Does FreeTaxUSA handle state taxes too? And can you import last year's TurboTax return or do you have to reenter everything manually? Thinking about switching too after this nightmare.

Yes, they handle state taxes too! Federal filing is free and state is only about $15 which is way cheaper than TurboTax's state filing fees. You can't directly import a TurboTax file, but you can import your prior year tax return PDF (from any tax software) and it pulls the basic info like your personal details, W-2 employer info, etc. You'll still need to enter some specifics manually, but it's not starting totally from scratch. For me the money saved was worth the extra 20 minutes of data entry.

This worked for me!!! Thank you so much! I switched to forms mode, found the 3554, and could see it was being triggered by a question in the business section that I must have accidentally clicked yes on. I was able to go directly to that question, change the answer, and the form disappeared immediately. Saved me hours of frustration!

Thanks for mentioning this! I was assuming I could just deduct the losses separately. So if my total itemized deductions (including these gambling losses) don't exceed the standard deduction amount, there's no tax benefit to claiming the losses at all?

That's correct. If your total itemized deductions (mortgage interest, state/local taxes, charitable donations, and gambling losses, etc.) don't exceed the standard deduction ($13,850 for single filers in 2023), then there's no tax benefit to claiming the gambling losses. This is why some regular gamblers make sure to track both their winnings AND losses carefully. The winnings get added to your income regardless, but the losses can only offset that if you itemize.

I did some sports betting on offshore sites last year. From what my accountant told me, the IRS doesn't distinguish between types of gambling (sports vs poker vs slots) for tax purposes. It's all considered gambling income/losses. The important thing is documentation.

Thanks for the insider perspective! Quick question - since I already paid and they filed my return, is there any way to still get an advance elsewhere or am I stuck waiting for the normal refund now? My emergency isn't going to wait 3 weeks unfortunately.

Unfortunately, once your return is filed, you can't get an advance from another company. The advance loans are tied to the preparation process, and you can only file once. Your best option now is to track your refund closely using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool and consider other short-term options for your emergency. If you filed electronically with direct deposit, many refunds are coming through faster than the 21-day estimate this year - I've seen some clients get theirs in 10-14 days. Much better than payday loans or credit card advances, which have even worse terms than refund advances.

The IRS is running about on schedule this year for most simple returns, but there are definitely delays for returns with certain credits like EITC or Additional Child Tax Credit. Those are automatically held until mid-February by law. Returns with inconsistencies, verification flags, or identity theft markers also get delayed for manual review. If you're hitting the 21-day mark with no updates, it might be worth contacting the IRS directly to see if there's an issue they're not showing on the tracker.

Wait, really? I was planning to send the original passport since that's what I thought was required. Are certified copies accepted instead? And is there a way to track the application once it's submitted?

No, the IRS actually requires original documents or certified copies from the issuing agency for most ITIN applications/renewals - that's why it's such a risk. But you have better options! You can make an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center where they'll verify the original documents and give them right back to you. Or use a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) who can verify the documents and submit copies with a certificate of accuracy. Both options let you keep the originals safe. Once submitted, you can track status by calling the ITIN line at 1-800-908-9982, but they usually won't have info until 6+ weeks after submission.

You can submit multiple W-7 renewal forms with a single tax return! I did this last year for my parents and grandma. Just attach all the W-7s and supporting documents to your return. Make sure each W-7 has the correct supporting documents clearly labeled for each person. I used paper clips to keep each person's documents together, then attached the whole bundle to my return.

Never thought to check my last paystub! That's really smart. Do you know if box 14 items generally affect your tax refund amount at all?

Most Box 14 items don't affect your federal refund - they're usually just informational. They list things that are already accounted for elsewhere or things that don't impact federal taxes. However, certain items might affect state taxes depending on where you live. For example, some states allow deductions for certain contributions that might be listed in Box 14. That's why it's worth knowing what the codes mean, especially if you have a significant amount listed there.

I've used both H&R Block and TaxAct in different years, and neither was particularly good with unusual Box 14 entries. They both basically just let you enter the information but don't actually interpret what it means. I think it's because these codes aren't standardized.