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IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

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Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#61

Post by Mtinie »

neilv wrote: post #31
paxys wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Is the reality not just paying 20 bucks, but also paying having your data both sold and eventually also breached?

> […] but also paying having your data both sold and eventually also breached?

Based on the emails I’ve received from six companies across six different industries in the last six weeks, this is apparently the end state for every commercial interaction I’ll have.

Not that it makes it OK by any stretch of the imagination.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#62

Post by azinman2 »

tekla wrote: post #30
azinman2 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By following the model that Spain and other countries follow: take the information they know (which is basically everything since anything meaningful is reported), calculate it, send you what they think you owe, and you either pay it as is or you file taxes manually.

If you have a standard 1 job W2, that is... literally what already happens, except even with less steps, since they already took the money out of my paycheck. The 1 job W2 literally takes 15 minutes to fill out if so, and it is pretty much signing off that you didn't make a million dollars on the side that the IRS doesn't know about.

Except in the US you still have to file your taxes. They might be the simplest to do, but you still have to. Which typically means people end up using turbotax etc, and paying for the product.

Spain's equivalent is basically 'we know you have a kid and this income so here you so. just sign on the dotted line'

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#64

Post by pclmulqdq »

notyourwork wrote: post #48
moneywoes wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

It turns out that paying an accountant is a good defense against audits if your tax situation has any complexity at all

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#65

Post by bandyaboot »

creato wrote: post #24
bobro wrote: post #7

I tried the fillable forms in previous years. They certainly aren’t easy and don’t make you confident you are filing an accurate form. Paying $50-100 to save a few hours and a lot of worrying is well worth it to me, even if along the way I bemoan the complexity and inaccessibility of the current tax system.

Even if you screw it up the IRS will just charge you interest “penalties” or give you your money back if you overpay (both have happened to me). I’ve straight up forgotten forms and paid maybe a few extra dollars in interest, I wouldn’t even call it a penalty. People are generally way more afraid of the IRS than they should be. People that hate the IRS for being unreasonable are very likely aggressively reporting ded…

I’m guessing the vast majority of people that hate the IRS don’t have any reason based on personal experience. They are people that believe things like “The IRS is hiring 87,000 new armed enforcement agents”.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#66

Post by simonebrunozzi »

nostromo wrote: post #54
itslennysfault wrote: post #47

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.

Intuit does not "keep tax codes complex" -- your legislators do that all on their own. Intuit does try to prevent the IRS from making it easier to file electronically for free -- that much is true.

> Intuit does not "keep tax codes complex" -- your legislators do that all on their own.

Lobbying, my friend. Intuit spends money to actively lobby to keep the tax code complex.

Don't trust my word? Google it, or start with this [0].

[0]: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/taxes/turbotax-h-r-block-sp...

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#67

Post by JadeNB »

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.

> 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.

Some states don't offer a free-file option. My memory, which is at least a few years out of date, is that MI doesn't.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#68

Post by woodson »

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

I used this in the past for a relatively complex US/foreign situation: https://www.myexpattaxes.com/

No affiliation or anything.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#69

Post by [deleted] »

autoexec wrote: post #59
neilv wrote: post #39

Looks like IRS Free File Fillable Forms isn't yet available for 2022 Tax Year returns. Also looks like that's the only IRS e-File option for AGI over $73K that doesn't involve using a commercial software/service (which I assume will probably sell user's financial data, and then also let it get breached).

That's my assumption too. There's no reason why the IRS can't create something that walks people through their own rules. Their list of "providers" is always filled with the most sketchiest sounding companies. ezTaxReturn.com FileYourTaxes.com 1040now.net and TaxSlayer.com sound like scam domains you'd see in a phishing email or a late night TV ad. People shouldn't have to surrender their data to third parties just t…

[deleted]

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#70

Post by 1123581321 »

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

Which forms have been driving the need for that? I'm assuming you've tried and found lacking the standard tax software recommendations among expats.
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