FreeTaxUSA.com now has 2018 Return available.

[donaldfair71]

Thank you for the heads-up! I used it last year, am a big fan, and was recently looking for an estimator calc. This is even better!

Thanks again for keeping the board in the loop.

[Blues]

Thanks. Been waiting for this year's version to become available.

[chisey]

Do you all use FreeTaxUsa to actually file your return, or just do do tax planning and preparation? I hadn't heard of it but the reviews look good.

[donaldfair71]

Do you all use FreeTaxUsa to actually file your return, or just do do tax planning and preparation? I hadn't heard of it but the reviews look good.

I have used it since 2015 as my "backup checker" to TaxAct, always filing with TaxAct, until 2017. Last year, as TaxAct bumped way up in price, I just filed with FreeTax and used TaxAct as the checker. Worked fine for my fairly-simple return.

[tibbitts]

I tried it last year but had bought HRBlock for the $15 deal so I filed with that. I was happy with FreeTax; HRBlock was a bit more of a struggle due to its treatment of 457 and 403b limits, but was okay too.

My taxes came out the same with both, except for a very significant $1 due to a different rounding procedure on, of course, the dreaded and evil 8606. I believe both were correct (the instructions for rounding precision are... flexible), just different. I hope FreeTax will let me override that value if it imports my FreeTax return from last year, since that value has to be consistent with the return filed last year.

[Wabbit]

b0B, thanks for checking! I had checked last week and even emailed their support about when 2018 will be ready, but got a generic "sometime before the end of Dec" answer. When TaxAct bumped up their price I switched and it worked well for me (my taxes are relatively straightforward though).

[Blues]

Do you all use FreeTaxUsa to actually file your return, or just do do tax planning and preparation? I hadn't heard of it but the reviews look good.

I was with TaxAct for over ten years. Finally got sick of the pricing shenanigans, switched to FreeTaxUSA for prep and filing federal and state returns, and am completely satisfied.

[indexfundfan]

Does FreeTaxUSA support 1099 imports from Vanguard, Schwab and Merrill Edge?

[OAG]

Been using FTUSA for several years now. File using their FREE electronic system. Only for Federal as OH has a on-line free system for State Taxes. Don't know how FTUSA makes any money - they haven't from me.

[Blues]

I don't mind paying them what I consider a fair price for the state return and "deluxe" features.

The fact that they don't jack us around with various pricing schemes makes me want to reward them with my wallet.

Others may feel differently.

[BeTheMatch]

Do you all use FreeTaxUsa to actually file your return, or just do do tax planning and preparation? I hadn't heard of it but the reviews look good.

I was with TaxAct for over ten years. Finally got sick of the pricing shenanigans, switched to FreeTaxUSA for prep and filing federal and state returns, and am completely satisfied.

+1

[donaldfair71]

I don't mind paying them what I consider a fair price for the state return and "deluxe" features.

The fact that they don't jack us around with various pricing schemes makes me want to reward them with my wallet.

Others may feel differently.

Couldn't agree more with your entire post.

I generally go with the Deluxe as well, but it's more of a pre-emptive thank you for providing a quality product for an inexpensive price. Though, I also like the protections they claim to provide.

[Blues]

I don't mind paying them what I consider a fair price for the state return and "deluxe" features.

The fact that they don't jack us around with various pricing schemes makes me want to reward them with my wallet.

Others may feel differently.

Couldn't agree more with your entire post.

I generally go with the Deluxe as well, but it's more of a pre-emptive thank you for providing a quality product for an inexpensive price. Though, I also like the protections they claim to provide.

[Edie]

Thanks for the post, it reminded me to go check taxhawk.com's website and they also have opened the 2018 returns, so starting mine later today. Will send reminder emails to the two college kids to start theirs too.

[jasc15]

Don't know how FTUSA makes any money - they haven't from me.

Can anyone offer something here? I'm skeptical of free services, and even more so given the volume of personal and financial data involved with a tax return. In fact, I can't think of anything more invasive regarding personal information than a tax return.

I've used taxact the past 2 years and have opted for the downloaded rather than web version. Perhaps a false sense of security given that their servers are used to file anyway, so having the software running on my pc is probably not any more secure.

[John151]

Does FreeTaxUSA support 1099 imports from Vanguard, Schwab and Merrill Edge?

It didn’t last year, but if you have electronic copies of your investment information, it’s easy to copy and paste. And FreeTaxUSA easily handled my capital loss carryover, my Form 8606, and my foreign tax credit. I was happy with their service, and I plan to use FreeTaxUSA going forward.

[nalor511]

I find their ability to edit prior year tax info (like 1116, 8801, etc) that's necessary to do this year's taxes, seems to be completely absent. I.e. there's nowhere in the UI that I can find to enter data from those forms from last tax year. They give me the option to import last year's tax forms completely, once, at the beginning, but since I didn't take that option I think it's gone. I can of course start over with a new account and try the import function, but it would be nice to just be able to input the numbers (like the downloadable software lets you). FYI.

[vtMaps]

Do any of these free tax programs incorporate the new 20% pass through deduction for self employed persons who file schedule C? If so, where (which form or schedule) is the deduction taken?

--vtMaps

[FiveK]

Do any of these free tax programs incorporate the new 20% pass through deduction for self employed persons who file schedule C? If so, where (which form or schedule) is the deduction taken?

The deduction goes on line 9 of the new form 1040 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/f1040--dft.pdf. I'd expect any tax program that claims to produce a filable return would incorporate it. See the line 9 instructions (page 34) in https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/i1040gi--dft.pdf.

For the various web-based and spreadsheet estimation programs, the personal finance toolbox spreadsheet is (I believe) the only currently supporting it.

