How To: File Taxes for Free
Fri Feb 9, 2007 4:34PM EST
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In response to readers' questions about free tax-preparation tools and software, I've pulled together this list. All seem best for taxpayers with straightforward, uncomplicated tax returns. A few have been recommended by readers, but I have yet to try them. If you have worked with any of them, let us know the good and the bad.
The Internal Revenue Service deems that taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $52,000 or less in 2006 can file taxes at no charge. That means 70 percent of taxpayers (95 million) can file their taxes for free. Here's a full list of IRS-approved services you can use for e-filing.
All of the following services are on that list and some basic versions are available for free for others taxpayers, too.
TaxACT Standard - Free for filling out and e-filing federal tax forms, either on web-based forms or by downloading forms onto your computer. The free service says it includes over-the-phone and web technical support, but it does not include state tax forms. You'll pay $12.95 for those.
TaxSlayer - Free for active duty military personnel. And only $9.95 to prepare federal and state tax returns online.
H&R Block TaxCut Free File - For taxpayers age 50 and under with an adjusted gross income of $52,000.
TurboTax Freedom Edition - Free for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $28,500; taxpayers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit and have an and AGI of $38,348; and active duty military members with an AGI of $52,000.
CompleteTax - Free for taxpayers with an AGI of $29,000.
For more info, check out this about.com page, which has reviews on free and for-fee tax-preparation tools and software.
Related:
Tick, Tick, Tick: Tax Time Approaches
A Closer Look at TurboTax
Comments on How To: File Taxes for Free
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Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
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2 Posted by candi591 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse
It would have been nice to know this weeks ago when I filed my taxes. Jeez!
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3 Posted by fpenha2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:02PM EDT Report Abuse
In Miami-Dade County, there's the Prosperity Campaign and you'll to find many locations that offer free tax preparation. Visit their website at www.prosperitycampaign.org
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4 Posted by kawelch on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:48PM EDT Report Abuse
This would have been useful had I not already filed my taxes.
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5 Posted by jcwawas4 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse
THIS WAS A VERY NICE PAGE OF INFO. THAT I WAS ABLE TO USE. THANK YOU!!!!
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6 Posted by ivegot2angels on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse
My husband is active duty military, last year we filed with Turbotax, this year with H&R Block's, I really like them both, Turbo tax asks more questions to make sure they get everything, you have to manually go in and check everything with H&R Blocks, but they both have audit support and free help on the phone (which I used this year, but not last) all in all I loved both and would use both again, though my favorite remains TurboTax
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7 Posted by jax_jobs_now on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse
I used the free on-line tax fileing service offered by H&R Block. Recommended for its ease of use and concise instructions.
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8 Posted by jake_csj on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse
freetaxusa.com is a good one. I am an accountant so I end of doing taxes for many of my friends and relatives, and this is the site I use. It's free and easy to navigate through.
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9 Posted by texas_shammer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:01PM EDT Report Abuse
I've used the TaxSlayer site the entire time I was in the military. It's easy to use, self explanitory and best of all free. It will work for those that want to file that aren't free and the rates vary based on what kind of return you need
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10 Posted by voinsanity on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse
Obviously you fell under the 75% and couldn't wait to send off your tax return. Instead of posting complaints you could have found out about this with the same amount of effort. It's not like this was a huge secret. Just because you already filed your taxes doesn't mean everybody else did.
1 Posted by usmctn82 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:29PM EDT Report Abuse
www.taxengine.com is also a great site to file your taxes..Low cost, and very easy questions