Doing taxes for free....

[LaDonna]

So we have for several years now had an accountant/professional do our taxes because of investment stuff we owned etc..... We are now rid of all that and are looking into the best way to do our taxes ourselves. Are their any free services out their that are good? What do you suggest?
thanks for any help

 

[ksloane]

I've used TaxAct for several years, and only used the free service. My income allows me to even efile for free if I want. Texas has no state tax so I'm not sure how that portion of it works.

 

[QVCshopper]

If you feel confident enough, you could always do them yourself on paper. I have done that for years now and actually enjoy it. It probably takes me two to three hours for fed, state, and local, and I'm able to use the 1040A, which isn't itemizing your deductions. The most important thing is to not start until you are sure you have all of your forms and papers.

Or, you could get TurboTax or one of the software programs, they are cheaper than an accountant.

 

[smitette]

I have used TurboTax in the past,this year I am using H & R Block software because it was on sale and they were giving a 10.00 gift card with purchase. The TurboTax walks you through everything and will even import from last year if you use it the following year. H & R states that it will import from TurboTax but I have not started my taxes yet.
TurboTax will let you do your taxes online and if you are satisfied, only then do you pay! Plus the e-file is included. E-file is the only way to go these days!!

 

[tzolkin]

I've used TaxAct for several years, and only used the free service. My income allows me to even efile for free if I want. Texas has no state tax so I'm not sure how that portion of it works.

I've used it the last two years as well.

It's just like the TurboTax/ H&R programs, so I can't see any reason to purchase one of those when I can just go online and do them for free.


I'm in NY. TaxAct has all the states, you just pay to efile (or you can do the state taxes on the program and then mail them for free). I can't remember the price, but it was maybe around $13?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I have used TaxAct for the last couple of years, because it so easy and free from the IRS website. I do pay $13.95 for state, but when you are getting a couple of hundred dollars back $13.95 isn't bad.

Suzanne

 

[Ava]

I used TurboTax for the first time last year and really liked it. It's very easy to use, walks you through everything step by step and does all the math for you. I don't itemize deductions so I was able to file my federal return for free. eFiling my NY state return was about $30.

 

[jcemom]

We're on our third year with TaxAct.

 

[bettymae1121]

I use the free version of Turbo Tax online to file my federal, and use my state's IRS website to e-file my state return, which is also free.

 

[tinker&belle]

If you decide to go the Turbo tax route, Amazon has them super cheap right now. We used to do them ourselves to save money, but we always get a bigger refund when we use Turbo tax.

 

[daughtersrus]

I've used Tax Act as well for the last few years and our return is a bit more complicated. In addition to the Schedule A, I also had a Schedule M, Schedule C, Form 8829 and Form 8863 last year. The site walked me through everything and I had my old returns to look at (we used to go to a CPA).

I do our state return for free on the IL Revenue site.

 

[LaDonna]

If you decide to go the Turbo tax route, Amazon has them super cheap right now. We used to do them ourselves to save money, but we always get a bigger refund when we use Turbo tax.

yeah that is what was worried about! I've heard the free ones don't always get you the most money back

 

[tinker&belle]

yeah that is what was worried about! I've heard the free ones don't always get you the most money back

If you have a smart phone you can download 'taxcaster' by turbo tax for free. You could compare with what you get when you do it yourself and decide if it would benefit you.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

You can go online to irs.gov and there is a simple tax form there to use for free if your income is below a certain amount. They have another option, also, where if you do your calculations on paper first, you can use the "fill in forms" and submit them directly.

I predict that within a couple of years, all taxes will be required to be efiled. Starting this year, all business returns must be efiled and I'm sure 1040s are next.

 

[Rantybaby]

I have used FREETAXUSA.com for the last 6 years. Free federal return & $9.95 for CA state. I used to work Verizon. Would do a pre-return using my last pay stub. Then on 1/31, file my official return. Two weeks later direct deposited in my account.

 

[torinsmom]

Because I have education costs from this year to deduct, TaxAct was telling me I need to use their "deluxe" version and pay this year Is there another program I can use for free when I am taking a credit for educational expenses?

 

[daughtersrus]

Because I have education costs from this year to deduct, TaxAct was telling me I need to use their "deluxe" version and pay this year Is there another program I can use for free when I am taking a credit for educational expenses?

Are they saying that you have to use the deluxe version or are they recommending that you buy it?

I haven't started my taxes yet for this year because of the delay with the IRS computer system, but if I remember correctly, at several points it will come up with box trying to sell the deluxe version. I just continued with the free version and was fine. As I said, I had several forms besides the 1040 including college expenses for our DD and used the free one.

The IRS delay could be part of the problem. They haven't announced the dates yet but last I read, they won't be ready until mid-late Feb.

 

[Mom2JPL]

I have used TurboTax for the past 11 years. Love that program! One year I received a free copy of H&R Blocks's tax software...decided to test it against TurboTax and guess what...got the larger refund from the TurboTax software! I'm a believer in TT!!!