1099-NEC filing with free tax software alternative to TurboTax
So I had this weird employment situation where I started as a contractor for my current company and then they brought me on full-time after a month. Just got my 1099-NEC in the mail today and tried to file it with TurboTax's free version, but of course they're telling me I need to upgrade to the $59 version to handle the 1099-NEC. I already have my W-2 loaded in there from the full-time portion of my job but really don't want to pay almost $60 just because I worked as a contractor for a few weeks. Are there any actually free tax filing services that will let me file both my W-2 and 1099-NEC without charging me? The contract work wasn't even that much money so paying for the upgrade feels ridiculous.
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QuantumQuest
Yes, you have several free options! The IRS Free File program has partners that offer free filing regardless of your income situation. Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) is completely free and handles both W-2s and 1099-NEC forms with no extra charge. FreeTaxUSA is another good option - they offer free federal filing including 1099-NEC forms, though they do charge about $15 for state filing. I'd recommend Cash App Taxes first if you're looking for completely free filing. Just be aware that you might need to create a Cash App account to access their tax service, but the filing itself costs nothing.
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Amina Sy
•Does Cash App Taxes handle multiple state filings? I moved from Colorado to Texas mid-year and need to file in both.
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QuantumQuest
•Cash App Taxes does handle multiple state filings for free, which is one of its big advantages. You can file returns in as many states as needed without any additional charges. For your Colorado to Texas situation, you'd need to file a part-year resident return for Colorado and possibly a non-resident return for Texas if you earned income there. Cash App guides you through the process for both states at no cost.
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Oliver Fischer
I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I tried TurboTax first and got hit with that upgrade message when entering my 1099-NEC. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze my tax documents and it recommended using FreeTaxUSA. The federal filing was completely free even with my 1099-NEC, and I only paid like $15 for the state filing. The interface isn't as fancy as TurboTax but it gets the job done for way less money.
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Natasha Petrova
•Does taxr.ai actually give good advice? I've never heard of it before. Does it have an actual human look at your documents or is it just some algorithm?
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Javier Morales
•I've been burned by "free" tax services before that ended up charging me at the last minute. How do you know FreeTaxUSA won't pull the same trick when you're almost done filing?
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Oliver Fischer
•It definitely gives good advice! It's not a human reviewing your docs, but rather an AI tool that analyzes your tax documents to identify the best filing options based on your specific situation. You upload your forms, and it gives personalized recommendations. FreeTaxUSA is actually transparent about their pricing structure from the beginning. They clearly state that federal filing is free (even with 1099s), and state filing costs about $15. There are no surprise charges right before filing - what they advertise is what you pay, unlike some other services that lure you in with "free" then hit you with mandatory upgrades.
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Javier Morales
Wanted to follow up - I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing it recommended here and it worked great for my situation! I uploaded my W-2 and two 1099-NEC forms, and it analyzed everything and suggested FreeTaxUSA. The whole process was super straightforward, and I completed my federal filing completely free. Only paid for state filing. Much better than the $89 TurboTax wanted to charge me! Definitely recommend trying it if you're in a similar situation.
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Emma Davis
If you don't want to use online services, another option is to call the IRS directly and ask about their free filing options for 1099-NEC and W-2 income. I had to do this last year because my tax situation got complicated. Tried calling the normal IRS number for days with no luck, then found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. The agent walked me through exactly which free filing options would work for my specific situation with 1099 income.
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GalaxyGlider
•How does Claimyr actually work? Like do they just call the IRS for you or something? Seems sketchy that they can somehow get you through when nobody else can.
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Malik Robinson
•Yeah right... There's no way this actually works. I've tried calling the IRS like 15 times this year and never got through. How would some random service magically get you to the front of the line? Sounds like a scam to me.
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Emma Davis
•They don't call for you - they basically monitor the IRS phone lines and identify the best times to call, then alert you when there's an opening. When it's your turn, you get a text message with instructions to call the IRS right then, and they've figured out the exact phone tree options to press to get to a human faster. It's not a scam at all! The service just helps you navigate the notoriously difficult IRS phone system. They've analyzed call patterns and figured out when agents are most available. I was skeptical too, but I was desperate after trying for days. It works because they've essentially "hacked" the system through data analysis of call volumes and wait times.
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Malik Robinson
OK I need to admit I was wrong. After posting that skeptical comment I was still stuck with my tax issue and desperate, so I tried Claimyr. I seriously couldn't believe it worked! Got a text about 30 minutes after signing up telling me exactly when to call, followed their instructions, and was talking to an actual IRS person in less than 15 minutes. The agent confirmed I could use FreeTaxUSA for my 1099-NEC and W-2 combo without paying anything for federal filing. Just wanted to post this follow-up because I was so shocked it actually worked.
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Isabella Silva
Don't forget to check if you qualify for the IRS Free File Program! If your adjusted gross income is under $73,000, you might be eligible for completely free filing through their partner companies. Just go to IRS.gov and search "Free File" to see the options. I used H&R Block through this program last year with a 1099-NEC and it was completely free.
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Ravi Choudhury
•Does the Free File Program still limit you if you have self-employment income? I thought most of those options still made you upgrade if you have a 1099.
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Isabella Silva
•Some Free File partners do have restrictions on 1099 income, but not all of them. For example, TaxAct's Free File version does support 1099-NEC without upgrading, while some others might require an upgrade. The key is to use the tool on the IRS Free File site that matches you with eligible programs based on your specific situation. Just answer a few questions about your income sources and it will show you only the providers that can handle your tax situation completely free. Don't go directly to the tax company's website - always start at IRS.gov/freefile to ensure you get the actual free version.
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Freya Andersen
If you're comfortable doing a bit more work yourself, you could try using the Free Fillable Forms directly from the IRS. It's not as user-friendly as the guided options like TurboTax, but it's completely free and handles all forms including 1099-NEC. You just need to know which forms to fill out and how to do the calculations yourself.
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Omar Farouk
•I tried Free Fillable Forms once and it was a nightmare. No guidance, no error checking until the very end, and then it rejected my return for some obscure reason I couldn't figure out. Ended up having to start over with paid software anyway. Wouldn't recommend unless you really know what you're doing.
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