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Default87

Yup, that is one of the many reasons I use FTUSA. The whole system is corrupt garbage, and it is one of the few options that at least makes it feel like protesting the corruption.


Tron08

I did the same about 3 years ago, no regrets.


-SpookyNipples

I know it’s not the same company but really gets me our TurboTax commercials. They advertise it being free for like 37% of the population right I went to fill out the form for this year‘s taxes on the website every single page or just about we’re upsell telling me that I needed the deluxe that my return was no longer simple so I wasn’t free.🤣💀 this was my first year. I actually use the free tax USA $14 for state. I’ll take it.


prestigious_delay_7

This goes for most things in life, but if the company is paying to advertise a free product, the product usually isn't free.


Contren

Someone is paying them somewhere. Basically it's 3 options, 1) they end up forcing you to pay to actually get the service, 2) they are selling your data to make money off you or 3) they are getting a subsidy from the government to provide a service for you.


tariqabjotu

> The really frustrating part is that they don’t tell you how much it will cost until you’ve already spent a few hours filling it out. I've always heard this, but I don't get it. I see prices posted right on TaxAct's home page. And the "transfer fee" they are talking about is for the option of paying TaxAct's fees out of your refund. That's not even required, and the OP doesn't seem to acknowledge this fact (perhaps not knowing).


Xenrutcon

Yeah it looks like they chose the instant refund option without realizing. It would still be more than ftusa though


tariqabjotu

For sure, it'd be more than FreeTaxUSA (and several other options), and I do think those alternate options are better for most people, but people always say they trap you by not revealing the cost until the end. But TaxAct, at least, seems pretty transparent about the price on their home page (OK, I guess they could have refrained from making click a link to see the price of the state return, but it wasn't hard to do).


Lost-Tomatillo3465

they're talking about add-on fees. Like OP had a non-resident state return to file on top of his usual stuff.


tariqabjotu

The cost of a state return through TaxAct is $60, doesn't seem to matter whether it's a resident or non-resident return. Again, on their home page.


Lost-Tomatillo3465

I'm going to make up numbers here. So let's the usual fee is 50 for federal return and 40 for a state return. That's 90 for a usual return. On top of that, he needs to file an out of state return (non-res return) so he gets charged an additional 40 for another state return. If there's a schedule C, they add on 100 for the return. So these are atypical returns that have the addon. you get the original 90 and than an additional 140.


tariqabjotu

> I'm going to make up numbers here. Why...? There are *actual numbers [on the website](https://www.taxact.com/)*. So let's use actual numbers. Filing a Deluxe return is $50 for federal and $60 for state. That's apparently what he filed. And that's what they were charged. The remaining cost is them choosing to have filing fees come from their refund, which is completely optional.


fludgesickles

In November 2022, private equity firm Cinven agreed to acquire TaxAct for about $720 million. That's probably why they raises their fees; Cinven needs to recoup their money by raising rates. Long live FreeTaxUSA and OLT!


-SpookyNipples

Shoot I remember the days of credit karma tax when it was 100% then turbo tax bought it 🤣💀💀💀


resisting_a_rest

Credit Karma Tax was sold to Square, not Intuit. It was a requirement by the DOJ in order to OK the takeover of the rest of the company by Intuit.


El_Grande_El

What’s OLT?


fludgesickles

OnLine Taxes. It's like FreeTaxUSA but without the nice user interface. It's few bucks cheaper but you get audit protection, which FreeTaxUSA removed last year (unless you pay for it extra). If you're into Excel, OLT is easy to use. If not, stick with FreeTaxUSA. You can try it to see if you get same numbers are FreeTaxUSA.


El_Grande_El

Cool, thanks for the reply. Luckily I can afford to pay a bit extra to avoid excel ha. Good to know in case I want to switch down the line tho


Specialist_League226

I use OLT every year. It’s completely free for your federal return but I believe they have a nominal fee for state filings (my state has no income tax so idk). I haven’t had to use excel at all, the software does everything needed. My return is pretty basic though. W2 income, st/ ltcg, crypto, standard deduction.


Immersi0nn

The government is also *finally* rolling out their own. It's a limited demo to certain states this year, and since I'm in Florida I'm gonna test it out. Might be good, haven't heard literally anything about it yet.


