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Also note, this is simply the Federal Tax Return. For no limit IRS Free File, just use FreeTaxUSA[1]. Not only will it be better quality than whatever the IRS/

by Alupis 3y ago

Also note, this is simply the Federal Tax Return. For no limit IRS Free File, just use FreeTaxUSA[1]. Not only will it be better quality than whatever the IRS/Gov has turned out, not only is it Free (as-in Beer for IRS Filing), but it also offers very cheap State Filing options ($15). Just use FreeTaxUSA... [1] https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing

whitepoplar 3y ago
The only thing keeping me from using FreeTaxUSA is its inability to import brokerage transactions/1099-Bs. As far as I'm aware, if you input 1099-B summaries (as opposed to individual transactions), you have to mail physical copies of all 1099s to the IRS.
- agrajag 3y ago
  You can attach pdfs of brokerage transactions to your e-filed return (and FreeTaxUSA prompts you to do so in the filing section)
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- SlavikCA 3y ago
  I just completed my filing with FreeTaxUSA yesterday. Which included 1099-B, because I got RSUs and sold them. I manually entered the info about stock sale. And the end, the webapp told me, that IRS requires the copy of 1099-B, so I need to upload it. I uploaded PDF, which I got from Fidelity. That's it.
- quickthrowman 3y ago
  IIRC, you can now attach electronic copies of your brokerage statements to your return instead of mailing it to the IRS. I believe it changed for the 2022 tax year, I did have to mail in my complete 1099-B with transaction history in 2021 and before.
- mminer237 3y ago
  You essentially only have to mail physical copies of your transaction histories if you had wash sales. (I'm not your lawyer tho)
emchammer 3y ago
For this sort of thing, I would rather use a .gov website than a .com.
- teeray 3y ago
  There are many folks who reflexively append .com to everything. Even if it redirects to .gov someday, depriving fraudsters of the .com is absolutely worthwhile.
  - FireBeyond 3y ago
    My email address is firstname@lastname.me. The amount of times I've dealt with customer service... "We have your email address as firstname@lastname.me.com" or similar is notable.
    - everforward 3y ago
      I have firstname@lastname.io (younger me got swept up when .io was a big thing). Customer service gets confused, but also occasionally websites will tell me it's not a valid domain and I have to fall back to Gmail.
jaimehrubiks 3y ago
Couldn't agree more. I used it last year and it was awesome (I didn't find any feature missing). In any case, it's one of the "IRS Free File participants" according to the OPs link.
- Alupis 3y ago
  > In any case, it's one of the "IRS Free File participants" according to the OPs link. Indeed, but without the $79,000 AGI maximum.
cobrabyte 3y ago
Yeah, I've used this for the past couple of years and will do so again this year. It's solid.
toomuchtodo 3y ago
Using the IRS' option (Direct File) [1] [2], if able, shows uptake, which will be used to gauge success and continued operation and improvement. If you can use it, you should. It is how for profit tax prep gets driven to the margins, and is eventually sunset (except for perhaps the most complex returns). > Just use FreeTaxUSA... That is how the status quo remains. Hasn't served us well to be honest. Of course, use FreeTaxUSA to avoid paid options if you don't fall into the IRS pilot criteria. But if you fall into the criteria, please consider participating. [1] https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/strategic-plan/direct-file https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/strategic-plan/direct-file [2] https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/a-closer-look-at-the-irs-direct-file-pilot https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/a-closer-look-at-the-irs-direc... (i want my tax filing provided by the IRS directly, and as frictionless as possible; ymmv)
- Alupis 3y ago
  > Using the IRS' option, if able, shows uptake, which will be used to gauge success and continued operation and improvement. If you can use it, you should. It is how for profit tax prep gets driven to the margins, and is eventually sunset (except for perhaps the most complex returns). FreeTaxUSA is part of the IRS' free filing program, except it exceeds the IRS standards by offering free Federal Filing for any AGI... no maximum. FreeTaxUSA is already marginalizing tax filing software. It cannot get cheaper than free. Additionally, they're the cheapest/easiest State Filing system I am aware of. > > Just use FreeTaxUSA... > That is how the status quo remains. Hasn't done very well for us tbh. This is exactly how the status quo is destroyed. FreeTaxUSA provides the same outcome as vastly more expensive software and/or tax preparation services, at no cost to you for Federal Returns.
  - toomuchtodo 3y ago
    We're simply at an impasse because you prefer the non government option, and I expect my government to provide it.
    - Alupis 3y ago
      I don't believe you actually are aware of what you are talking about. There is no government option currently, except manually filling out forms. Furthermore, it is naïve to believe the government will provide better service and/or usability than a private organization who's entire existence and purpose is to make submitting tax returns easy.
tomcar288 3y ago
I've been using them for a couple of years for now and I think they're awesome!

