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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

#71

Post by sockaddr »

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.

How is “keep tax codes complex” not equivalent to “prevent the IRS from making it simpler”?

Besides that, you’re definitely wrong. They do lobby to keep it complicated and actively try to confuse customers into thinking they need to pay more for no legitimate reason at all.

Intuit causes great harm and so does anyone that works for them.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#72

Post by ElijahLynn »

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.

taxfreeusa.com redirects to www.freetaxusa.com, fwiw.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#73

Post by jt2190 »

simonebrunozzi wrote: post #66
nostromo wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

What did your Senator say when you wrote them a letter to complain?

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#74

Post by ElijahLynn »

rdonohue wrote: post #63

If you prefer to do your federal taxes yourself (and/or want to crosscheck the free fillable forms) the following site provides an Excel approach: https://sites.google.com/view/incometaxspreadsheet/home I use it every year and find it to be great.

That seems odd they don't have it in a Google Sheet, which I initially thought it was because of speed reading the hostname, sites.google.com. I don't have Excel.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#75

Post by dmoy »

itake wrote: post #58
jcranmer wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4) You run your own business. 5) Foreign income, other than simple investment income (e.g., own stocks in foreign companies).

6) your employer submits incorrect w2s

That's pretty easy to handle with freetaxusa, at least it was the last two times I did it

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#76

Post by notyourwork »

pclmulqdq wrote: post #64
notyourwork wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Sorry I assumed my question implied that was what was being asked. What is the complexity because I’ve done my own taxes for two decades, every year things are nuanced and slightly different. Never have I used an accountant.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#78

Post by pxx »

pclmulqdq wrote: post #64
notyourwork wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Is it though. You're the one liable for issues on your tax return. You're the one who signed the return.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#79

Post by mindslight »

neilv wrote: post #43
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.

TurboTax's "competitors" are part of the same protection racket. Taking away business from any/all of them is a win.

I do wish my approach were more scalable so that lots of people would do it. But for now I'll have to be content with personally not supporting the racket.

Also, piracy is not stealing.

Re: IRS Free File: Do Your Taxes for Free

#80

Post by ashconnor »

madsbuch wrote: post #38
baby wrote: post #10

Why do I even have to do anything? Just take it from my paycheck directly

This is how it works in most countries across the pond...

Only works in the UK this way if you earn less than £100k.

Canada forces most people to file a return too. Though it’s simpler than a US return.

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