Can I enter my tax return information on multiple websites to compare refund amounts?
So I'm trying to make sure I get the best refund possible this tax season. I've got a fairly straightforward situation - I'm not married, have two different W2 forms from jobs I worked this year, and don't own any property or major assets. I've already entered all my information into TurboTax but haven't officially submitted anything yet. I'm wondering if it's okay to take the same tax information and enter it into H&R Block, TaxAct, or other filing websites just to see if the refund amount differs between them? Would there be any issues with doing this comparison shopping before I actually file? Just trying to maximize my return since every dollar counts right now!
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Drew Hathaway
Absolutely! You can (and honestly should) enter your tax information on multiple platforms before filing. There's no rule against comparing different tax preparation services to see which one gives you the best refund. Each software might have slight differences in how they interpret certain deductions or credits, which could result in different refund amounts. Just make sure you only actually FILE with one service when you're ready. Filing the same return multiple times would definitely cause problems with the IRS. But comparison shopping before filing is completely fine and a smart financial move. If you do notice significant differences between the calculated refunds, that might be worth investigating. Sometimes it means one service found a deduction or credit the other missed, or it could indicate an error somewhere.
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Laila Prince
•But won't the different tax sites save your info and cause problems? Like if I enter my SSN on multiple sites, couldn't that trigger something? Also do you know which ones are actually free? Turbo Tax keeps trying to upsell me at every step.
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Drew Hathaway
•The tax sites will save your information in your account, but they don't report anything to the IRS until you actually submit your return and authorize filing. Entering your SSN on multiple sites is perfectly fine - these companies handle millions of comparison shoppers each year. For truly free options, look into the IRS Free File program. Many tax services advertise "free" but then upsell for common situations. Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) is completely free for most standard returns. FreeTaxUSA is another good option with a free federal filing and low-cost state filing. Just be aware that some "free" services have income limits or only cover basic returns.
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Isabel Vega
I was in the exact same situation last year with my taxes! I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that actually helped me compare different filing options without having to manually enter everything multiple times. It basically analyzes your tax documents and shows you where different services might find different deductions. Saved me so much time from having to enter everything into 3-4 different sites, and I ended up getting almost $340 more than what TurboTax initially calculated for me.
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Dominique Adams
•That sounds interesting but how does it work exactly? Do you upload your W2s directly to it? I'm always skeptical about giving my tax docs to random websites.
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Marilyn Dixon
•I've never heard of this before. Does it actually file your taxes or just compare options? And does it work with state returns too or just federal?
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Isabel Vega
•It works by analyzing your tax documents that you upload - you can scan your W2s or take photos with your phone. The system is super secure and uses the same encryption that banks use, so your information stays protected. They don't store your documents after the analysis is complete. It doesn't file your taxes itself - it's more like a comparison tool that helps you identify which service would get you the best refund. It then points you to that service where you can complete your filing. And yes, it works with both federal and state returns for all 50 states, which is especially helpful since state tax calculations can vary quite a bit between services.
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Marilyn Dixon
Just wanted to follow up - I was skeptical but tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. WOW it actually found a pretty significant difference! TurboTax was giving me about $912 but after using taxr.ai to compare options, I went with TaxAct instead and got a $1,147 refund! The difference was something about how they handled my education expenses from last semester. The interface was super easy to use and it only took about 10 minutes to upload my docs and get recommendations. Definitely recommend for anyone comparison shopping!
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Louisa Ramirez
If you're unhappy with your refund amount, you might also want to try contacting the IRS directly to make sure you're not missing anything. I spent 3 DAYS trying to get through to someone at the IRS last year because TurboTax and H&R Block were giving me completely different numbers. Finally found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent confirmed I qualified for additional credits neither software found. Ended up getting almost $700 more on my refund!
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TommyKapitz
•Wait what? How does this even work? I thought it was literally impossible to get through to the IRS phone lines. Is this legit or some kind of scam?
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Angel Campbell
•Yeah right. No way this works. I've tried calling the IRS like 50 times over the years and never got through. If this actually does something it's probably against their rules somehow.
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Louisa Ramirez
•It works by basically holding your place in line with the IRS phone system and then calling you back when it's about to connect with an agent. It's completely legitimate - they don't answer any questions for you or pretend to be you, they just solve the impossible phone queue problem. I was honestly shocked when I got the call back saying my IRS call was about to connect. It was like black magic after trying for days on my own. And no, it's not against any rules - you're still the one talking directly to the IRS agent, Claimyr just helps you get through the hold time. They've been featured in major news outlets too, so it's definitely legit.
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Angel Campbell
Alright I need to apologize and eat my words. I was the skeptic about Claimyr but I was desperate after getting different refund amounts on three websites. Tried the service yesterday and no joke, got through to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes. The agent was super helpful and explained exactly which credits I qualified for with my situation. Turns out I was eligible for a partial education credit I had no idea about! None of the tax websites figured it out because of how I entered my tuition payment timing. Sometimes talking to an actual human really does make all the difference.
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Payton Black
This is all great advice, but also remember that if the differences between tax software are small (like under $50), it might be worth just going with whichever one has the better user experience or costs less for the actual filing. I've used both TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA, and while TurboTax sometimes found a slightly higher refund (like $30 more), FreeTaxUSA cost me $70 less to file with state included. So I actually came out ahead by going with the "worse" refund!
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Harold Oh
•Do you know if any of these places will help you if you get audited later? That's my biggest fear... making some mistake and then being on my own when the IRS comes knocking.
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Payton Black
•Most tax preparation services offer some form of audit support, but the level of coverage varies widely. TurboTax and H&R Block sell audit defense as an add-on package (usually $40-60 extra). With that protection, they'll actually represent you if you get audited. FreeTaxUSA includes audit assistance with their deluxe package (around $7). This doesn't mean they represent you, but they do provide guidance on what documents you need and how to respond. Without these packages, you're mostly on your own if audited. Though for simple returns with just W-2 income, audits are extremely rare - the IRS focuses more on self-employed people and those with complex deductions.
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Amun-Ra Azra
Has anyone tried Cash App Taxes? I heard they're completely free for both federal AND state. My friend said they got a bigger refund there than TurboTax too?
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Summer Green
•Used Cash App Taxes last year and it worked great! Totally free for everything and the interface is pretty straightforward. My return wasn't super complicated (just W2s and some interest income) but it handled everything fine. The one downside is their customer support isn't as robust if you have questions, but for a simple return it's perfect.
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