FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

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Cuttlefish
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FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Cuttlefish »

I'm trying out Freetaxusa for the first time. I actually had my CPA electronically submit my 2024 NY state and federal tax returns already but I want to test out Freetaxusa in anticipation of using it next year without the need of a CPA.

I am using an iMac 4 (Apple Silicon) running the latest operating system (Sequoia 15.3).

I was able to get a pdf for my federal tax return but after completing my NY State tax return, I can't see a way to get a pdf of the state tax return without having to pay $14.99 first. All I get for the state return is a summary webpage but no pdf option showing the actual filled in state income tax forms. I downloaded Acrobat Reader but that doesn't solve the problem.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
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bogles the mind
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by bogles the mind »

Are you below $48000? Other than that I think state is $14.95.
Joe Public
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Joe Public »

I have not used them, but my understanding is that they charge for the state return (the federal is free). Based on that, I imagine the inability to generate an actual state return before paying is by design.
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Cuttlefish
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Cuttlefish »

Are you below $48000? Other than that I think state is $14.95
No, I'm way above that income. So are you saying that I need to pay $14.95 to get a pdf of my NY state tax return even though I won't file through Freetaxusa?
Also, I forgot to mention in my original post that I'm using the latest version of Safari. I also tried Chrome with no luck.
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cacophony
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by cacophony »

Cuttlefish wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:05 pm
Are you below $48000? Other than that I think state is $14.95
No, I'm way above that income. So are you saying that I need to pay $14.95 to get a pdf of my NY state tax return even though I won't file through Freetaxusa?
Also, I forgot to mention in my original post that I'm using the latest version of Safari. I also tried Chrome with no luck.
Yes, you can't access the pdf for state until you pay the $15.
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Cuttlefish
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Cuttlefish »

Yes, you can't access the pdf for state until you pay the $15.
Thank you! I thought I was doing something wrong but now I understand how it works. You can get a pdf of your federal tax return for free but not a pdf of your state tax return without paying.
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mjg
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by mjg »

You can use OLT.com and get all the way through to get both Federal and State PDF without paying the $9.95 to actually file the state return (and you get to seeing the fed and state PDF without filing either return).
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Cuttlefish
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Cuttlefish »

You can use OLT.com and get all the way through to get both Federal and State PDF without paying the $9.95 to actually file the state return (and you get to seeing the fed and state PDF without filing either return).
Thank you. I’ll try OLT. Good info.
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well9boy9
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by well9boy9 »

Cuttlefish wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:16 pm
Yes, you can't access the pdf for state until you pay the $15.
Thank you! I thought I was doing something wrong but now I understand how it works. You can get a pdf of your federal tax return for free but not a pdf of your state tax return without paying.
They used to give out water marked state pdf without paying, but not any more.
eukonomos
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by eukonomos »

Cuttlefish wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 6:49 pm I'm trying out Freetaxusa for the first time. I actually had my CPA electronically submit my 2024 NY state and federal tax returns already but I want to test out Freetaxusa in anticipation of using it next year without the need of a CPA.

I am using an iMac 4 (Apple Silicon) running the latest operating system (Sequoia 15.3).

I was able to get a pdf for my federal tax return but after completing my NY State tax return, I can't see a way to get a pdf of the state tax return without having to pay $14.99 first. All I get for the state return is a summary webpage but no pdf option showing the actual filled in state income tax forms. I downloaded Acrobat Reader but that doesn't solve the problem.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Do you really need to see the state tax return to test out FTU?
You've gone through the experience of entering your Fed and State taxes. How did you like it?
You have a State summary to compare the numbers with your filed State return. Is it accurate? If so, are you concerned the actual FTU state return might be inaccurate?
montanagirl
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by montanagirl »

It's there, somewhere. It is tricky to find but where you can View return you can open in a browser (or Save probably) and Print to PDF and save to your local drive.

