Anyone else notice that TurboTax has gotten worse over the years? I used to be fine paying for it back when it was like $50 all-in, but now with all the upsells and add-ons it was gonna be over $150 for me this year!! Absolutely crazy. Just made the switch to FreeTaxUSA after seeing this post. Thanks for the recommendation.

Made the switch from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA this year too and I'm honestly shocked at how much better the experience was. No constant pop-ups trying to sell me "audit protection" or "maximum refund guarantees" that I never needed anyway. The thing that really got me was when TurboTax tried to charge me extra just to download a PDF copy of my own tax return! FreeTaxUSA gives you everything upfront with clear pricing. Federal was free, state was $15, done. No surprises at checkout. I've been telling everyone I know about it - maybe I'll be someone's "7th mention" that finally gets them to switch too!

My parents were exactly like your mom - loyal TurboTax customers forever. What finally changed their mind was when the news broke about TurboTax deliberately hiding their free filing options and misleading customers. Remember that whole scandal? The company had to refund millions to users they tricked into paying. FreeTaxUSA has been around for over 20 years but they focused primarily on word-of-mouth rather than massive ad campaigns. That's why they seemed to "come out of nowhere" when they started gaining popularity. The main reason I trust them is they've never had major data breaches (unlike certain big-name tax services) and they're actually more transparent about their pricing.

I switched to FreeTaxUSA three years ago after getting tired of TurboTax's yearly price increases and aggressive upselling tactics. What sealed the deal for me was researching their background - they're actually TaxHawk Inc., founded in 2001 by a CPA named Brad Schwarzenbach in Utah. They've been profitable for years without venture capital funding, which explains why they can keep prices low without needing to maximize revenue per customer. The security concerns are totally valid, but they use 256-bit SSL encryption (same as online banking) and are SOC 2 Type II certified, which means they undergo annual independent security audits. They also don't sell your data to third parties - their revenue model is based on charging for state returns and optional services, not harvesting personal information. I've filed with them for complex situations including rental property income, stock sales, and multiple state returns. Never had an issue with accuracy or IRS acceptance. The interface isn't as flashy as TurboTax but it's actually more straightforward in some ways - less marketing fluff, more focus on getting your taxes done correctly.

I want to add something important that I don't think has been fully addressed yet. Since you're living in your car full-time, you need to be extra careful about establishing your tax domicile and residency status. This could affect which state you need to file in, especially if you're driving across state lines or staying in different locations. Also, while you can't double-dip on the car rental expense, there might be other business expenses related to your unique situation that you haven't considered. For instance, if you're using gym memberships for shower facilities, or paying for storage units for personal items, these might have business components if they're necessary for you to maintain your ability to work. Keep detailed records of everything, including where you're parking overnight. If you're ever questioned by the IRS, having documentation that shows your car is genuinely your primary business vehicle (not just a place you happen to sleep) will be crucial for maintaining that 100% business deduction on the rental.

I've been following this thread with interest as someone who does tax prep for several gig workers. One thing I want to emphasize that hasn't been fully covered - the IRS has specific rules about "listed property" for vehicles used in business. Since you're using this rental car more than 50% for business (which sounds like your situation), you can indeed deduct 100% of the rental costs. However, I'd strongly recommend keeping a contemporaneous log that shows not just your Uber miles, but also the times when you're "available" in the app even if not actively driving. The IRS considers time spent positioning yourself to receive business (like driving to busy areas or waiting in queue zones) as business use too. Given your unique living situation, you might also want to consider whether you're truly an independent contractor versus someone who should be treated as having significant business investment. With $18K+ in vehicle costs against $45K income, you're running a pretty capital-intensive operation. Make sure you understand the hobby loss rules and can demonstrate profit motive - keep records showing you're actively trying to optimize your earnings, tracking profitable times/locations, etc. The complexity here might warrant spending a few hundred on a tax pro who specializes in gig economy returns rather than relying solely on TurboTax.

24 Has anyone compared whether it's better to claim ABA therapy under the medical expense deduction instead of the dependent care credit? I heard you can't double-dip and claim the same expenses for both.

Great question about comparing the medical expense deduction vs dependent care credit! I actually ran into this exact dilemma last year with my daughter's speech therapy costs. Here's what I learned: The dependent care credit is usually better because it's a direct credit (reduces taxes owed dollar-for-dollar) vs a deduction (only reduces taxable income). Plus, medical expenses only help if you itemize AND they exceed 7.5% of your AGI. For example, if you're in the 22% tax bracket and claim $3,000 in medical deductions, you save about $660 in taxes. But if you use that same $3,000 for the dependent care credit at 20%, you save $600 directly off your tax bill - and potentially more if you qualify for a higher credit percentage based on income. However, if you already have massive medical bills that put you over the 7.5% threshold anyway, then adding the therapy to medical might make sense. I'd recommend calculating both scenarios to see which gives you better overall tax savings!

This is such a relief to read - I thought I was going crazy! Same exact situation here. Filed early February, called IRS last week and got the standard "processing delays, call back in a month" response. The very next day I tried checking WMR (literally my first time checking in over a week) and boom - locked out for "exceeding attempts." What really gets me is how this seems to happen RIGHT after calling them. Like there's something in their system that flags your account once you make contact with customer service? The timing is just too coincidental for all of us. I'm really hoping the theory about this being a processing stage indicator is correct. At this point I'll take any sign of progress, even if it's the system having a meltdown! The financial stress is real - between rent increases and everything else, this refund can't come soon enough. Thanks for posting this @Andre - at least we know we're not alone in this madness! 🙏

This is incredibly frustrating but honestly reassuring to see I'm not the only one! Filed in early February, called the IRS two weeks ago and got the exact same "longer processing times, call back in 4-6 weeks" script. Then yesterday - first time checking WMR in over a week - suddenly I'm locked out for "too many attempts." The pattern here is too obvious to ignore. It really does seem like calling their customer service somehow flags your account or triggers something in their system that causes the WMR lockout. The timing is just too coincidental for so many of us. What's giving me hope though is reading about people actually getting their refunds shortly after this lockout happens. If this really is some weird sign that our returns are moving through final processing, then maybe we're closer than we think? I'm in the same boat financially - really counting on this money and every day it's delayed makes things harder. But at least now I know this isn't just me going crazy or doing something wrong. The whole IRS system seems to be having major issues this year. Fingers crossed we all see our refunds soon! 🤞