Author Topic: myfreetaxes. com  (Read 5830 times)

Guizmo

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myfreetaxes. com
« on: January 30, 2014, 11:55:50 AM »
Has any one used this site to file their taxes? I qualify under the income requirements but this year I will have to file Schedule E, I believe, as I have acquired a rental property and I'm not sure if I could do it with them.

Any reviews or prior experience?

Thanks!

Random Hangers

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Re: myfreetaxes. com
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2014, 06:57:30 AM »
I don't have any experience with that site in particular, unfortunately. But I've used Tax Act for the last few years and have been pleased. Just the right amount of handholding and explanations. Sorry can't be of more help...

teen persuasion

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Re: myfreetaxes. com
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2014, 07:50:44 AM »
I found that it is just a front for H&R Block. I also found that they couldn't do the AOC properly - I have a DD in college, and the sw decided that we weren't eligible for any college tuition credits. TurboTax did it correctly, though.

Yay NYS, dropping TurboTax and picking up this company! :(

MustachianAccountant

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Re: myfreetaxes. com
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2014, 08:02:09 AM »
I found that it is just a front for H&R Block.

I believe that MyFreeTaxes.com is associated with the IRS VITA program, not H&R Block. However, H&R *may* be the ones supplying the software... I doubt the IRS has their own proprietary software just for the VITA program. The IRS and H&R have a well-known (in the tax industry, anyways) *ahem* "relationship."

chicagomeg

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Re: myfreetaxes. com
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2014, 08:42:46 AM »
I found that it is just a front for H&R Block.

I believe that MyFreeTaxes.com is associated with the IRS VITA program, not H&R Block. However, H&R *may* be the ones supplying the software... I doubt the IRS has their own proprietary software just for the VITA program. The IRS and H&R have a well-known (in the tax industry, anyways) *ahem* "relationship."

The VITA programs use TaxWise software, which is also used by professional preparers.

teen persuasion

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Re: myfreetaxes. com
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2014, 08:54:46 AM »
Tax filing software is provided through MyFreeTaxes.com and powered by H&R Block.

The above is copied from the website, and when you click through to begin filing you are on H&R Block's site.

MustachianAccountant

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Re: myfreetaxes. com
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2014, 11:21:19 AM »
I found that it is just a front for H&R Block.

I believe that MyFreeTaxes.com is associated with the IRS VITA program, not H&R Block. However, H&R *may* be the ones supplying the software... I doubt the IRS has their own proprietary software just for the VITA program. The IRS and H&R have a well-known (in the tax industry, anyways) *ahem* "relationship."

The VITA programs use TaxWise software, which is also used by professional preparers.
Right, but really busy VITA sites also point more tech savvy clients to MyFreeTaxes... hence the assumed connection. I do remember hearing something about TaxWise being an H&R product - like maybe a stripped down version of what they use. I don't know, I could be mis-remembering that. It's certainly not an Intuit (Turbo Tax) or 2nd Story (TaxAct) product, and there's a really short list of companies that actually produce tax prep software.
**Edit: Went to the TaxWise website. Looks like TaxWise is a CCH product, not H&R Block. So now I have no idea why VITA sites point people to MyFreeTaxes. Throw the United Way's influence in there, and it gets really confusing: http://www.unitedway.org/our-work/earned-income-tax-credit-and-free-tax-prep
At any rate, I don't believe any part of MyFreeTaxes should charge you anything - not state, not efiling. I'm guessing that you would get dumped into the H&R Block paid version if you were over the income limits... which, if true, would be a pretty sweet deal for them.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2014, 11:29:13 AM by MustachianAccountant »