I don't think you're going to get it without paying first though.
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Cuttlefish
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Cuttlefish »

Do you really need to see the state tax return to test out FTU?
You've gone through the experience of entering your Fed and State taxes. How did you like it?
You have a State summary to compare the numbers with your filed State return. Is it accurate? If so, are you concerned the actual FTU state return might be inaccurate?
Yes. I would like to see the state return pdf. Specifically, I want to see how it handles my 20% NY tax credit for long term care insurance on NY Form IT-249 (Claim for Long Term Care Insurance) as well as my carry over tax credit from last year for the same. The Freetaxusa numbers on the state return summary are correct.

Otherwise, Freetaxusa was easy to use. It’s for people who have some knowledge of taxes.There’s no excessive hand holding.
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Barky
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Barky »

Yes they do that to avoid freeloaders.
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GoldStar
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by GoldStar »

Barky wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:38 am Yes they do that to avoid freeloaders.
:confused
They want to avoid Freeloaders? Free is right in the name of the product, isn't it?
Maybe they should change the name to cheapertaxUSA.
That way there is no bait and switch
Tom_T
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Tom_T »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:45 am
Barky wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:38 am Yes they do that to avoid freeloaders.
:confused
They want to avoid Freeloaders? Free is right in the name of the product, isn't it?
Maybe they should change the name to cheapertaxUSA.
That way there is no bait and switch
It's called FreeTaxUSA - not FreeTaxNY or FreeTaxCA. :wink:

I would not expect a site to offer comprehensive tax preparation and filing, for all states, for free. Why would anyone do that?
GoldStar
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by GoldStar »

Tom_T wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:51 am
GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:45 am
:confused
They want to avoid Freeloaders? Free is right in the name of the product, isn't it?
Maybe they should change the name to cheapertaxUSA.
That way there is no bait and switch
It's called FreeTaxUSA - not FreeTaxNY or FreeTaxCA. :wink:

Why would you think anyone would want to spend the time and effort to maintain complex tax software, every year, and not make any money whatsoever? Answer: nobody would.
Yup - but if they don't want to attract freeloaders - don't put "free" in the name. Just saying....
I never tried them - name always made it sound like a gimmic. I guess I assumed maybe they were making money on advertising or selling other services not related to tax filing. That is how free online games, etc make money. I guess getting an actual PDF can be thought of as an extra service - I consider it part of filing my taxes (need a standard backup). Anyway - I just found the statement a bit ironic since they are obviously trying to "attract" freeloaders and not "avoid" them - bait and switch.
I will continue to use TurboTax - tax filing is not an area I am personally looking to save a few dollars on by cutting corners.
Last edited by GoldStar on Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Tom_T
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Tom_T »

I use FreeTaxUSA every year and I have no complaints. And, for most of that time, I had to file two state returns. It was certainly cheaper than Turbotax or H&R Block.

Speaking of the big names, they are hardly innocent of using deceptive come-ons. In fact, they are notorious for it.
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by eukonomos »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:58 am
... I guess I assumed maybe they were making money on advertising or selling other services not related to tax filing. That is how free online games, etc make money. I guess getting an actual PDF can be thought of as an extra service - I consider it part of filing my taxes (need a standard backup).
...
I went to their website and learned they are making money by charging for State filing and by selling other services that are related to tax filing.

Other services include audit defense, higher levels of support, amended returns, and professionally printed and bound returns.

If you do file State with them you get the PDF for your backup - it isn't extra.
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by GoldStar »

eukonomos wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:43 am
GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:58 am
... I guess I assumed maybe they were making money on advertising or selling other services not related to tax filing. That is how free online games, etc make money. I guess getting an actual PDF can be thought of as an extra service - I consider it part of filing my taxes (need a standard backup).
...
I went to their website and learned they are making money by charging for State filing and by selling other services that are related to tax filing.

Other services include audit defense, higher levels of support, amended returns, and professionally printed and bound returns.

