Author Topic: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?  (Read 5951 times)

LetItGrow

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Re: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?
« Reply #50 on: February 08, 2020, 10:45:46 AM »
I was hoping to find a lot of 'that free xxxxx system is bad' in here so I could blindly keep paying TurboT. But no, now y’all are going to make me do some more reading.

I expect some changes this year that could complicate next year's return, so I am a little motivated to save a few bucks for last year's.

Peachtea

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Re: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?
« Reply #51 on: February 09, 2020, 09:12:59 AM »
+1 for credit karma. I switched from Turbo Tax the year after they made me “upgrade” to the paid version to handle the non-taxable reimbursement code in my w2. The irony being that I paid turbo tax more to do my taxes that year b/c of the code than I saved on not being taxed for the reimbursement.

Credit karma is not quite as intuitive as turbo tax, but still easy to use if you have a rough idea of what you need. I.e. instead of a prompt for student loan interest deduction, I had to use their search box for “other” income or deductions. But that was still easy to do and I guess that method saves you from the 100 questions game.

simonsez

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Re: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?
« Reply #52 on: February 14, 2020, 11:49:51 AM »
Welp, Form 8889 (for claiming a deduction on Schedule 1 due to HSA contributions) is still not available on FFFF and confirmed on the IRS website. 

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/list-of-available-free-file-fillable-forms

Considering changing servicers - can someone confirm that Form 8889 is there for FreeTaxUSA or any other free service (that isn't for low income)?

OzzieandHarriet

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Re: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?
« Reply #53 on: February 14, 2020, 12:47:01 PM »
I signed up for FreetaxUSA but missed the prompt (if there was one) to upload last year’s return. Contacted customer support with great difficulty because the online help feature didn’t work and was told if I didn’t upload prior year at the beginning I could never do it. Also was told I couldn’t delete the account because of “IRS regulations.” The only way to get my personal info out of there, they said, was to enter fake info and save it.

So no, won’t be using them.

I may try TT again, but the prior year issue is a problem with them, too, apparently.  Have to use the home business option ($75) because of Schedule C income. Still cheaper than the tax preparer we used last year.

Chris @ Saturday Financial

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Re: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?
« Reply #54 on: February 14, 2020, 01:07:14 PM »
Welp, Form 8889 (for claiming a deduction on Schedule 1 due to HSA contributions) is still not available on FFFF and confirmed on the IRS website. 

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/list-of-available-free-file-fillable-forms

Considering changing servicers - can someone confirm that Form 8889 is there for FreeTaxUSA or any other free service (that isn't for low income)?

I just did a test. Yes, FreeTaxUSA includes Form 8889. One thing I like about FreeTaxUSA as compared to TurboTax is that FreeTaxUSA allows you the option to see a preview of each form as you walk through the process. This is incredibly helpful. For me, it was been a TurboTax pain point for years that they wouldn't let me see the forms until the process was almost complete.

Roots&Wings

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Re: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?
« Reply #55 on: February 19, 2020, 11:02:42 AM »
Welp, Form 8889 (for claiming a deduction on Schedule 1 due to HSA contributions) is still not available on FFFF and confirmed on the IRS website. 

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/list-of-available-free-file-fillable-forms

Considering changing servicers - can someone confirm that Form 8889 is there for FreeTaxUSA or any other free service (that isn't for low income)?

Form 8889 is an available form. The Known Limitation to using this form is stated on the IRS site:

"If the Death of Account Beneficiary provision applies to you and you are not required to complete Part I, you will not be able to e-file your return with form 8889. You may complete your return, using Form 8889 and mail in your return." https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/list-of-available-free-file-fillable-forms#Form8889

terran

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Re: What's your preferred federal income tax filing vendor?
« Reply #56 on: February 19, 2020, 01:02:15 PM »
Welp, Form 8889 (for claiming a deduction on Schedule 1 due to HSA contributions) is still not available on FFFF and confirmed on the IRS website. 

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/list-of-available-free-file-fillable-forms

Considering changing servicers - can someone confirm that Form 8889 is there for FreeTaxUSA or any other free service (that isn't for low income)?

Form 8889 is an available form. The Known Limitation to using this form is stated on the IRS site:

"If the Death of Account Beneficiary provision applies to you and you are not required to complete Part I, you will not be able to e-file your return with form 8889. You may complete your return, using Form 8889 and mail in your return." https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/list-of-available-free-file-fillable-forms#Form8889

No, it's still not available in Free Fillable Forms (I just checked, it goes from 8888 to 8906), although I see from @simonsez's link that it's now supposed to be available 2/21. It was still saying TBD a few days ago.