state website to do it and I have to have the ID number they sent me in the mail, otherwise I have to send the paper copies in. I find it very simple and think it's wonderful, but your taxes sound more complicated.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

I have also done this for the past three years. My taxes don't sound quite as simple as Zsofia, but I still find it incredibly easy. I live in Ohio and can file my state and federal online. I usually pick a place reccomended on the IRS website. They charge anywhere from around $15 and up. I say give it a shot Mr. Blue Sky

[papergirl]

I use turbotax online. I love it. This year it was even easier than in the past, partly because they changed the format to match your W-2s more accurately.
There's a fee, but I'm happy to pay it. It will walk you through every step, ask you questions to see what deductions you might be eligible for, ascertain if you have other income sources that need to be accounted for, etc. (I'm sure other programs will do the same.)
It also stores your forms for you, so you can go back later and print them out if you want to...a plus for me, because I canNOT keep track of paper.

[papergirl]

Forgot to mention that I also do my state taxes online. Presumably you could do them in your state as well.

[PunditLisa]

I file online via TurboTax. The software is usually under twenty bucks by the time you send in the rebates and it walks you through the online process. I believe most companies now offer free online filing because the government wants to encourage people to file that way.

With TurboTax you usually get free state software as well, which you download from their site.

[Hello Again]

I've also used Turbotax Online for the past couple years. I had regular income, 1099 and captal gains. Its very eay to use and you can save your preogress and return to it if you can't do it in one sitting. For an additional charge it files your state return as well.

[tygre]

I used efile.com and no problems for me. I sold stocks last year, had child care expenses, all sorts of stuff, and finished my return and filed it in under an hour. Got my refund 9 days later, direct deposited into my checking account. Will do this next year, for sure!

[DoctorJ]

I just submitted mine through TurboTax Online. It's the second year in a row I've done it, which is nice because it carries over all the pertinent information.

Our taxes are reasonably simple--two straightforward jobs and some mortgage and student loan interest--so we're not exactly putting it to the test. It seems fairly robust, though.

It was $9.95 for the federal return and $24.95 for the state return; there may be coupons or something for doing it cheaper, but it's still not bad for how easy it is. (I think the federal is usually $19.95, and there's a promotion on it ending today, but I'm sure there will be more such promotions.)

[brix11]

My wife and I have used H&R Block's online version (http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/products/product.jsp?productId=31&wt.cl_src=homepageflash) for the past three years. Even as our taxes got more complicated (new home last year and lots o' deductions this year), we've been pretty impressed how easy it's been. The price for their basic package increased to $30 this year, but I still think it's worth it. They use an interview format, so all the user does is answer questions without needing to see the forms until the very end. I highly recommend it.

[elfkin477]

Who's done this and what problems, if any did you encounter?

I used the first one on the prefered list at the IRS site last year (I filed a 1040a). The only "problem" wasn't a problem for me. Apparently, it took until November for the IRS to realize that through that prefered site they didn't get actual signatures declaring the truthfulness of your return (so much for "your pin number is your signature" though they accept that without problems telefiling), and had to send many little forms for people to sign and return. I wonder what precentage they got back...don't you think they ought to have done this before sending out refunds? Oh well, not my problem. It took less than an hour, and I plan to do it again this year.

[UrbanChic]

We usually go to an accountant, but he moved last summer. This year we used snaptax.com. It was a whopping six bucks to e-file, free to print and mail. I splurged and opted to e-file. I used Maryland's iFile for my state taxes.

[Misnomer]

I second what brix11 said: This was my third year using H&R Block online, too, and even though my taxes got a little more complicated last year (school stuff) it was still a breeze to file with them. I've always been able to file my Virginia state taxes with them, too, with nothing to mail in: just a form to print, sign, and keep in my files.

I filed on 2/5, and the state refund was in my checking account on 2/10; I expect federal to be close behind. I love filing online. :)

[psycat90]

I used TurboTax Online for the 5th time this year. I've never had a problem. It takes me an hour or so tops (like DoctorJ said, it keeps all of your information), and I get my refund directly deposited in under 2 weeks. I've never had a problem with it, not for my federal or my state, and when I first moved out here I had to file for 2 states. No problem at all.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I went to the Turbo Tax website and did a test run. It seemed pretty easy. I didn't have any forms left over afterwards at least. :D

For $25, I can't go wrong, right?

It beats the $200+ I've been paying H&R Block. I don't have any weird deductions to deal with or any unique situations, so I think I'll give it a shot.

Besides, isn't the IRS about 3 years behind in prosecutions? :D

[down by law]

the only thing "wierd" in my taxes was a stock loss carryover from last year, which i don't even pretend to understand. apparently my dad had stock in my name, i don't know.

anyway, i used turbotax and it woudln't let me e-file because of the carryover. it kind of pissed me off, but i just printed it all out and sent it. the guy who sits next to me at work e-files and got his money back in under 2 weeks. i'm sure it'll be 4-6 before i see anything, though.

oh, and in the great state of indiana you can't e-file state taxes. i'm sure the hicks here will get hip to the computer by 2010 or something.

[Doctor Jackson]

You can definately e-file your Georgia return. I have done so for the past 3 years. We use Tax Cut software by H&R Block. This year my wife found, through the IRS website, a link to Tax Cut online. The federal software was free and the state package cost about $20. Absolutely the way to go.

[MercyStreet]

apparently my dad had stock in my name, i don't know


For the love of God. You're best off getting the story on this sooner rather than later. This potentially is a very bad situation.

[PunditLisa]

For the love of God. You're best off getting the story on this (potential stock loss carryover) sooner rather than later. This potentially is a very bad situation.

It would be a bad situation only if it was a stock gain. If he doesn't claim the stock loss carryover on his taxes, the only person he screws is himself (because it would reduce his taxable income.)

[The Big Cheese]

go to the irs website, they'll explain a little of this and have links to sites that will calculate and file for you. There's lots now.

I used www.taxact.com, worked great. Filed free with the Feds, and paid $7.95 to file with the state.



ok, i just went there and this is the link:
http://www.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/index.jsp?

[velvetjones]

I've used TaxAct too the past two years and it was awesome, very simple. I got a big return one year and it was in my bank account in like 10 days.

Didn't pay anything that I remember.

[Edward The Head]

I eFiled yesterday, it was pretty easy, though there were a couple of things I didn't like. In order to everything online you had to have last years numbers, something I didn't have at work and something it didn't tell me I needed until the very end. They also tried to be sneaky and had the option of giving you a "loan" until your refund came back, something that would have cost $50. I didn't get it at first because there was only two options, the loan and having them send you a check in the mail that cost $10+ a fee. I had to read the fine print saying that you didn't have to choose either, but they should have said that up front.

I did pay $10 for my Maryland taxes, but since it was already done I just did it. I am glad though as I did my taxes by hand first, then found out I made a brain fart and put down the wrong amount owed, a number that didn't even show up in the tax bracket so I was off by $100.

[AsecretK]

I used tax act also. I live in Ohio. I filed both state and federal for $7.95 on January 24th and received my federal refund via direct deposit on Februay 4th.