[bling]

i used taxact for several years until last year, when they massively increased the price. i switched to tawhawk (parent company of freetaxusa), and it was excellent. it wasn't just some subpar free alternative, it was polished, fast, intuitive, and frankly, better than taxact.

how do they make money? they charge a reasonable fee for filing state taxes.

[Rainmaker41]

Thanks. I checked our 2018 spreadsheet against FreeTaxUSA and they agreed.

[stlutz]

Does their system allow you to views the actual tax forms while you're filling in your information? The TaxHawk website says, "You can print your return for free once you've completed the filing process." I wasn't sure if I should read that literally to mean that I can't see my forms until after I've e-filed.

That would be quite unhelpful as I know what numbers should appear where--comparing the actual tax forms vs. my W-2/1099s etc. is how I ensured that I entered everything and answered all of the questions correctly. This kind of comparison was how I found issues with H&R Block last year in having problems with the reporting of individual munis and taxable bonds in the same account.

[Derby]

Does their system allow you to views the actual tax forms while you're filling in your information? The TaxHawk website says, "You can print your return for free once you've completed the filing process." I wasn't sure if I should read that literally to mean that I can't see my forms until after I've e-filed.

You can see them before e-filing in PDF form, but IIRC, it took awhile for that to be available. I assumed they were waiting for final IRS forms before opening up that option.

[stlutz]

Thanks for the replies. I might consider this option for 2018.

[feh]

Does anybody with a K-1 use FreeTaxUSA? My LLC membership is the one aspect of our return that is uncommon.

[theplayer11]

Does anybody with a K-1 use FreeTaxUSA? My LLC membership is the one aspect of our return that is uncommon.

I entered k-1 info from s-corp last rear..no problems

[POLO]

I tried them a couple years ago and was told they don't support disqualifying dispositions for ESPP's. They also didn't allow manual editing of the form so you can't even fix it. Does anyone know if that's still the case?

[Blues]

I don't mind paying them what I consider a fair price for the state return and "deluxe" features.

The fact that they don't jack us around with various pricing schemes makes me want to reward them with my wallet.

Others may feel differently.

Couldn't agree more with your entire post.

I generally go with the Deluxe as well, but it's more of a pre-emptive thank you for providing a quality product for an inexpensive price. Though, I also like the protections they claim to provide.

I see that it says "Deluxe Gives You More
Get live chat, priority support, Audit Assist, and unlimited amended returns for only $6.99."

Does anyone know if you get Free Edition, and the later find you need to amend (after having filed) can you still upgrade to "deluxe"?

Pretty sure you're stuck with your decision prior to filing. Maybe you can splurge and just go for the extra $6.99.

[delrinson]

After several decades of filing paper returns (it was just so easy to repeat what I did from the previous year), I used FreeTaxUSA for 2018 federal and state. What initially motivated was the change in federal forms this year. It was all perfectly intuitive and streamlined....could not have been easier! Was even able to use a 10% off promo code...so got federal, state, and deluxe all for $18.

They just got a customer for life.

[Blues]

After several decades of filing paper returns (it was just so easy to repeat what I did from the previous year), I used FreeTaxUSA for 2018 federal and state. What initially motivated was the change in federal forms this year. It was all perfectly intuitive and streamlined....could not have been easier! Was even able to use a 10% off promo code...so got federal, state, and deluxe all for $18.

They just got a customer for life.

Yep. I even got my federal refund yesterday. (Overestimated my tax liability / dividends.) Easy-peasy. And no pricing shenanigans and hoops to jump through.

Two years with them and I don't see myself going elsewhere barring anything drastic and unforeseen.

[boglewill34]

I'm thrilled to learn via this thread that ftusa has been available well before the new year in the past. I had been wondering when it would likely be available next year for end of year modelling. I found it to be the best among the 3-4 different prep software that I tried this year. Not having to pay prior to seeing a draft return and a few key worksheets did it for me.

[fishnhunt]

I used FreeTAXUSA for the first time this year. Very easy process! I used TurboTax to verify before submitting because I was a little skeptical of using a new site. Much easier than TurboTax and a lot less clicking around. It seemed like TurboTax had twice as many pages and was constantly trying to get me to upgrade. It was very annoying. I will be using FreeTaxUSA from now on.

[tarnation]

I started using it for the first time, due to TaxAct increases, and everything was great until I got to 1099-R. I received it due to a Roth conversion from nondeductible TIRA. It asks have you made prior year non deductible contributions, to which I erroneously click no, then hit the back button. It didn't ask me again, and counted the whole amount taxable. I clicked the history button and selected that page and it still wouldn't ask me again. So I deleted the 1099-R and reentered, it still did not ask me again. Looks like it's a show stopper if I can't get it figured out. With Taxact I could always revert to previous saved copy.

[gscook3]

I've used Freetaxusa for several years and more often than not I run into some sort of issue with getting my backdoor Roth entered correctly (sounding very similar to what you are reporting). Some years I solve the problem within moments, other times it takes significantly longer, and I end up questioning my sanity from clicking back and forth. But I do always find a way to enter everything as it should be.

Rest assured, there is a way to get back to that screen. Keep going through things - if I remember correctly that screen normally occurs later on down the line and they just pull it forward the first time.

[SrGrumpy]

There's a coupon if you want to save 10% on your extras - freetaxusa10.

[kd2008]

There's a coupon if you want to save 10% on your extras - freetaxusa10.

Thanks! Used it tonight! Appreciate the savings!

[willthrill81]

I finished filing with them a couple of days ago, and it was very easy. Their interface is very similar to H&R Block's, but FreeTaxUSA didn't charge us anything for federal filing (no state income tax), while H&R Block was going to charge us for having an HSA.