IRS Free File

[Tradd]

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free

There are two options for free filing of your federal return: free software or free fillable forms (you have to know how to do your taxes).

I think the free fillable forms are new this year, although I'm not sure. I'm peeved that your income needs to be above $58K in order to do the free fillable forms. I know how to do my taxes. I only file a 1040EZ form. I just don't want to use someone else's software. Illinois has free fillable forms.

[ToomuchStuff]

I don't know if your confused or bad typing. To use the software free file (program or locations), you need to make UNDER (not above) $58K. The forms have been downloadable and computer fill-able for at the very least 3 years. They do REQUIRE Adobe Acrobat to be downloaded and run on your computer (that was a problem for me for a while, since it wasn't originally updated for my OS; Linux).
My state has a fill-able form, that also requires Acrobat. It does operate differently though (auto calculating and some forms generate a bar code with the info embedded in it).

EDIT: I see part of your confusion. To get the fill-able forms currently you need to download them. The link on that site, takes (or will) to companies where you can do the forms (and pay for it most likely, based on what I saw last year).

Edit 2: http://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsPublications.html

[Tradd]

I do NOT to use the software free file. I've done it in the past. I plain don't like it. I just want to be able to use the fillable forms (no software). The IRS website seems to indicate you can only use the fillable forms if your income is OVER $58K.

My state has had free file with fillable forms (no software) for a few years. I run Windows with Adobe so I have no issues. I can't remember if you have to do your own math or not. Doesn't really matter to me. I've actually got my return already done on paper, just need to do it online.

Yeah, I get that you have to download the forms or whatever. Look at the IRS website. It clearly says "under $58K, free file software" and "over $58K, free file fillable forms."

I'm still going to try to see if I can free file with the fillable forms.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free

[ToomuchStuff]

We will see for sure what the "free fillable forms" are, in your link, once they start accepting and processing the returns (supposed to be Jan. 31st). The ones I linked to, do not have income restrictions, you simply fill them out on your computer and print and mail them. I am not a fan of the "free file", simply because I don't like companies having access to all my personal information, and that establishes a business relationship (allows them to junk mail, etc. you).
I downloaded and read the general 1040 instructions.....
"IFree File Fillable Forms. The IRS offers electronic versions of IRS paper forms that also can be e-filed for free. Free File Fillable Forms is best for people experienced in preparing their own tax returns. There are no income limitations. Free File Fillable Forms does basic math calculations. It supports only federal tax forms."
this is a quote from the downloaded manual, with the printable, fillable forms. I expect the restriction listed above, might be a mistake (number just due to the free software cutoff point,). Will have to wait and see on the 31st.

[Mother Frugal]

The IRS site says that your income needs to be ABOVE $58,000 for Free File Fillable Forms, and the link to it on that page is not yet available (maybe tomorrow... maybe).

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free

But the Free File Fillable Forms site states clearly that there are "no limitations for income, age, location or any other criteria."

https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/#/fd/faqs

In other words, we'll need to wait a while longer before the IRS figures out what it's doing. Hopefully it won't be long.

[rosarugosa]

Hey Tradd: I've used the free fillable e-forms for a few years now. I was under the impression that it was more a case that over a certain amount of income, you are not eligible for the user-friendly free software types of options. I have always done my own taxes (our scenario isn't too complicated) and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay money for either a preparer or software to file my taxes.
The ff e-forms are just like the paper forms of old, only much more annoying. You have to type in the entire contents of every w-2 and 1099 form (like the IRS doesn't have this info??). The system and instructions are not user-friendly and there is always some glitchy thing that has me pulling out my hair. Last year, you needed to enter your prior year's AGI at the end to verify your identity, which was info I had readily available. It wouldn't accept it after numerous attempts, and I kept checking the instructions and finally called and went through a long phone tree menu, and was finally told to enter zero, which needless to say, was not our AGI for 2012. So it's stuff like that. And the password and user ID you set up is only good for that year, so when you're asked if you have a user ID and PW and you enter the info from the previous year, it won't accept it, but it can take awhile to figure out why. I find it especially frustrating because I keep such meticulous records and always have every piece of information I could ever imagine needing. But I'll be doing it again this year, because I'm still determined not to pay to get my taxes filed. :) Good luck. If I can find any further clarification on income/filing method eligibility, I will report back.