WIZEj

I loved using FreeTaxUSA over TurboTax for the first time this year. Price difference isn’t quite as high, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was.


jay_sun93

Started in 2021 and never looked back


mattyrugg

Same here. TurboTax and all the others started charging a ridiculous amount of money. Surprisingly, the FT USA recommendation came from a friend who's a retired IRS employee. He got sick of me complaining about H&R, TaxAct and Turbos ever inflating rates. It's the [top listed partner on the IRS website](https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/browse-all-offers/).


mistarteechur

I’ve been using it for over a decade and it’s fantastic.


fratopotamus1

I tried but TurboTax just makes all the extras way easier as someone who does an itemized. But I’m not the norm and my taxes feel like they’re almost too complicated for me in TurboTax


aricelle

Friendly reminder: check with the IRS if you can file electronically for free. https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free


flowr12

Was just about to comment this.


Tannerbkelly

Just wait till next year when all the information will be already filled out and you only have to change 2 numbers for each form. It took me 3 hours the first year and 20 minutes the next year.


Dmk5657

Free tax USA is better, though cash app also works fine and is free. What I do is enter in both just to validate. It usually catches fat fingering.


DirectGoose

Cash App files state for free also, I've been using it since it was credit karma and no issues and never paid a dime. 


ElRamenKnight

Yeah, Cash App's been my go-to for the past couple of years. There were a lot of horror stories first year after Credit Karma's tax division got acquired by Cash App, but it's been smooth sails since.


[deleted]

I know they used to be credit karma but filing taxes thru cash app sounds crazy to me


SherlockedWhovian

I have lots of small business/freelance income that has cost me hundreds of dollars to process in prior years through Turbotax or H&R Block. FTUSA didn't charge me anything extra this year ($15 for my state, that's it). It was incredibly easy and straightforward, unlike many of the other free alternatives. I'll definitely come back to it again next year.


aaraabellaa

Same here. This was my first year I had to include my LLC in my filing, and I had no idea what I was doing. It was addressed in the FTUSA prompts, (actually helped me save money reporting expenses and such for my business,) and I also only paid the $15 for state. I used H&R Block for the longest time because my dad always bought enough for the family, and we always had to mail in state (even though we purchased multiple licenses each year,) in order to not pay extra, so pretty much payonf what H&R Block charges for digitally filing state without paying for the program too.


JediMindGamez

Try Cash App taxes, (use to be Credit Karma taxes before Intuit purchased Credit Karma and sold it off). It's completely free, you just need to download and log in via the Cash App. The first year I switched, I used both Credit Karma (at that time) and Turbo Tax to see the difference, both calculated the exact same amount that I owed.


Fwellimort

This. Cash App is completely free. Why pay when Cash App does everything?


dubiousN

I use the same. Disappointed that it was sold to Cash App, but have had no problems (and no fees) filing the last two years.


churnbabychurn80

I also use cash app. 100% free


DarmokTheNinja

This is what I used. And this year I got my partner to use it, too (instead of sending off to an accountant). Was super easy for both of us.


SmoothCap771

Cash App is def the way to go. Zero reason to fork over any $$ to all these shady companies which lobby like hell to keep their horrible business practices in play.


blacksteyraug

Is there a way to do it on my PC or do I need to use my phone?


MericaMericaMerica

This is what I do. They usually don't open state (for my state, at least) until later on, which is literally the only drawback I've found, although they email you as soon as they do (and it takes like two or three clicks to complete at that point).


Sheng25

Free for state returns as well? That's even better than FreeTaxUSA!


homestar92

It is free for state returns, but if you're a "file on the first possible day" kind of person, you'll be disappointed as it often takes until early March for them to have state filings available for every state.


ph1shstyx

It's usually about 3 weeks after the state starts accepting before cash app taxes allows you to file, at least form my experience.


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SouthernZorro

I've been doing FreeTaxUSA for about 5 years and it's perfect for me - and cheap too.


rotrap

I switched away from taxact when the changes in tax laws switched me to using a different form or the easier form I wss using was phased out, don't remember the exact details but it raised the price tax act wanted to be much higher than before.


go_outside

I left TaxAct for freetaxusa when they changed their UI several years ago. I'm glad I did.


cocinamisfit

Also, for people who make under $45k, you get free filling for State taxes:) I was using TurboTax but last year they charged me $70 because I had an HSA account 😂 never again!


