# Turbotax Free Edition - opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417 "2010-01-25T20:43:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/1 "2010-01-25T20:43:23Z")
What are your experiences with Turbotax Free Edition? From a tax standpoint, last year was about as simple as they come: I drew a salary, collected a little unemployment during a furlough, and I have two children. I ran the numbers on a couple of online calculators which said that I owe a fair amount. I also ran most of the way through turbotax free, and it is saying that I will get a substantial refund. Should I be skeptical, or has turbotax come through for you as well? ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/2 "2010-01-25T20:45:13Z")
I’ve used the free edition for the last few years and haven’t had any issues yet. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/3 "2010-01-25T20:46:28Z")
I’ve used it for the last 6-7 years and it always works fine. The only weird thing is I got charged one year. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/4 "2010-01-25T20:52:34Z")
Thanks. A couple of follow up questions: 1. How much does it cost to e-file (if any?) 2. I have joint custody and am allowed to claim my children. What form do I use to claim, and/or how do I submit the form with the Turbotax return? Sorry for being this ignorant; this is the first year in a while that my taxes were simple enough to do them myself. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/5 "2010-01-25T20:58:04Z")
They will tell you how much it costs to e-file, Federal is free, state usually has a slight fee (varies per state). But check your state website - for me, when I was in Denver I could actually file online for free (well, they gave you a $15 credit for filing through their system) so I used the print out from turbo-tax and filed online through them. And the joint custody question can be answered by searchign online at Turbotax - they walk you through all that. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/6 "2010-01-25T21:39:00Z")
They charged me this year and I’m still not sure why. I selected the free one, went through the whole process, and although I noticed a lot auto-completed for me I know I chose the free edition. I did it twice, the second time retyping everything that auto-completed. Still charged me 19.99. Before this, I’ve never had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![steadierfooting](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@steadierfooting](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steadierfooting)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/7 "2010-01-25T21:50:45Z")
For those that were charged, it might be because your earnings were above 56,000 limit for free file. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/8 "2010-01-25T21:52:29Z")
> [@steadierfooting](#): > > For those that were charged, it might be because your earnings were above 56,000 limit for free file. Ahahaha ahahahaha I wish that was the reason! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/9 "2010-01-25T22:03:32Z")
Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/10 "2010-01-26T05:50:55Z")
Me three. Used it last year for the first time and loved it. Was also my first year E-filing. Went off without a hitch. Will do it again this year. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/11 "2010-01-26T09:01:21Z")
I have used Taxslayer for several years now (and no, I do not work for them nor have any other relationship with them whatsoever) and they charge $9.95 to e-file your return. My SO has a simple form - no major deductions, etc. but I have a more complicated form with mortgage and other credits/deductions. All I can say is that we are happy with them and get a good return on our taxes. No, it isn’t “free”, but for under 10 bucks, I figure it is a great deal. It is, however, “free” to go through the process. You don’t have to pay a single penny to fill out their forms and see what your return/payment will be. If you like what you see - then, and only then - do you pay the fee and have it submitted to the IRS. ---
**Author:** ![steadierfooting](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@steadierfooting](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steadierfooting)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turbotax-free-edition-opinions/526417/12 "2010-01-26T14:44:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by steadierfooting View Post > For those that were charged, it might be because your earnings were above 56,000 limit for free file. > Ahahaha ahahahaha > > I wish that was the reason! ☹ In previous years i’ve just selected the free-file stuff from the IRS --specifically ezTaxReturn. It’s basically just the online version of the 1040 form, but it’s quicker to do the calculations, so you can play around with it a little to get the maximum return. I found out the way my dad was deducting my student loan interest caused me to get a few hundred less than optimal. I make more than the limit set by the IRS, but I still plan on playing around with the software, then just mailing in the finished form.