I've been filing for free with H&R Block Free Online for the past 3 years. But be careful - you need to go directly through the IRS Free File portal (not their main website) to get the actually free version that includes state filing. If you google H&R Block and go to their site directly, you'll end up with their "free" version that charges for state.

For South Dakota specifically, since you mentioned DirectFile isn't available there, I'd recommend checking out the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program if your income is under $64,000. They offer completely free tax preparation by IRS-certified volunteers, including both federal and state returns. You can find locations on the IRS website. Also, just a heads up about waiting for your Wage & Income transcript - while it's smart to double-check, most employers are required to send you corrected forms if there are discrepancies. The March 15th transcript might not show everything if you have late-filing employers or financial institutions. One more truly free option: if you're comfortable doing it yourself, you can always file directly with the IRS using their fillable forms (Free File Fillable Forms) and then file your South Dakota return directly with the state. SD actually has a pretty simple state return since they don't tax wages - just need to report federal AGI in most cases.

Has anyone considered that maybe the father didn't do this maliciously? Maybe he thought he was helping his kid establish credit or a business history? I'm not saying what he did was right - it definitely wasn't - but before going straight to identity theft claims and potentially sending your dad to jail, maybe have an honest conversation with him first?

I understand this is an incredibly difficult situation, and I want to echo what others have said about getting professional help immediately. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should document EVERYTHING right now while the trail is still relatively fresh. Start gathering any documents you can find - business registration papers, any correspondence about the business, bank statements if you have access, etc. Even if your father cooperates later, having this documentation will be crucial whether you go the identity theft route or try to work out some other arrangement with the IRS. Also, consider that there might be a middle ground here. Some tax attorneys specialize in "innocent spouse" relief and similar situations where one person gets stuck with tax liability they shouldn't be responsible for. This might be a way to resolve the debt without necessarily triggering criminal charges against your father, but you'd need to speak with a qualified tax attorney to understand if this applies to your situation. The most important thing is to stop letting your tax refunds get seized while you figure this out. Every year this continues, you're essentially paying someone else's debt. Time is not on your side here.

Would keeping the refund as a credit toward future rent instead of taking a check change anything tax-wise? My landlord offered either option when they made a similar mistake.

Great question about the rent refund! As others have mentioned, you're in the clear tax-wise since this is just returning money that was overpaid rather than new income. One thing I'd add - make sure to keep really good records of this refund. Save the check, any letters from the management company explaining the situation, and maybe even take screenshots of your lease showing the original rent amounts. While you probably won't need it, having solid documentation could be helpful if the IRS ever has questions about unusual items in your financial records. Also, if you're ever in a similar situation in the future where you're unsure about tax implications of unusual transactions, don't hesitate to ask for clarification upfront. Most property managers deal with these kinds of issues regularly and can usually explain how they're handling things from an accounting perspective. Better to ask questions early than stress about it later!

i had this EXACT problem last year. literally one number off on my address. i just filed with the wrong address on the W2 and put my correct address on the 1040 form. got my refund no problem, no questions from the irs. dont stress about it.

Thanks everyone for the reassurance! This has been really helpful. I was getting so anxious about this silly address error potentially messing up my entire tax return. It's good to know that the IRS uses SSN as the primary matching identifier rather than addresses. I'm going to go ahead and file with the W2 as is (making sure my correct address is on my actual return) and then reach out to HR to get their records updated for next year. Really appreciate all the advice - especially the real-world experiences from people who've dealt with the same issue. Tax season is stressful enough without worrying about things that aren't actually problems! 🙏

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned representation rights! If you're just starting, look into becoming an Enrolled Agent. Unlike regular tax preparers, EAs have unlimited representation rights before the IRS, which opens up a huge off-season market for audit representation and tax resolution. Getting the EA credential takes some study time, but it's much less intensive than becoming a CPA. Once you have it, you can charge $150-250/hour for representation work, which is perfect for the off-season. My practice is now about 50% tax prep (Feb-Apr) and 50% representation work (May-Jan), and my income is pretty stable year-round. Plus representation work is typically billed hourly rather than flat fee, which has increased my overall earnings.

As someone who's been through this exact transition, I want to echo what others have said about diversifying your services. I started as a seasonal preparer three years ago and was barely scraping by during the off months. What really turned things around for me was combining several of the strategies mentioned here. I got my EA credential after my first season (highly recommend this!), started offering basic bookkeeping services to small business clients, and began doing mid-year tax planning consultations. The key insight I learned: your existing tax clients are your best source of year-round revenue. They already trust you with their most sensitive financial information, so they're more likely to hire you for other services. I now send a "summer tax health check" email to all my clients in July, offering to review their withholdings and quarterly payments. About 40% respond, and many of those turn into ongoing advisory relationships. One practical tip: start building your off-season services gradually. Don't try to launch everything at once. Pick one additional service (I'd suggest the EA route since it leverages your existing knowledge), get comfortable with it, then add others. The income stability is absolutely achievable, but it takes time to build those relationships and diversify your revenue streams. Best of luck with your new career - it's a great field once you figure out the sustainability piece!