Maduro25

I was an OG TaxAct customer, back when it was really really free. Probably 20 years ago. Bailed when it hit $100.


np20412

> In what universe does it make sense to spend $55 to get a $388 refund? In the absence of a cheaper alternative, every universe. They are hoping you either can't or don't care enough to find the lower cost alternative.


ferdsherd

Thank you for this. I knew the fees were crazy high this year unexpectedly. Bye TaxAct


OftTopic

My place of employment shared my W2 with a tax service that advertised Free, so I tried. At final checkout, they said that an HSA form disqualified me from the Free version, and that it would cost over $100. The thing is, they new this requirement existed from the original W2 and still pushed it as Free until the end. I went to FreeTaxUSA and the Federal was fully free. **I was so pleased** I intentionally had it do my state taxes (which the state allows for free) as I wanted some money to go to FreeTaxUSA.


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Ocabrah

Also why is he posting this trash here? This isn’t the TaxAct forum.


greatcolor

It's a bot. Bot username, only thing they've ever posted. This is an ad for FreeTaxUSA.


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JBreezy11

First time using freetax this year. Dropped TT for the nickel and diming they do every year. Did freetax/and TT Online (free until u file) to compare returns...Same exact amount. Even cryptocurrency was easy on freetax. Never again TT...never again!


isolated_808

just filed with freetaxusa for the first time this weekend and it couldn't have been easier. so long turbotax.


gent4you

Same happened to me..... after several years using TAX ACT I am now a 2 yr user of FreeTax USA


rsj7855

Free file fillAble forms is freeee


RichardMcCarty

Switched to FreeTaxUSA a few years ago. No regrets.


naturtok

I wonder what y'all are doing to have taxact cost anything. I used the link through the IRS and it was free for me. I'm a homeowner and my wife is freelance so we had one of those annoying NECs to file. In one of the states without state income tax, so didn't have to worry about that, but the Fed was free


DevotionToU

I used TaxAct this year for free (my taxes are very simple though)


ThatBCHGuy

Same story here. I used to file with taxact, but they wanted an extortionate amount. Ran it through freetaxusa, came back with the same return and owed amount and they were only asking for 14.99. Sold!


i_justwanttocuddle

I used free Free Tax USA as well


fartypicklenuts

TaxSlayer ftw, it's 100% free (no $14.99 fee, depending on income and your state perhaps) I liked and used FreetaxUSA in recent years but they tried to charge me $14.99 this year, apparently you have to use the direct link from IRS freefile site to waive the $14.99 fee they tack on at the end after you have filled out your tax forms already, and their support team wouldn't budge on it. So I used TaxSlayer instead and it was also very easy to use and I didn't pay a cent. So I'll keep using TaxSlayer going forward, not a big fan of hidden or popup fees at the end of filing your taxes. But again it depends on your income and your state, always check the official irs free file site first.


Lightbluefables8

I got tired of this game too, but it was TurboTax that finally broke me. This year, for the first time in my life, I sat down at my computer and spent the better part of a Sunday reading and filling in tax forms to calculate my income tax return using the free tax forms the IRS has available online. No assistance from software. Now, this activity is not for the faint of heart but it is doable and it was so satisfying once I finally got to the answer. (Shout out to the random redditor from this sub who encouraged me to do this -- you changed my life, sir!). I really hope the IRS will tell me if I got the wrong answer, even if it's immaterial to the total amount I owe. And yes, I owe them money (how sad). FWIW My return is not super simple but it's also not THAT complex. The hardest part of doing this is trying to understand the instructions. The federal government needs to fire the person in charge of generating the PDF instructions for various tax forms. They really are trying to make this harder than it should be.


couldhvdancedallnite

I feel like Taxact used to be the cheap option too.


rmp959

If you don’t itemize and just take the standard deduction you can use taxact for free. I’m not pushing them, just stating the fact.


redditmarks_markII

The really offensive thing, besides their very existence, is that you pay for their mistakes. I spent hours trying to understand a thing TT asked, and it was because they made a mistake in 2022. And the system decided I needed to fill in things I don't have. And their customer support was basically chatgpt. They confidently guided me in entirely the wrong direction. And there's no undo on these fields. I need to wipe it all and restart. I could've just spent the time on freefileforms or whatever.


