As an online tax preparation service, FreeTaxUSA allows you to file your federal return for free, no matter what your tax situation is. Although state filing and extra support costs extra, the price point is affordable. Continue reading to learn more about FreeTaxUSA.
Be sure to activate a cash back shopping service, such as Rakuten, when you’re using FreeTaxUSA.
You can also check out E-File.com another low-cost tax filing service. Compare with H&R Block, TaxAct and other tax services.
FreeTaxUSA Features
FreeTaxUSA is a pretty easy site to use. All you need to do is fill out your personal information then the income, credits, and deduction sections. When you get to the return section, you can fill out only the ones that apply to you and skip the rest. Similar to how you would fill out a tax return by hand, each topic has a question-and-answer process. Here are some other features:
- A free tax calculator to estimate your taxes, determine your refund or liability, and find deductions and credits.
- Automatically carry last year’s information over to this year’s taxes. This works if you used FreeTaxUSA the previous year, or if you import a PDF of your prior year’s tax returns.
- A 100% accuracy guarantee with a refund on interest and penalties if there were any calculation errors on your federal return.
- A maximum refund guarantee with a return of your prep fees if you get a bigger refund or lower tax liability when you prepare an identical return with a competitor.
If you have the Deluxe version, you can use Audit Assist for federal returns which gives you access to audit specialists who can answer any questions. In addition, you will be able to use the Audit Center, where you can find a bunch of information that you might need for an audit.
FreeTaxUSA Payment & Refund Options
You can pay for the service using your credit or debit card for no additional fee, or using part of your refund, which is a $19.99 fee. Tax refund options include direct deposit, prepaid debit card and paper check.
FreeTaxUSA Customer Support
There is limited direct customer support with FreeTaxUSA. You are able to look for certain topics on the Customer Support page or send them a direct email. If you have the Deluxe version, some features include free support via live chat and access to the Q&A database.
FreeTaxUSA Plans & Pricing
No matter what your tax situation is, it is free to prepare your federal tax return with FreeTaxUSA. However, state tax returns cost an extra $14.99, although it is often discounted. This pricing is still low in comparison to other competitors such as H&R Block Online.
FreeTaxUSA Features
FreeTaxUSA is fairly simple to use. Simply fill out all your personal information before you can move on to the income, credits and deduction sections. In the return section, you can pick and choose the topics that apply to you and skip the ones that don’t. Each topic has a question-and-answer process, much like if you were to fill out your tax return by hand. Other features include:
- A free tax calculator to estimate your taxes, determine your refund or liability, and find deductions and credits.
- Automatically carry last year’s information over to this year’s taxes. This works if you used FreeTaxUSA the previous year, or if you import a PDF of your prior year’s tax returns.
- A 100% accuracy guarantee with a refund on interest and penalties if there were any calculation errors on your federal return.
- A maximum refund guarantee with a return of your prep fees if you get a bigger refund or lower tax liability when you prepare an identical return with a competitor.
Those on the Deluxe version also benefit from Audit Assist for their federal returns. This gives you access to audit specialists who can answer any questions you might have. It also unlocks the Audit Center, where you’ll find a wealth of information that might be helpful during an audit.
FreeTaxUSA Payment & Refund Options
FreeTaxUSA lets you pay for their service with your credit or debit card (no additional fee), or with part of your refund ($19.99 fee). Tax refund options include direct deposit, prepaid debit card and paper check.
FreeTaxUSA Customer Support
FreeTaxUSA offers limited direct customer support. You can search for topics on the Customer Support page, or you can email them directly. If you’re on the Deluxe version, you have access to the Q&A database, along with free support via live chat.
FreeTaxUSA Plans & Pricing
Whether your tax situation is simple, basic or complex, preparing your federal tax return with FreeTaxUSA is free. Yes, that means homeowners, those who are self-employed and others who have rental income can file their federal returns for $0. That said, state tax returns will cost you an extra $14.99 (often discounted). Still, this pricing is relatively low, compared to H&R Block Online and other top competitors.
There is also a Deluxe version that costs $6.99, which gives you access to features such as priority customer support, audit assistance and unlimited amended returns. The Deluxe option might be good for you if you have a complex tax situation or if it’s your first time filing online.
Conclusion
No matter how simple or complex your tax situation is, FreeTaxUSA lest you prepare your federal tax return for free. You can upgrade to the Deluxe version at a low cost for additional features. Overall, FreeTaxUSA is a great option to prepare your taxes online, especially if you’re tight on money.
(Click here to learn more about FreeTaxUSA)