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IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

irs.gov

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Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#41

Post by flatiron »

nightski wrote: post #4
yawnxyz wrote: post #3

What's the reasoning for setting the AGI at $73,000 or less? Does it go up as inflation goes up? Why not set it at $100,000 or $500,000?

I'm guessing tax preparation companies don't make a lot of money off those filers anyways. But if you start taking away the more expensive customers, i.e. the business owners, investors, etc... then it becomes a problem. Lobbying basically.

When I worked in Brooklyn they would setup sidewalk booths. Walk up with your w2 and someone would take a picture with an iPad. They would confirm the details and leave. It’s amazing how many people showed up for that.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#42

Post by gavinhoward »

wespad wrote: post #19

https://www.freetaxusa.com/ and their parent company https://www.taxhawk.com/ They charge $14.99 for the state filing. Usually a coupon code available. Or go to the state's website (CA at least), and file that for free, too. But for the convenience of not having to input my info again, I'll pay their fee.

Relative of a TaxHawk employee here. I'd be happy to pass along any bugs or issues since they probably don't have any employees on HN.

Also, supporting TaxHawk means supporting a company that cares about their employees. They have done so many things for my relative that it makes me jealous. They have also kept raising wages ahead of inflation.

Anyway, TaxHawk is a great company to support!

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#43

Post by neilv »

mindslight wrote: post #13

This reminds me it's time to start looking for the TurboTax torrent. The activation scheme is remarkably straightforward to crack yourself.

That company lobbies to make tax returns as miserable as they can, a bit like a protection racket. But stealing their product doesn't help -- it only relieves pressure to smack them down, or takes business away from their competitors.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#45

Post by lotsofpulp »

paxys wrote: post #27
coderintherye wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note, anyone regardless of AGI can use https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-form... It fails on some really specific use cases, but it works for the vast majority.

On the other hand, paying 20 bucks just for a better user interface and a step-by-step guide is absolutely worth the money.

I would rather not pay the people that are lobbying Congress to prevent the IRS from making it easier to file tax returns. If all you have is W-2 and 1099 income, it is pretty easy anyway. Might take a few hours to read instructions one year, but all the subsequent years are pretty quick.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#47

Post by itslennysfault »

I've been using https://TaxFreeUSA.com for the past 5 years, and it's great. Just as intuitive as TurboTax, but totally free for federal (you pay for state, but I lived in WA until this year so it was totally free). Also, I sleep better at night knowing I'm not giving money to Intuit who is the largest lobbyist that keeps tax codes complex.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#48

Post by notyourwork »

moneywoes wrote: post #29
KyleJune wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At what point is it recommended to not use a software like freetaxusa? I've been using it for years.

Being a US citizen abroad. I’m in this situation and have had to pay huge sums to accountants If anyone has any recommendations I’m all ears

Why are you paying an accountant?

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#49

Post by awepoiufjwaeoip »

judge2020 wrote: post #28
mindslight wrote: post #13

This reminds me it's time to start looking for the TurboTax torrent. The activation scheme is remarkably straightforward to crack yourself.

I'm surprised they still have the desktop version tbh. Do that many people prefer downloading and installing the software?

Why would I enter sensitive financial information into a website that isn't owned and operated by the government (to whom I'm sending information anyway)?

I don't want to use the internet for my taxes, so I do TurboTax locally and save that information in local files.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#50

Post by lotsofpulp »

yawnxyz wrote: post #3

What's the reasoning for setting the AGI at $73,000 or less? Does it go up as inflation goes up? Why not set it at $100,000 or $500,000?

I assume Intuit and their ilk lobbied for the limit. I recall reading that the IRS was developing a way to automatically do most people’s taxes, but the tax preparation companies lobbied Congress to stop that, and instead offered their services for free…with the caveat that higher income filers are excluded.
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