If you do file State with them you get the PDF for your backup - it isn't extra.
So you also can't file your state return without paying them?
Anyway - I don't mean to blow this out of proportion- we live in a free capitalist society. It is just obvious to me their whole business is to attract "freeloaders".
I get invited to free dinners for retirement planners. I know they will try to sell me stuff - but I also know the dinner will really be free. There are also free TV streaming channels. I know the actual shows will actually be shown for free. I do know I will have to watch advertisements related to other products and services. In the case of FreeTaxUSA - seems I can't really use their product to file my taxes for free unless I am in a taxfree state. Maybe FreeFederalFileTax would be less misleading - but that is certainly not an easy name to say.
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by tibbitts »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:00 am In the case of FreeTaxUSA - seems I can't really use their product to file my taxes for free unless I am in a taxfree state. Maybe FreeFederalFileTax would be less misleading - but that is certainly not an easy name to say.
Although I don't remember the details, when I first used FreeTaxUSA years ago I knew going in that state would not be free. So I wonder how many Bogleheads have gotten to the point of completing a federal return on FreeTaxUSA without knowing they would have to pay to file state if they chose to. Not that I think that's impossible but I wonder to what extent what seemed (to some) to be a free state e-file "offer" attracted customers.

Also you could argue that this thread subject/title is similarly misleading in that it should read "FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf without paying?" You would have to read the details to know this wasn't a question of simply how to use the product for someone who had already paid for the state functionality.
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by GoldStar »

tibbitts wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:34 am Also you could argue that this thread subject/title is similarly misleading in that it should read "FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf without paying?" You would have to read the details to know this wasn't a question of simply how to use the product for someone who had already paid for the state functionality.
The OP had no idea that was the problem when they posed the original question. This kind of proves the point that one assumes it is "free".
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Gort »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:00 am
eukonomos wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:43 am

I went to their website and learned they are making money by charging for State filing and by selling other services that are related to tax filing.

Other services include audit defense, higher levels of support, amended returns, and professionally printed and bound returns.

If you do file State with them you get the PDF for your backup - it isn't extra.
So you also can't file your state return without paying them?
Anyway - I don't mean to blow this out of proportion- we live in a free capitalist society. It is just obvious to me their whole business is to attract "freeloaders".
I get invited to free dinners for retirement planners. I know they will try to sell me stuff - but I also know the dinner will really be free. There are also free TV streaming channels. I know the actual shows will actually be shown for free. I do know I will have to watch advertisements related to other products and services. In the case of FreeTaxUSA - seems I can't really use their product to file my taxes for free unless I am in a taxfree state. Maybe FreeFederalFileTax would be less misleading - but that is certainly not an easy name to say.
FreeTaxUSA is very upfront with their pricing including fees for state tax filing and other optional opt-in services should a person need additional help. Their fee structure is on their homepage and you can review it even before starting the process of tax form data entry. It's clearly not click bait as click bait typically doesn't reveal their fees until you finish going through the process of filling out required forms or providing other relevant information. I think their business model is to attract customers who may choose to use their optional services including state tax returns. I don't think it's to attract freeloaders - I think it's to attract potential fee paying customers. That may be a subtle difference but with their upfront fees clearly explained I think it's a great business model.
Last edited by Gort on Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
GoldStar
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by GoldStar »

Gort wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:08 am I don't think it's to attract freeloaders - why would they want to specifically do that?
How do explain why they would put the word "Free" in name of the product other than to attract freeloaders?

We all like free and when I see that word - it might attract me thinking it will be free.

