Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Has anyone here participated the IRS "FreeFile" Program?
Old 12-17-2020, 01:11 PM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,666
Has anyone here participated the IRS "FreeFile" Program?

This year we will have a simple tax return, no small business Schedule C or other additional filing forms.

We simply have Interest (CUs call it Dividend, but it is simply interest on CDs) and an ACA subsidy form.

We were wondering if we can we use Free File for 2020? (I think the answer is yes as long as income is below ~$69k)
__________________
"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
ShokWaveRider is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-17-2020, 01:50 PM   #2
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Coronado
Posts: 3,674
Yes, you can use Free File. There's some variation between the providers as to income levels and which forms are provided, but I think all of them will have the forms you need for your return.
cathy63 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2020, 04:41 PM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
zinger1457's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,222
I've used OLT for the last 5 years and have been pleased, both FED and State returns free for qualified income.
zinger1457 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 05:40 AM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,643
Yes, it's amazing how many people don't take advantage of this program. True, it's not aimed that the high-net-worth folks who seem to be the majority now on this forum, but for anyone who is eligible it's a no-brainer.
CaptTom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 05:43 AM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,666
Thanks for all the great info. I think I may use it this year. I am just a bit concerned about doing it all online and putting my info "Out there". I will most likely use Intuit's versions as I am sure it would be based on TurboTax.

Is there a downloadable version?
__________________
"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
ShokWaveRider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 06:42 AM   #6
Moderator
Jerry1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider View Post
Thanks for all the great info. I think I may use it this year. I am just a bit concerned about doing it all online and putting my info "Out there". I will most likely use Intuit's versions as I am sure it would be based on TurboTax.

Is there a downloadable version?
Personally, I’d get the cheapest commercial version I could rather than go with the free version for exactly the concern you raised above. I wouldn’t want my data only on line. Of course, as time moves forward, the likelihood that all of our data isn’t already out there is getting less and less.

I doubt there would be a downloadable version of a free software but I don’t have 1st hand knowledge.
__________________
Every day when I open my eyes now it feels like a Saturday - David Gray
Jerry1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 06:48 AM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
zinger1457's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,222
Been using OLT for the last few years so haven't checked but as I recall all the freefile vendors were online only.
zinger1457 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 07:01 AM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
jimbee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,216
If you file electronically, isn't your tax information "out there" anyway? You file via the company that provided your tax software, not directly to the IRS as far as I know.
jimbee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 08:10 AM   #9
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Tinton Falls
Posts: 169
https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file...taxes-for-free


income limit is now <$72K
retiredunder50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 09:06 AM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Coronado
Posts: 3,674
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider View Post
Thanks for all the great info. I think I may use it this year. I am just a bit concerned about doing it all online and putting my info "Out there". I will most likely use Intuit's versions as I am sure it would be based on TurboTax.

Is there a downloadable version?
There is no downloadable version of the free file software from Intuit. Yes, it's based on TurboTax Online.

You can download your finished return in a PDF.

As for the concern about having your info "out there", keep in mind that even if you file on paper, the very first thing the IRS does is enter the numbers into an e-file. There's been plenty of news this week about suspected Russian hackers hitting many U.S. agencies, including Treasury, of which the IRS is a part; so your tax data may have already been compromised along with everyone else's.
cathy63 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 09:09 AM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,666
It seems like Turbo Tax has a Free e-file on their web site too. I did not sign in or click further than the opening screen, so it appears one can go directly through them.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal...ee-edition.jsp
__________________
"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
ShokWaveRider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 12:38 PM   #12
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
zinger1457's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider View Post
It seems like Turbo Tax has a Free e-file on their web site too. I did not sign in or click further than the opening screen, so it appears one can go directly through them.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal...ee-edition.jsp
The TurboTax Free Edition version is for very simple returns (no schedules), the TurboTax FreeFile version has income limits but supports most IRS forms.
zinger1457 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 12:45 PM   #13
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,054
Usually use Turbotax, but too cheap last year, did old fashioned paper via USPS mail. Trying H&R Block this year.
jim584672 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2020, 01:16 PM   #14
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Tinton Falls
Posts: 169
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider View Post
It seems like Turbo Tax has a Free e-file on their web site too. I did not sign in or click further than the opening screen, so it appears one can go directly through them.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal...ee-edition.jsp

I would only go through the links on the IRS page. The Turbo Tax "free edition" on its web site is not the same as the IRS free file (https://youtu.be/7xQQkzWhMOc?t=284). You hit paywalls for almost every normal scenario. By the way, I believe the income limit for Turbo Tax (and FreeTaxUSA) are significantly less than the other participants in the IRS free file program.
retiredunder50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2020, 09:20 AM   #15
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
GTFan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Ormond Beach
Posts: 1,407
Yep I've used TT free online for the past few years but the AGI limits are very low, think it was $33k last year. You do get all the forms if you qualify and it's easy to use.

Credit Karma still has free tax filing for all (for now), they've been bought by Intuit so expect this to get shut down.

If you have $1mil or more assets at Fidelity you're supposed to be able to get TT Premier for free, might have to call them if the link isn't in your portal.
GTFan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2020, 06:26 PM   #16
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,679
I found FreeTaxUSA many years ago through the IRS Free File website. I've used it for many years and been very satisfied.

They already have the 2020 tax filing available if you want to prefill your information. I do this early every year. Just be aware that the Premium Tax Credit reconciliation (8962 I think) can be filled out but so far, it's not computing correctly so don't gasp at that number. As we get closer to the date to really file all that will get straightened out.

Right now you can see a summary, later the summary is a .pdf of the 1040 forms.
__________________
Married, both 69. DH retired June, 2010. I have a pleasant little part time job.
Sue J is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Has anyone here caught the Virus, or know anyone who has? ShokWaveRider COVID-19 | Containment Area 667 05-28-2020 07:00 PM
IRS freefile rbmrtn FIRE and Money 3 01-23-2015 12:59 PM
Archaeology dig sites...have you participated? Redbugdave Life after FIRE 13 03-23-2013 12:54 PM
IRS - FreeFile Tax Prep Danny FIRE and Money 1 02-13-2009 11:59 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:50 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.