Totally free tax prep and e-file?

A

a.k.a. Patrick

New member
So my 19 yr old son went to the IRS.gov tax prep site to prepare and e-file his 06 taxes this evening. After 2 hours of entry, they want to charge him $25.00! That would be great if it was my tax prep and e-file, but to a 19 yr old, $25.00 is $25.00! Does anyone out there know of a site that actually offers what they preach?
 
I haven't tried it, but my bro-in-law said he used TaxAct.com. I guess it's just a $12.95 filing fee.
 
Go to IRS.gov and click on FreeFile on the left hand side. So long as you meet the requirements, you can get free tax prep and e-file from a whole bunch of companies. I used it while I was in college. I would recommend using someone like TurboTax or H&R Block. I don't meet the requirements anymore, so I just use my own tax prep software and file it the old-fashioned way.
 
Another government conspiracy here !



In Canada 60% of Canadians file their tax returns online and the governement even saves paper and labour with electronic tax returns, so why isn't the software supplied by the tax department instead of private software companies, I mean the government can pay the private companies to develop the software and pay them a lump sum ?
 
we CAN do that in the US, its just that the Income Tax code is so incomprehensible that anyone who isn't single, or has children can't really use such a system with any certanty its correct.
 
If he meets the requirements (if his adjusted gross income is less than $28,500 a year)



Intuit Tax Freedom Project



I've been using this for the past couple of years. Never paid a dime to file.



[Edit] I guess CA isn't on that list of qualified states, sorry :sadwavey: (Assuming he lives in the same state as you)
 
From my experience, in the past I was able to find places that would do one for free but charge a fee for another. One year I used 2 different places that offered free tax filing to submit my federal and state taxes online. IMO, it was a major hassle just to get my taxes done for free.



If he's only 19 and is going to be filing a 1040EZ, make him go to the post office to pick up a booklet and form. It is SUPER SIMPLE, so long as you can read basic English and can do basic adding and subtracting. Anyone who couldn't perform this shouldn't even be allowed to graduate from high school.
 
I've been e-filing for years and what I've always seen with various companies is that they entice you in with free federal filing, then charge you $25 or so to e-file your state taxes at the same time. Is there a chance that's what happened to your son?
 
velobard said:
I've been e-filing for years and what I've always seen with various companies is that they entice you in with free federal filing, then charge you $25 or so to e-file your state taxes at the same time. Is there a chance that's what happened to your son?
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Nailed it! bastuhds!
 
BlackElantraGT said:
He could always just take advantage of the free federal efile, and do his state by mail using a form and booklet.
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Yes, except when I get to that part there's a disclaimer that some states require you to e-file if you e-filed your federal return. I have no idea which states those are.
 
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