In the past, I’ve filed taxes on paper. Right now, due to the flooding fiasco, I don’t have access to my printer, and I’d need to pick up envelopes and stamps. So I’m considering doing it online, but the irs website directs users to a selection of free filing software.
Does anyone have experience with this? Is any of this software safe, accessible, and Mac-compatible?
Thanks.
I generally had been using the H&R Block free-file that the IRS directs people to for years, until I went 10-99 a year ago. Dang, they sure gouge you on simple computer algorithm tax preparation these days.
I have used TurboTax in the past and never had any issues. Since I started doing the ride sharing thing, I have been able to use their self employed part and it has been easy as well. Only downside is it is a little pricey.
The irs site lists:
TurboTax ® All Free SM
H&R Block’s Free File
FreeTaxUSA® Totally Free SM
1040. com Free File Edition
TaxAct®Free File
Not sure what SM stands for.
I don’t know, either. Service Mark? Hmm. Yeah, I think so.
I used TurboTax for years, and it saved me buckets of money. Paid for itself every year several times over, and it was easy to use. I used it again this year since I made so little $ last year. It was still great.
But I’m afraid it’s not 100% animation-free. Not too bad, but still has more than it absolutely needs.
Tried the online filing years ago, but went back to paper, so I can’t recommend one, but I will suggest to make sure to keep copies of everything (print to PDF or something) in a place where you’ll easily be able to find them again next year and afterwards.
Whichever one we used at the time (might’ve been two different ones in successive years) required you to enter data from previous returns to authenticate before you could file a new one, but without that information, you also couldn’t log in to look up that information in your account.
I used TurboTax in the past and really liked it. Thought the software was excellent.