50 Comments
Category: Tax Tips Tags: , , ,
by February 2, 2010

Free Options for Filers with a 1040EZ

Why spend a dime to pay someone else to do your taxes for you? That’s especially true if you have a simple return. About 60 percent of taxpayers do, sending the IRS a 1040A or 1040EZ each year.

It’s unfortunate that people filing simple tax returns are often prime targets for national tax preparation chains who advertise low fees for at 1040EZ. But once you’re in the door, you may find additional fees pile up and what you thought would cost $39.95 actually costs you $100 or more.

Don’t let that happen to you. The fact is, you can do your own taxes. Last year 40 million people did their own returns with software. And here’s where this gets really interesting – there are free options out there to help taxpayers like you keep more money in their pockets where it belongs.

Filers with simple returns should know about these free options:

  • If you have an adjusted gross income of $57,000 or less, you can prepare and e-file your taxes through the IRS Free File program available at www.irs.gov.
  • Taxpayers who don’t qualify for the Free File Program can use TurboTax Online Free Federal Edition at www.turbotax.com. There are no income or eligibility requirements. It’s designed especially for people filing simple federal taxes.

There are also some great tax resources available online where you can get more information or even answers to your tax questions.  We like Don’t Mess with Taxes, Tax Girl and WalletPop if you are looking for tax information.  If you have questions you need answered, TurboTax Live Community offers instant answers from other TurboTax customers and tax experts. And if you are a Twitter user, you can get answers to your questions on Twitter from @TeamTurboTax.

Best of all, these free tax resources mean you don’t have to spend your hard-earned money on something you can do yourself. They don’t call it an “EZ” for nothing!

Comments (50) Leave your comment

    • Hi there Chris,

      The 40th person wins, so you can continue to leave comments but your first comment is the one that counts as your “vote” toward free TurboTax. Thanks for chiming in!

      Reply

  23. I have been sorting through several online tax programs. You get to a certain point with the free program and then realize that you can’t use a function you need to complete your taxes and so in order to complete the program you have to pay.

    Reply

  26. I’d love a free copy! Still dreading figuring out college education, scholarship and self-employment situations.

    Reply

  31. I have been using TurboTax since 2000, I believe. I have been able to use the free Federal file for the past couple of years. I wouldn’t use any other program. I’ve tried others, but end up finishing with TurboTax anyway.

    Reply

    • One book about the English, coming up! And a green light for using the pic in your blog. She aatcully asked permission to copy and paste a photo. Who is this girl?? Usually they just do it (although some do give credit to the original source on their blog).

      Reply

  34. Pick me! Pick me! I’ve used TT for my rental property for years. Couldn’t do without it. Free is always good.

    Reply

  38. I have been using TurboTax for years because I trust them to help me fill out my taxes completely, and accurately. I have great confidence in them.

    Besides, they make it easy.

    Thanks TurboTax

    Reply

  44. I found that Turbotax was great even if it wan’t just the ez form! been using it for years even when I ran my own business!

    Reply

  47. I have been tried every possible way for efiling. At the end of all my efforts, I found this one easy, hassle free way to efile. Give it a try and let me know.

    Reply

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