by Alupis 3y ago

whitepoplar 3y ago

The only thing keeping me from using FreeTaxUSA is its inability to import brokerage transactions/1099-Bs. As far as I'm aware, if you input 1099-B summaries (as opposed to individual transactions), you have to mail physical copies of all 1099s to the IRS.

agrajag 3y ago
You can attach pdfs of brokerage transactions to your e-filed return (and FreeTaxUSA prompts you to do so in the filing section)
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
SlavikCA 3y ago
I just completed my filing with FreeTaxUSA yesterday. Which included 1099-B, because I got RSUs and sold them. I manually entered the info about stock sale. And the end, the webapp told me, that IRS requires the copy of 1099-B, so I need to upload it. I uploaded PDF, which I got from Fidelity. That's it.
quickthrowman 3y ago
IIRC, you can now attach electronic copies of your brokerage statements to your return instead of mailing it to the IRS. I believe it changed for the 2022 tax year, I did have to mail in my complete 1099-B with transaction history in 2021 and before.
mminer237 3y ago
You essentially only have to mail physical copies of your transaction histories if you had wash sales. (I'm not your lawyer tho)

emchammer 3y ago

For this sort of thing, I would rather use a .gov website than a .com.

teeray 3y ago
There are many folks who reflexively append .com to everything. Even if it redirects to .gov someday, depriving fraudsters of the .com is absolutely worthwhile.
- FireBeyond 3y ago
  My email address is firstname@lastname.me. The amount of times I've dealt with customer service... "We have your email address as firstname@lastname.me.com" or similar is notable.
  - everforward 3y ago
    I have firstname@lastname.io (younger me got swept up when .io was a big thing). Customer service gets confused, but also occasionally websites will tell me it's not a valid domain and I have to fall back to Gmail.

jaimehrubiks 3y ago

Couldn't agree more. I used it last year and it was awesome (I didn't find any feature missing). In any case, it's one of the "IRS Free File participants" according to the OPs link.

Alupis 3y ago
> In any case, it's one of the "IRS Free File participants" according to the OPs link. Indeed, but without the $79,000 AGI maximum.

cobrabyte 3y ago

Yeah, I've used this for the past couple of years and will do so again this year. It's solid.

toomuchtodo 3y ago

Using the IRS' option (Direct File) [1] [2], if able, shows uptake, which will be used to gauge success and continued operation and improvement. If you can use it, you should. It is how for profit tax prep gets driven to the margins, and is eventually sunset (except for perhaps the most complex returns). > Just use FreeTaxUSA... That is how the status quo remains. Hasn't served us well to be honest. Of course, use FreeTaxUSA to avoid paid options if you don't fall into the IRS pilot criteria. But if you fall into the criteria, please consider participating. [1] https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/strategic-plan/direct-file https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/strategic-plan/direct-file [2] https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/a-closer-look-at-the-irs-direct-file-pilot https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/a-closer-look-at-the-irs-direc... (i want my tax filing provided by the IRS directly, and as frictionless as possible; ymmv)

Alupis 3y ago
> Using the IRS' option, if able, shows uptake, which will be used to gauge success and continued operation and improvement. If you can use it, you should. It is how for profit tax prep gets driven to the margins, and is eventually sunset (except for perhaps the most complex returns). FreeTaxUSA is part of the IRS' free filing program, except it exceeds the IRS standards by offering free Federal Filing for any AGI... no maximum. FreeTaxUSA is already marginalizing tax filing software. It cannot get cheaper than free. Additionally, they're the cheapest/easiest State Filing system I am aware of. > > Just use FreeTaxUSA... > That is how the status quo remains. Hasn't done very well for us tbh. This is exactly how the status quo is destroyed. FreeTaxUSA provides the same outcome as vastly more expensive software and/or tax preparation services, at no cost to you for Federal Returns.
- toomuchtodo 3y ago
  We're simply at an impasse because you prefer the non government option, and I expect my government to provide it.
  - Alupis 3y ago
    I don't believe you actually are aware of what you are talking about. There is no government option currently, except manually filling out forms. Furthermore, it is naïve to believe the government will provide better service and/or usability than a private organization who's entire existence and purpose is to make submitting tax returns easy.

tomcar288 3y ago

I've been using them for a couple of years for now and I think they're awesome!