For years I’ve used Turbotax or Taxcut software to do my taxes. This year their cost is up to about $50.
There seem to be several different free online alternatives. Which one have you used and how did you like it? (For ease of use - not the paying part!!)
Thanks!
I use TaxACT, which I think is free if you’re below a certain income (I’m not certain of the fine print). My taxes are a bit more complicated than some because I have to file Schedules C and E, but TaxACT has worked just fine for me.
Edited before posting: Hey, it looks like it’s now free for all incomes. Woo! State still costs something, but Ohio can be done directly on the state’s website.
Go to the IRS website. Any one of the ones linked through their website is free and safe to use, though several have restrictions on the type and complexity of forms you can file and have an AGI cutoff. If you don’t meet the restrictions and are comfortable doing your own taxes without the computer, the IRS has fill-in forms that can be electronically filed. If you are comfortable with TurboTax, Intuit makes a free version available but that has one of the lowest cutoffs of the ones available. I used to use that version, but this year my AGI will put me over the cutoff. I’ll have to look and see what is available and what I like. Worst case scenario, my taxes are so simple I’ll just do it all myself with the fill-in forms.
I switched from TaxCut to TaxAct last year, mostly because TaxAct claimed to have a nifty FASFA function and I had a sone getting ready for college. It was also abot half price, actually better than that once TaxCut’s e-filing charges were included. I found either work just fine for me.
That said, I pay for the software each year, but I think they both have free online versions that will fill the need for lots of filers.
How complicated are your tax returns? Do you itemize?
You know, I say this as a tax representative: the tax forms are stupid easy. Seriously. Granted, I’ve been around them my whole life (thanks, dad!), but really- if you can follow directions, add, subtract, and multiply. . . you can just use the forms. When I was a kid, my dad would have me practice doing taxes with pretend numbers and information, just to practice my math. It’s so easy that a 7th grader could do it. All forms and instructions are available on the IRS website.
The exception to this is if you are a partner in a corporation (get a K1), own a business (cash), receive 1099s (contractor), etc. In those cases, you shouldn’t be doing your own taxes anyway, whether through Turbotax or any other program. Schedule C returns are more likely to get audited, so it is probably worth- imho- you getting a CPA to do 'em.