E-filing taxes: How can I tell if an e-file site/service is legitimate?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

The IRS.gov site doesn't list any sites as being okay or not okay.

It's after hours for the IRS phone line people and googling specific information about this is surprisingly difficult.

[ananda]

1. OLT is good.

..

[yeoman6987]

2. I have used Turbotax for 5 years no issues.

[MANative]

3. I also used TurboTax. Cost for software...

and extra state return (non-resident income) totaled about $120. Subtract at least $40 if you only have one state return. Some states file free, others don't. Had to pay $25 for that (included in the $120). Received digital confirmation that my returns were received and accepted by both states and federal.

[leftofcool]

4. Turbo Tax!

[OKNancy]

5. TurboTax here as well

I get a discount with my Vanguard account.
Also Triple A has a discount I think and AARP.

[VanillaRhapsody]

6. I have used FreeTaxUSA for several years now and been totally satisfied.

[lovemydog]

7. I use TaxAct and I like it.

I know it's only doing' taxes but ah liiiike it.

[FSogol]

10. Same here. n/t

[JanMichael]

8. my lovely spouse used a pencil and did it with a calculator.

Do not fall for the "get your billions back" bullshit,
.

Unless you are a freaky rich and have weird investments that make no sense or are hiding income use a pencil and do a draft. Follow the instructions like subtract box 4 from box 5. Simple math.

It is not rocket science.

Also if you don't have much money there are still groups that do it for free.

Keep your millions America - take 30 minutes and do it yourself on paper.

[dsc]

9. I used HRBlock filed for free as my income was low enough to do so

I think a bit over 50k is the cutoff.

[RiverLover]

11. I've used TaxAct.com for the past 4 years I think.

Highly recommend.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. I guess my issue is I just used a site (e-file.com) and everything was apparently accepted. But then

I realized that I had given them all this information but I couldn't be sure it wasn't a big identity theft scam. The IRS site doesn't list any specific sites as being legit or not legit because they don't want to appear to endorse any particular service, so I wanted to call to make sure that e-file.com is legit but it's after hours.

Hopefully I'm worried about nothing.

[brooklynite]

13. E-file.com is A-Rated by the Better Business Bureau...

sleep well

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. Thanks. I got the email saying my return had been accepted by IRS, realized it was from e-file.

And looking back on when I've e-filed with TurboTax, I realized that the emails I got were from Intuit (the company) and not the IRS also. So I was wanting some kind of direct verification from the IRS itself that my stuff was received. Long story why I used e-file.com this time.

I'd never given this much thought but a NUMBER of people I know have had phony returns submitted in their identity by crooks in recent years, and these are well off, sophisticated people too. So now I worry a lot more about all this stuff.

[RiverLover]

16. I agree. Its safe & all is well.

It is unsettling the first time you file online though. I get your concern. Its better than having to go to H&R block though. So easy. And someone could hack them the same as anyone else. Or hack the IRS for that matter. Its all a crap shoot.

[snooper2]

15. Turbo Tax Was HACKED!

LOL-

in a couple business days

[jberryhill]

17. Depends on what you mean by "legitimate"

Nothing is completely safe.

I'll PM you my paypal address, send me what you owe, and I'll make sure it gets to the IRS securely.