# US Tax Question--software **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937 "2024-02-01T01:55:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/1 "2024-02-01T01:55:42Z")
I have health insurance, a pension, and took cash from my 401k. What tax software accommodates this? Free preferred. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/2 "2024-02-01T03:00:05Z")
FreeTaxUSA. Free Federal e-file. State is $14 and change. From a long time and now disgruntled TurboTax user. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/3 "2024-02-01T03:05:23Z")
[Here](https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) is an IRS webpage listing free filing options. I think this year there’s a new option to file for free using an IRS webpage or software. If you’re willing to pay, there are other options, like TurboTax, as previously mentioned, or TaxCut, from H&R Block. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/4 "2024-02-01T04:23:29Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > FreeTaxUSA Seconded. I’ve used it for several years, and my taxes are much more complicated. It’s about the same difficulty to use as the old TurboTax, which cost me $59 or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/5 "2024-02-01T04:30:50Z")
Note that, per the IRS webpage, FreeTaxUSA is free to those with an AGI of $45,000 or less. Some of the other free filing options are free up to an AGI of $79,000. Edited to add that some have age restrictions. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/6 "2024-02-01T14:59:23Z")
I’ve used FreeTaxUSA for the last two years now, and I would recommend it to anyone. Federal filing is absolutely free, no matter how complicated the tax situation. It’s $14.99 to file a state return, again no matter how complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/7 "2024-02-01T14:59:58Z")
My thanks to you all. Very helpful. I have put a link to the IRS page in my “professional services” bookmark sub-folder. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/8 "2024-02-01T16:40:59Z")
Turbo Tax, at least the basic forms, is free, is it not? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/9 "2024-02-01T17:03:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Turbo Tax, at least the basic forms, is free, is it not? In my experience, there’s no way to file with TurboTax for free if you have any complications. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/10 "2024-02-01T18:07:41Z")
I do it every year for free, I thought maybe they had changed something. What sort of complications are you referring to? Do you mean problems with the software or interface, or non-simple tax situations? (I do use 1040EZ, maybe that’s why it’s free) mmm ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/11 "2024-02-01T20:49:35Z")
Turbo Tax is only free if you have a fairly simple tax situation: just W-2 and interest income, taking the standard deduction, and what they call “limited credits” (which seem to be mostly those credits related to children). If you itemize, if you have investment income reported on Schedule B, or any credits that are reported on a separate form, then you have to pay. Turbo Tax’s [website](https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-edition.jsp) says that “~37% of filers qualify” for the Free Edition, which means that the majority of people don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/12 "2024-02-01T21:30:02Z")
Yeah, we haven’t filed 1040EZ in many years, too many complexities, especially Schedule B. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/13 "2024-02-01T21:42:17Z")
The IRS partners with United Way (VITA) and AARP (TaxAide) to offer free tax preparation for individuals. Both federal and state returns are free.There are some restrictions, but @Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor 's return would be no problem. (I volunteer for TaxAide) [https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers#:~:text=The%20IRS’s%20Volunteer%20Income%20Tax,operated%20for%20over%2050%20years](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers#:~:text=The%20IRS's%20Volunteer%20Income%20Tax,operated%20for%20over%2050%20years). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/14 "2024-02-01T22:01:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Edited to add that some have age restrictions. Age restrictions? I’m curious about what they are. My wife is a free lance writer, so we have lots of complications, so the free stuff doesn’t work for us. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/15 "2024-02-01T22:05:03Z")
“Between the ages of 20 and 58” “64 or younger” Not all of them have such restrictions, though. Most do have maximum income requirement (for free filing). ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/16 "2024-02-01T23:17:01Z")
Do any of them deal with 8938 (report of foreign bank accounts) or foreign tax credits? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/17 "2024-02-01T23:22:16Z")
I have no idea but I doubt the free options would include that. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/18 "2024-02-02T00:30:19Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Do any of them deal with 8938 (report of foreign bank accounts I know FreeTaxUSA _asks_ me if I have any foreign bank accounts, but the answer is “no,” so I don’t know what happens if I do have some. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/19 "2024-02-02T02:03:47Z")
The [FTC recently determined](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/01/ftc-issues-opinion-finding-turbotax-maker-intuit-inc-engaged-deceptive-practices) that Intuit was guilty of advertising that claimed their online filing was free when in fact it wasn’t. > The Federal Trade Commission has issued an Opinion and Final Order that Intuit Inc., the maker of the popular TurboTax tax filing software, engaged in deceptive advertising in violation of the FTC Act and deceived consumers when it ran ads for “free” tax products and services for which many consumers were ineligible. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937/20 "2024-02-02T12:20:39Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > State is $14 and change. > [@MrAtoz](#): > > It’s $14.99 to file a state return, again no matter how complicated. I obviously don’t know about other states, but the State of Kansas website offers a free method to file one’s state return. Like the federal free options, there are income and other restrictions, but if you can use a free federal method, you should be able to use this state method as well. The biggest PITA is that it doesn’t link to your federal return, meaning you have to enter everything a second time. But if you want to save a few bucks, it’s worth it. You may want to check if your state offers this option. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tax-question-software/996937.md?page=2)