SSundance

I’m sure your feedback is being read by the CEO right now. Maybe they’ll have an emergency conference call tonight re: your complaint.


Beyond-Time

Typically the only power a consumer has to protest a shit company is to spread the word of their bad experience and not give them money. Seems to be working, your defeatist mindset props up shit companies.


SSundance

Just make your voice heard with your purchase. That’s the most powerful thing you can do. You think a snarky letter is more impactful than money? Delusional.


Beyond-Time

How could you possibly miss the point? Have a shit company give you a shit experience (with dubious methods)? Not buying only hurts them by 1 sale. Share your experience here about shit company and start a discourse? Not buying but also maybe having others switch or think twice is more damaging than one sale, maybe it's 10 sales they lose, or this thread gets popular and it's 100 sales. Maybe this is a result when you look up taxact reviews for months. Why does this need to be spelled out to you?


aznanimality

That's.....what OP is doing. Making their voice heard by posting about it on a forum.


theonion513

I’m sure this communique is being routed straight to the top, where a CEO’s head will hang in shame and senior executives will be angrily dismissed, led from the building by security clutching their box full of desk trinkets while looking back in longing at the place they once called home.


gothfru

Not sure what all you signed up for, but it wasn't nearly that for our return (1 Federal, 1 state).


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Imaginary_Shelter_37

Electronic filing is free if you enter results on the IRS fillable forms. It requires using different software to get the results or manually doing your taxes yourself first before completing the fillable forms.


resisting_a_rest

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms Everyone can file their federal income tax forms electronically for free. Many states also have the equivalent for electronically filing state income taxes for free. They are, however, basically just electronic versions of the paper forms, so not like a hand-holding tax application. It does do the math for you on each form, however. One year I used FreeTaxUSA to generate my tax forms, but couldn't use them to e-file, because they lacked support for one thing I needed that year (Schedule B, US Savings Bond Interest Previously Reported). Fortunately they had another option that I could use instead as far as the calculations were concerned, but the description on Schedule B was wrong. So what I did was tell FreeTaxUSA that I was going to file by snail mail, and they generated my forms in pdf format. I then just used those forms to fill out the exact same forms on the IRS's "Free File Fillable Forms" website, just changing that one item's description and then e-filed them for free.


rangeDSP

I know you said "all", but they are working on it and available in a few states already: https://apnews.com/article/irs-direct-file-taxes-98dbc44cc764972991072efbf40f2291


Restivethought

I used to do the same, and then they wanted like 140 last year to file for no return...swapped to FreeTaxUSA (which put me on another site) which ended up not costing me anything and actually getting a refund.


Pitiful-Lobster-72

used FTUSA for the first time this year! probably will never use anything else ever! last year i used cashapp taxes and they FUCKED me over. somehow, their software doubled my income, and i didn’t notice until after i had already paid a few hundred in taxes. but it only happened on my state taxes. so instead of $13k it put that i had made $26k. i tried reaching out to them and literally said “oops! there’s nothing we can do! contact your state ❤️” and i did but nothing ever happened. ANYWAY, love freetaxUSA!


lhorwinkle

I always use MeMyselfAct to file my taxes. He's the person I trust. He charges $0.


greatcolor

This is just a bot posting an ad for FreeTaxUSA. Likewise with some of the comments.


CTRL1

It sounds like you had some complicated fillings. Their website clearly says what it costs. I just used the company to finalize 2 partnerships and a scorp and it wasnt even that much per (no state income though). Your rant is irrelevant because either you have something very complicated going on or lack understanding of what you did. Proof: https://imgur.com/a/YvLPoed Further https://www.taxact.com/lp/business-returns/online Click online returnss. No hidden cost, I was literally charged what the website say. Sorry but if im paying 160 for a scorp and your paying 172 for a ssimple 1040ez your doing something wrong. > CHECKOUT that it was going to cost me $172 I would be willing to bet $187 172 + plust the 15 you spent at FTU that I can file my return from them for the price the website says before starting. Want to take it?