[rosarugosa]

Tradd: It looks to me like you can use the ff e-forms. It says "Income of $58,000 or less? Use our easy filing software. And anyone can use our online fillable forms."
http://www.freefile.irs.gov/
So come on. Go for it. Misery loves company; we can commiserate :)

[Tradd]

Tradd: It looks to me like you can use the ff e-forms. It says "Income of $58,000 or less? Use our easy filing software. And anyone can use our online fillable forms."
http://www.freefile.irs.gov/
So come on. Go for it. Misery loves company; we can commiserate :)

Haha! Thanks for the clarification, Rosa! ;) That's what I was looking for - free fillable eforms. I never paid to have it done, but I hated another company having personal info. If the freakin' state of IL can do it, so can the Feds. I thought the income restriction is stupid. So, I will give it a try tomorrow.

[ToomuchStuff]

Well the first site is live, but the faq.pdf doesn't seem to exist yet.

[JaneV2.0]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who prefers to fill out a form and send it in, without the use of software. I usually don't work in a particularly linear fashion and figuring taxes isn't much of a chore for me, anyway.

[Tradd]

The Free Fillable Forms website worked just fine. It gave me really no issues at all. The only issue was with my PIN number, down by where your signature would go on a paper form. It's 6 digits, but my PIN is 5 digits. After a bit of trial and error, I used a leading 0 and that worked fine.

I'm getting nearly $1K back. I've never gotten that much back before. :)

I also did my state taxes online. IL has free fillable eforms right on their website and have for some years. Turns out I broke exactly even with the state. I owe nothing and get nothing in return. :)

Took very little time. Glad that's over and I'll have my fed refund in a few weeks. :)

[ToomuchStuff]

I'm getting nearly $1K back. I've never gotten that much back before. :)



I'd say congratulations, but if your anything like me, you would rather get back maybe $20, and not owe anything, then get a large chunk back. (I would need something like a partial deduction on the W2/the math is never there just right)

[Tradd]

I'd say congratulations, but if your anything like me, you would rather get back maybe $20, and not owe anything, then get a large chunk back. (I would need something like a partial deduction on the W2/the math is never there just right)

I take the single deduction as it's just me. I'm getting more back since I got a large raise last summer. At least I don't owe the state anything, which usually has been $25-50.

[reader99]

The one time I ever used software it mishandled rental real estate. Other than that I've been doing my own taxes on paper forms since 1977. Last year I saw how to find the form I wanted on www.irs.gov and download it as a pdf file. I didn't go through the confusing page that says income over $58k use fillable forms. I just go straight to the form I want and download it.

[Tradd]

I received my fed refund via direct deposit today. It took a week. I think that's the quickest I've ever received it.

[rosarugosa]

Good for you, Tradd! They rejected my return with some utterly incomprehensible instructions for locating and correcting errors, and I haven't had the time yet to sit down and figure it out. That's on my to-do list for this week.

[rosarugosa]

Update: I spent a bit of time "chatting" online with an IRS rep today. She advised they were having some website difficulties and that I should try again in 3 - 5 days. So it might be the website and not me after all!

[Lainey]

Am posting my tax gaffe as a heads-up to everyone else: I went to my same tax preparer yesterday, who asked the usual question: "has anything changed?" I thought she meant my address, filing status, employer, etc. and I said No.

But, I forgot that since last year I'd closed my checking account and moved it to another bank. You guessed it - my refund is now automatically going to that closed checking account. Duh. Oh well, her office said today that when the IRS tries to deposit it and the bank rejects it, they will just cut you a paper check and mail it to your home address. So my refund will still be processed but at this rate I won't actually get it for at least another month, I'm guessing.