I gave some examples above - I think "FreeVee" is or was a free streaming channel. They want to attract freeloaders since their income comes from advertisers and not viewers. This type of model is why you would want to attract freeloaders. When you can drive income from another source versus your primary user.
Otherwise, it is bait and switch.
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by tibbitts »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:01 am
tibbitts wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:34 am Also you could argue that this thread subject/title is similarly misleading in that it should read "FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf without paying?" You would have to read the details to know this wasn't a question of simply how to use the product for someone who had already paid for the state functionality.
The OP had no idea that was the problem when they posed the original question. This kind of proves the point that one assumes it is "free".
Except that in the body of the question the OP mentions the fee, so it was at least clear that there were (at least) two possible paths through the software: free and paid. The OP can comment but my guess is that the idea that there might be no way to get a pdf without paying might have occurred to the OP.
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by eukonomos »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:01 am
tibbitts wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:34 am Also you could argue that this thread subject/title is similarly misleading in that it should read "FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf without paying?" You would have to read the details to know this wasn't a question of simply how to use the product for someone who had already paid for the state functionality.
The OP had no idea that was the problem when they posed the original question. This kind of proves the point that one assumes it is "free".
Nope.
You can't use FreeTaxUSA assuming Fed and State are free. It's all over their website. Fed $0 State $14.99
OP's CPA already filed the taxes. OP wanted to test out (not file with) FTU (for free) and asked the very reasonable question of how the see the State return PDF without actually e-filing (and paying).
The question comes up here every year. The answer is you cannot with FreeTaxUSA, but you can with OLT.com
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Gort
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by Gort »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:11 am
Gort wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:08 am I don't think it's to attract freeloaders - why would they want to specifically do that?
How do explain why they would put the word "Free" in name of the product other than to attract freeloaders?

We all like free and when I see that word - it might attract me thinking it will be free.

I gave some examples above - I think "FreeVee" is or was a free streaming channel. They want to attract freeloaders since their income comes from advertisers and not views. This type of model is why you would want to attract freeloaders. When you can drive income from another source versus your primary user.
Otherwise, it is bait and switch.
I was editing my previous post to clarify it a bit while you were responding, There is no advertising on FreeTax USA. Fees are clearly visible on the homepage. I don't understand your angst in this matter. Bottom line, if you are not happy with what FreeTaxUSA offers, don't use it and save your $14.99! End of conversation.
GoldStar
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by GoldStar »

Gort wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:22 am
GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:11 am

How do explain why they would put the word "Free" in name of the product other than to attract freeloaders?

We all like free and when I see that word - it might attract me thinking it will be free.

I gave some examples above - I think "FreeVee" is or was a free streaming channel. They want to attract freeloaders since their income comes from advertisers and not views. This type of model is why you would want to attract freeloaders. When you can drive income from another source versus your primary user.
Otherwise, it is bait and switch.
I was editing my previous post to clarify it a bit while you were responding, There is no advertising on FreeTax USA. Fees are clearly visible on the homepage. I don't understand your angst in this matter. Bottom line, if you are not happy with what FreeTaxUSA offers, don't use it and save your $14.99! End of conversation.
Nope - I won't let the conversation end there since you missed the point.
I don't have any angst at all and I don't use it. I pay more for TurboTax. No idea if I would be happy with them or not.
I was just stating a counter opinion when someone said they wanted to avoid freeloaders. I very much believe they want to attract freeloaders. If you disagree that is fine. I don't believe there is any othrr explanation why they would lead with the word "Free" otherwise.
GoldStar
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by GoldStar »

tibbitts wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:16 am
GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:01 am

The OP had no idea that was the problem when they posed the original question. This kind of proves the point that one assumes it is "free".
Except that in the body of the question the OP mentions the fee, so it was at least clear that there were (at least) two possible paths through the software: free and paid. The OP can comment but my guess is that the idea that there might be no way to get a pdf without paying might have occurred to the OP.
So to avoid any confusion (someone else mentioned this question comes up every year) what they could do is not let you start or see anything related to state until after you make your payment.
tibbitts
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Re: FreetaxUSA - How to get state tax pdf ?

Post by tibbitts »

GoldStar wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:15 pm
tibbitts wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:16 am
Except that in the body of the question the OP mentions the fee, so it was at least clear that there were (at least) two possible paths through the software: free and paid. The OP can comment but my guess is that the idea that there might be no way to get a pdf without paying might have occurred to the OP.
So to avoid any confusion (someone else mentioned this question comes up every year) what they could do is not let you start or see anything related to state until after you make your payment.
Agreed, that would be helpful.
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