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That warning is terrifying. > Do NOT use this online form if you're required to file a tax return. Use of this online form creates a simplified 2020 tax return

That warning is terrifying. > Do NOT use this online form if you're required to file a tax return. Use of this online form creates a simplified 2020 tax return. If you're required to file a tax return but file a simplified return instead, you won't be able to e-file your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR tax return. This will delay the IRS processing your return and issuing any tax refund. So... what? Do not use this site if I'm required to do the thing that this site does? If I use this I won't be able to e-file Form xyz? No information what those are, or why it would matter?

majormajor 5y ago
My reading is that if you aren't required to file a tax return, this thing creating a dummy simplified one won't hurt you. But if you are required to file one, you are likely to need a real one, and the dummy one will conflict with it. But it sounds like if you file a real one, you don't need this form, and this form is only for people who wouldn't otherwise file. But the gist of the article - that the website is implausibly bad - seems correct.
- recursive 5y ago
  That would require that a "simplified tax return" is not a "tax return". If that's the intention, it seems to fly directly in the face of the common use of the English language. Generally {ADJECTIVE} {NOUN} is a specific category of a {NOUN}. If they're using some domain-specific jargon that violates that, it strains credulity that they would expect anyone to understand it.
  - bruckie 5y ago
    Even if you're not required to file a return (e.g. because you have no income), you are still allowed to file. I think the site helps you file (to claim a credit) even if you're not required to file.
mattb314 5y ago
Free fillable forms is hard to use for taxes in general, but this page is specifically for people who want the CTC without having filed taxes (presumably you otherwise would have gotten the CTC when you filed takes). You can see the screenshot says "non-filer sign up tool", where as the main page of the website (for people who want to actually use it to file taxes) has no such warning: https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/#/fd https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/#/fd

majormajor 5y ago

My reading is that if you aren't required to file a tax return, this thing creating a dummy simplified one won't hurt you. But if you are required to file one, you are likely to need a real one, and the dummy one will conflict with it. But it sounds like if you file a real one, you don't need this form, and this form is only for people who wouldn't otherwise file. But the gist of the article - that the website is implausibly bad - seems correct.

recursive 5y ago
That would require that a "simplified tax return" is not a "tax return". If that's the intention, it seems to fly directly in the face of the common use of the English language. Generally {ADJECTIVE} {NOUN} is a specific category of a {NOUN}. If they're using some domain-specific jargon that violates that, it strains credulity that they would expect anyone to understand it.
- bruckie 5y ago
  Even if you're not required to file a return (e.g. because you have no income), you are still allowed to file. I think the site helps you file (to claim a credit) even if you're not required to file.

mattb314 5y ago

Free fillable forms is hard to use for taxes in general, but this page is specifically for people who want the CTC without having filed taxes (presumably you otherwise would have gotten the CTC when you filed takes). You can see the screenshot says "non-filer sign up tool", where as the main page of the website (for people who want to actually use it to file taxes) has no such warning: https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/#/fd https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/#/fd