Is it possible to do one's taxes for free?

[undeterred]

The last two or three years I have used TurboTax and I end up dumping almost $50 to file online. I don't get forms for State or Federal in the mail anymore. I'd like to not pay to file, if there is a way...

[TZ]

1. The old fashoned way

Mail it in. I don't think you can find efile for free. You can use Turbotax and just print out your forms and send them in.

[flvegan]

2. Download the forms and booklets from IRS.gov, fill them out

online, print, mail. Free!

[no name no slogan]

3. If you do it online, and have income below a certain level

I believe you can e-file for free if your AGI is below like $50k or something like that. Don't quote me on it, but you could probably find out on the IRS web site.

[LeftyMom]

4. Sure, for simple forms assuming you don't make a bundle.

http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

Most of the free services will charge a few bucks to efile your state return. I just re-enter my info on the FTB's website and do that for free too. http://www.ftb.ca.gov/online/calfile/index.asp

edit: It's worth it to efile if you're getting money back, you get it several weeks faster than if you mail in your forms. Less than two weeks from filing to money if you do direct deposit.

[undeterred]

5. Thanks I will check it out.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

6. Go to Tax Act!!!

http://www.taxact.com

And if and when we do get another stimulus check you can get it through direct deposit and you won't have problems like a lot of people did last year.

[blogslut]

7. Absolutely

As long as your gross income is under a certain amount. I've filed mine free, for the last six years from here:

http://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/info

[Silver Swan]

8. This year

It looks like there is no AGI limit to e-file free. Go to the IRS site--www.irs.gov-- and follow the links.

Even last year, I e-filed free with Tax Act, although I was over the AGI limit for the IRS free file. I went to Tax Act through the IRS site and was able to file free. I didn't need any assistance with the forms--I had filled them out ahead of time. This year, it looks like free filing is available to most folks.

[CharmCity]

9. www.freefile.com

FYI, this is an agreement between the IRS and software companies -- not an ad.

[Blue Dog Dominion]

10. Not if you put any value on your time

It sounds like your AGI is above the 54k minimum to get free file. Unless you are getting a uber amount back, just mail it in.

[Blue Diadem]

11. You may be able to do your state taxes through your state tax website.

Ours has a link to e-file for free.

For the IRS, go directly to their site and find a company. If you make under 56,000 it's free.

[SKKY]

12. I'm not sure, other than the old fashioned way...

...I used TaxAct and it only cost me $15.00, or something like that. I was less than $20.00, I know that.

[valerief]

13. Taxes are never free. You have to pay them. Well, unless you're rich. nt

[undeterred]

14. Yeah, then you can conveniently forget.

[krispos42]

15. The tax forms are in PDF format when you download them from the IRS

You can also just enter the information into the PDF form and re-save them. That's what I did.

They don't do math, so if you fuck up you're on your own, but it's a lot more legible than writing in a form.



What I actually did was use the forms the IRS sent me (and which are available at your local library) to fill things out by hand and do the math, then once I had things right I punched them into the PDF and printed them out.

Came out really nice, and I have them saved for future reference.