So Called Free Turbo Tax

eric_92037

16 years ago

I was hoping to use online Turbo Tax for the very first time. Many sites start out claiming itÂs free but it doesnÂt take many clicks before youÂre asked to pay. I took the easy way out did the EZ tax paper forms which are truly free.

Comments (7)

juanital
16 years ago
go to IRS.gov site, under certain income guidelines, 54,000 is free...

they're are many preparers to choose from to file...but some of them want to do state or offer other services for a fee...you are not obligated to do so but still can have federal prepared and efiled free...

Juanita

Here is a link that might be useful: Free File
Pooh Bear
16 years ago
I used the free version of Tax Act.
I filed our return last Friday. (free efile).
Today, one week later, we have our refund via direct deposit.

This makes the 3rd year I have used Tax Act
and I will continue to use it as long as it stays free.

Pooh Bear

(I just posted this same message to the state farm thread)

Here is a link that might be useful: Tax Act dot com
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You can Efile for free thru the IRS site...Income is under 52K.... Pub. 970-Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants and Tuition Reductions has info you'd need.... If you were a degree candidate and paid it to an 'eligible educational instituion' the tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment (course required) It would be tax free... Link below...If you link to Scholarship and Fellowships...will take you to Table 1.1 which shows what is qualifying, tax free and taxable...also suggests to read the rest of text for complete details, but it sounds pretty clear cut to me, too....And copies of your previous year would be helpful, for a guide.... I remember paying H&R $25 first year of filing back in '78...As their fees increased, I became more defiant and decided to try myself...Made sure I had IRS PUB 17...I used them about 5-6 times more, the last time was because we had three states to deal with...No way was I gonna touch that! Publicaton 970- Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants.... http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch01.html#d0e1153 juanital
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I think you have a misapprehension. Withdrawals from Roths are tax-free, because they're funded with after-tax dollars and are allowed to be tax-free by law. If you want to transfer regular IRA money into a Roth, that non-Roth money has not been taxed and you have to pay taxes on it for the privilege of converting it to a Roth. In the long run, this will typically be a good deal...but it ain't free. If you want a Roth and you make less than $100K/year, you can always fund a Roth directly; you'll just need to do it with after-tax dollars. And I believe that all the Tax Reform Act did was to remove the income ceiling on who could do this, meaning that rich people have had one more benefit provided to them. Here is a link that should help explain: Here is a link that might be useful: Roth
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I bought a T2 when it first came out in 2005. I have a free form 40x38 pool with water features and rocks in the pool. The T2 did an incredible job cleaning the pool and was extremely fast. It could clean the entire pool in about 4hrs. Unfortunately it was also a maintenance nightmare. I think that thing never went more then 6months without having to be sent in for a repair. The Aqua-bot company always repaired it at no cost, but the whole process meant going without a cleaner for about 3weeks. The T2 made it to August 2008 before it finally burned out its motor after just 3months out of the shop to have the pump replaced. It was at this point that they owned up to the fact that the original T2's had some serious design defects in them. After going back and forth with them over the amount of services issues I had, I ended up getting upgraded to the T4 at a nominal cost. I have to say the T4 is light years ahead of my old T2 and can clean my pool in about 2hrs. I love having the remote and actually do use it for spot cleaning and cleaning under my waterfall on the sun-shelf. Here are what I see as the big + and - of the T2/T4: Upside: + It cleans the pool very fast (I would assume faster then any of the non-robotic cleaners) + The company stands behind their product (so long as you buy from an authorized dealer) + The cleaning job is incredible and you will probably never see a cleaner pool then one cleaned by a robot. + The hose rewinds very easily and never gets twisted up since it floats on top of the water. + It stows away very easily. + It has no problem with a large free form pool with obstacles. + Remote for spot cleaning (T4) + Climbs walls to tile + Filters water + Great wanrranty. Downside: - The power supply is water resistant not water proof which means you have to make sure its protected in case it rains. -Set up and tear down can be taxing. If you are the type of person that leaves the garden hose unwound after using it, don't buy a T2. - When it breaks you most likely will have to package it up and send it back. You need to manually clean the pool while its gone, so don't throw away your vacuum. - You need some basic mechanical skills to change the belts and tracks once every year and a half. - They are very expensive compared to non-robotic cleaners. - If the pump seals blow, you will have a small oil slick in your pool for about a day. - When the warranty runs out, the parts are very expensive
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Up until two years ago, I filed my taxes for free from H&R Block's link on the IRS website. I loved it and could never understand why people would pay to have their taxes done instead of doing it themselves. For the past two years, someone in my husband's family does our taxes, so we have them done for free. I tried to do them myself the first year, but it was more complicated than in past years. However, I may file myself this year, depending on how we decide to file. I know we'll have to get tax advice because of some circumstances (newlyweds, among other things.
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dgmarie
16 years ago
It is free. Not sure why you had problems. In fact we received free versions of both mailed to us each year directly from Turba Tax and Tax Cut. Never paid a dime. The only thing they try to sell me is the state form, which for us is so short it's not worth paying for.
cynic
16 years ago
Actually, for certain income guidelines the state version of TurboTax and several other places is also free. I downloaded and used TaxAct and did the free e-file but I wish I would have waited and used TurboTax for everything. Could have prepared and e-filed Federal, State and my property tax refund all in the one program. Couldn't find a way to just e-file the state version though and since I had already filed the fed I just downloaded the computer forms from the state and did those. My return is fairly simple these days.

The big difference I found is that the TaxAct can be downloaded and done on the computer where TurboTax must be done online. Online is much slower and clumsy. But in the end it would have been worth it. I did print the TurboTax version to a file and compared it to the TaxAct version and the one I did. They were all the same. But then, they should be.

And not to nitpick, but the paper forms cost me 3 stamps to mail, plus paper and toner to print (I guess the other option is to drive somewhere to get the forms at $3.19/gal I needed since they mailed the wrong ones), while e-filing the federal in reality cost me nothing. Even the electricity can't be considered since it would have been on anyway. So which is "truly free"?

Now there is one thing that I don't really understand is paying $15 or so to e-file! OK, you get your refund a few weeks early, but that's a pretty high cost to get it IMO.

I really did like TaxAct. Very simple and straightforward. Very user friendly. TurboTax wasn't bad but nowhere near as user friendly. For people who are nervous about doing taxes they probably would find TaxAct much easier to use. I was so impressed, I even considered splurging and buying the state version for the $13 or $14, whatever it was. But then I used the computer form and thought that would really be an extravagance to do that. Plus I learned my lesson. Next year, I'll try TurboTax first if it's still free. And use TaxAct as the second opinion.
phillygrl
16 years ago
I've bought Tax Cut standard edition the past two years at Dollar Tree. Look for it at the checkout counter. In some urban areas you have to ask for it at the checkout, they are kept behind the counter.
cynic
16 years ago
How much was Tax Cut at Dollar Tree? (I was thinking DT was $1 on everything?). Federal or State also? Just kind of curious. Don't need it this year but possibly look for it next year.
phillygrl
16 years ago
At Dollar Tree everything is a dollar. Only does federal, you mail in the forms. No state, but I don't care about that, it only takes about 15 minutes to do my state taxes onlin (for free). No frills but it has all the forms.

So Called Free Turbo Tax

Comments (7)

juanital

Pooh Bear

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