I've tried both and honestly went back to TurboTax. FreeTaxUSA is cheaper for sure, but I missed a pretty big education credit when I used it because the questions weren't as clear to me. Ended up filing an amended return. If your taxes are super simple, FreeTaxUSA is fine, but if you have anything slightly complicated I'd stick with TurboTax.

I made the switch from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA last year and it's been great! For your situation (W-2, mortgage interest, investments), FreeTaxUSA will definitely handle everything you need. The interface is more straightforward - less flashy graphics but very functional. One thing I really appreciated was no constant upselling like TurboTax does. With TurboTax I always felt like they were trying to get me to upgrade to a more expensive version I didn't need. FreeTaxUSA just asks the questions, handles your taxes, and that's it. The savings are real too - I went from paying around $80 with TurboTax to $15 for state filing only (federal is free). Same accuracy, way less cost. The only thing you'll miss is some of the hand-holding, but honestly the step-by-step process is still very clear.

I can relate to your concern about receiving unexpected IRS notices! I got a Notice 1402 about 6 months ago and initially panicked thinking I had done something wrong with my tax filing. After researching and speaking with a tax professional, I learned it's actually a routine administrative notice about ITIN expiration rather than an indication of any filing errors. The key thing to check is whether you still need your ITIN - if you've since obtained a Social Security Number, you can simply notify the IRS that you no longer require the ITIN. If you do still need it, the renewal process through Form W-7 is straightforward but does require original documentation or certified copies. Don't stress too much - this is a very common notice that millions of people receive as part of the regular ITIN maintenance cycle.

I received Notice 1402 about two months ago and had the exact same initial panic! It's completely understandable to be worried when you get any correspondence from the IRS, especially when you've been diligent about your tax compliance. In my case, I discovered that my ITIN with middle digits 78 was set to expire, even though I had been filing regularly. The notice actually serves as an early warning system - much better than finding out during tax season when you're trying to file. I ended up going through the renewal process since I still needed my ITIN for certain investment income reporting. The key is to act promptly rather than letting it sit until the last minute. If you're unsure about your specific situation, you can always call the IRS ITIN hotline at 1-800-908-9982, though as others have mentioned, getting through can take some patience. Don't let this stress you out too much - it's really just administrative housekeeping on their part.

If your employer contributed to your HSA, remember that shows up on a different form (5498-SA) and you don't include that in your income. Only the 1099-SA (distributions) needs to be reported on your taxes. I got confused my first year and thought I needed to report my employer contributions as income. Thankfully I figured it out before filing!

Great question about the 1099-SA! Yes, you've got it exactly right - it shows the total amount you withdrew from your HSA during the tax year. The key thing to remember is that as long as you used those funds for qualified medical expenses, the withdrawals are completely tax-free. For tax software options that won't charge you extra for HSA forms, I'd definitely recommend checking out FreeTaxUSA (as others mentioned) or Cash App Taxes. Both include Form 8889 in their free versions. I've used FreeTaxUSA for years with my HSA and it walks you through everything step by step. One tip: make sure you keep detailed records of all your medical expenses throughout the year. You don't need to itemize them on your tax return, but you'll want those receipts in case the IRS ever asks for documentation. Also, if you have any medical expenses you paid out-of-pocket (not from your HSA), you can still "reimburse" yourself from your HSA later - there's no time limit on that as long as the expense occurred after your HSA was established.

Lol am I the only one who's been manually rounding all my numbers before entering them into FreeTaxUSA all these years? 🤦‍♂️

Hey Sean! I totally get why you'd be worried about this - I was in the exact same boat when I first started doing my own taxes. The rounding is completely normal and actually required by the IRS, so FreeTaxUSA is doing exactly what it should be doing. One thing that helped me feel more confident was keeping a simple spreadsheet with my original exact amounts alongside what appeared on the final forms, just for my own peace of mind. That way I could see that everything was accounted for properly even after rounding. Since you're filing for the first time, I'd also suggest double-checking that you didn't miss any tax documents (like a second W-2 if you had multiple jobs, or any 1099s from banks/investments). Those are way more likely to cause issues than the rounding. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my experience since it sounds like many of us are dealing with similar situations! My girlfriend and I have been in almost the exact same arrangement for about a year now - I handle the mortgage and major bills since the house is in my name, and she transfers me around $925 monthly for her share of housing costs and utilities. I went through the same initial panic about whether these transfers would create tax issues or look suspicious to banks. After reading through this incredibly helpful thread and doing my own research, I've learned that what we're all describing is just standard expense reimbursement between people sharing living costs. The key realization for me was that these transfers aren't income in any meaningful sense - they're just my girlfriend paying me back for money I've already spent on expenses that benefit both of us. When she transfers $925, I'm not $925 richer; I'm just getting reimbursed for household costs I covered upfront. What's also reassuring is seeing how many people have been managing their finances this way for years without any problems. The consistency and regularity of these transfers actually demonstrates legitimate expense sharing rather than anything questionable. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise and experiences here - it's made navigating this financial arrangement so much clearer for those of us new to these situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough and reassuring discussion! I'm in almost the exact same situation as the original poster - my partner and I split household expenses but only my name is on our lease due to her credit history. She transfers me about $800-950 monthly for her share of rent, utilities, and other shared costs. I was having the same anxiety about whether these regular transfers would create tax complications or trigger bank reporting requirements. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief! The key insight that really helped me understand this is that these aren't "income" transfers - they're expense reimbursements. When my partner sends me $900, I'm not gaining wealth; I'm just getting back money I already spent on costs that benefit both of us. It's also really comforting to hear from the tax professional and former bank employee who confirmed this is completely routine. The fact that so many community members have been managing similar arrangements for years without any issues shows this is just standard modern financial management for couples and roommates. The consistency of these transfers actually works in our favor by demonstrating a clear pattern of legitimate expense sharing rather than anything questionable. I think I'll start keeping a simple record like some others mentioned, just for my own peace of mind, but it sounds like even that's probably unnecessary. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community has made what seemed like a confusing situation much clearer for newcomers like me!