[HN Gopher] FreeTaxUSA
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       FreeTaxUSA
        
       Author : Alupis
       Score  : 54 points
       Date   : 2024-01-10 22:17 UTC (42 minutes ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.freetaxusa.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.freetaxusa.com)
        
       | jytechdevops wrote:
       | great and cheap product, I remember using this when I realized I
       | was paying so much for H&R. I don't remember the exact amount but
       | I remember being shocked at seeing how cheap it was (low 2 digits
       | if I recall). pretty easy to use as well. highly recommend for
       | anyone who has just a couple of w2s and maybe a trading account
       | or two.
        
       | gimbalpirate wrote:
       | This provides exactly the same service as every $150+ overpriced
       | tax filing product you've ever paid (ie been scammed) for. Highly
       | recommend. Hopefully the new IRS software will make even this
       | obsolete.
        
         | gregw2 wrote:
         | I am not sure how to evaluate security of my data across Saas
         | tax web apps, but I am warier of smaller scrapier players on
         | that front having worked at startups.
         | 
         | Their website is not reassuring to a web/database developer
         | like myself who is aware of some of the loopholes, threats
         | (insiders, developers) and protection options (separating db
         | admin from masking admin, etc).
         | 
         | I do appreciate their claim to not resell access at all. I have
         | no confidence with Intuit's claims on this subject when I have
         | repeatedly evaluated their language.
        
       | driscoll42 wrote:
       | Best way to file taxes. I'll usually do this and one or two of
       | the more expensive services just to make sure my numbers line up,
       | and then file with FreeTaxUSA.
        
         | Alupis wrote:
         | I did that my first two years - H&R Block for me. The numbers
         | came out identical.
        
       | nahtnam wrote:
       | Can you import from Robinhood/Apex/etc yet?
        
         | ceejayoz wrote:
         | Do you need to? Robinhood gives me a year end summary with
         | short/long term gain/loss totals I can readily plug in.
        
       | mjamesaustin wrote:
       | I wish they shared more info about what the deluxe version
       | includes. I have a small business with very simple operations,
       | but that often precludes me from using other tax filing software.
       | They don't seem to have any info on whether they cover that in
       | any of their versions.
        
         | Sohcahtoa82 wrote:
         | Deluxe just adds more support features.
         | 
         | As far as filing and forms, FreeTaxUSA supports EVERYTHING for
         | federal taxes, for free. The $8 deluxe upgrade just gives you
         | live chat and priority support. Pro gives you personal phone
         | support to a tax pro.
        
           | teraflop wrote:
           | Not quite everything, there's a (short) list of unsupported
           | forms here: https://www.freetaxusa.com/forms-federal
           | 
           | I found this out one year because they don't fully support
           | Form 8283, which I needed in order to handle a deduction of a
           | cryptocurrency donation to charity.
           | 
           | But apart from that, they've been great. And your main point
           | is correct in that they don't _upcharge_ for any of their
           | supported forms.
        
         | Alupis wrote:
         | Deluxe gets you live chat if you need it. Pro gives you phone
         | support. That's basically it.
         | 
         | The free version gives you everything else. For
         | small/individual biz, you can file Schedule C, K-1, etc with
         | free version.
        
         | tpmoney wrote:
         | As far as I understand it the deluxe version is basically the
         | "the online help isn't answering my question and I want to talk
         | to a real person" / "I may need to file amended returns"
         | option. But none of the actual filing functionality is locked
         | behind it. I know none of the simple 1099 self sole proprietor
         | stuff needed deluxe in previous years.
        
         | codingdave wrote:
         | They have that info right here:
         | https://www.freetaxusa.com/deluxe
         | 
         | And they specifically state small business support here:
         | https://www.freetaxusa.com/pricing
        
       | Sohcahtoa82 wrote:
       | I used to use TurboTax Free Edition, constantly frustrated with
       | all the dark patterns used to try to trick you into switching to
       | non-free. Eventually I started making too much to use Free
       | Edition, which is right around the time Credit Karma started
       | offering free tax filing, but I hated CK's UI/UX. It made it easy
       | to miss a deduction, and it did once. I used TT to basically
       | "prepare" my taxes, but not actually file so I don't get charged,
       | then prepared with CK and found a discrepancy. I was able to find
       | and fix it and get my full refund.
       | 
       | But then some years ago, someone recommended FreeTaxUSA, and it's
       | _great_. UI /UX is fine, federal filing is free, and state filing
       | is only $15.
       | 
       | I've been using FreeTaxUSA for a few years now. 10/10 would
       | recommend.
        
         | lcnPylGDnU4H9OF wrote:
         | > Credit Karma started offering free tax filing
         | 
         | This seems much like an "illusion of choice" situation. Credit
         | Karma and Turbo Tax are both owned by Intuit. (Not that you
         | were fooled by the illusion, just that it stuck out to me.)
        
           | nearting wrote:
           | Credit Karma spun their tax service off to Cash App. So
           | Intuit doesn't own both.
        
           | micromacrofoot wrote:
           | Credit Karma had to sell their tax filing offering to
           | complete the sale, so Intuit doesn't own it:
           | https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN285275/
        
         | sand500 wrote:
         | California let's you file state taxes for free through the
         | state:
         | 
         | https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/inde...
        
       | wifipunk wrote:
       | I've used turbotax for the last decade. They lure you in with
       | free services for enlisted military or other discounts, then make
       | it feel as annoying as possible to switch.
       | 
       | Realizing how much I've been ripped off now I think this is the
       | year I'm finally going to switch.
        
       | Animats wrote:
       | Is this Intuit's racket to divert people from the IRS site?
        
         | ceejayoz wrote:
         | No, this is a competitor with far fewer dark patterns. I've
         | used them happily the last three years.
        
       | sand500 wrote:
       | Cash app let's you file both federal and state taxes for free. It
       | was formally Credit Karma's free tax filing program that was
       | divested after they were acquired by Intuit.
        
       | c_s_guy wrote:
       | Anyone know of a Canadian equivalent?
        
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       (page generated 2024-01-10 23:00 UTC)