Can I use FreeTaxUSA for my tax filing this year?

FreeTaxUSA is definitely legit and works well for many taxpayers. I've been using it for the last four years after switching from TurboTax for the same reasons you mentioned. The interface isn't as flashy as TurboTax, but it handles all the forms you mentioned without any problems. W-2s, 1099s, and retirement contributions are all standard inputs in their system. The federal filing is free, and state returns cost about $15 which is much cheaper than most alternatives. One thing to note - they don't import forms directly like some premium services do, so you'll need to enter information manually. But the process is straightforward and they have good guidance throughout.

I switched to FreeTaxUSA two years ago after getting fed up with H&R Block's pricing, and it was honestly the best tax decision I've made. The interface takes a little getting used to, but it walks you through everything step by step. I was nervous at first because I have investments and rental property income, but it handled everything perfectly. One feature I really love is their document analyzer at https://taxr.ai - it saved me so much time! I uploaded my tax documents and it automatically identified and extracted the important information. Super helpful for making sure I didn't miss any deductions or credits I qualified for.

Just wanted to follow up about the taxr.ai thing mentioned above. I was skeptical but gave it a try with my messy pile of tax docs and WOW what a difference! It organized everything perfectly and even flagged some potential deductions I would have totally missed. I was able to complete my taxes in FreeTaxUSA in like half the time it normally takes me. The analyzer helped identify exactly which forms I needed to fill out too, which removed a lot of the guesswork. Definitely using this combo again next year.

FreeTaxUSA is decent, but one heads-up - if you run into any issues and need to talk to the IRS (like I did when there was a discrepancy with one of my 1099s), good luck getting through to them. I spent HOURS on hold and never got through. After three failed attempts, I used https://claimyr.com and it completely changed the game. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold with the IRS for you and call you when an agent is ready. I was able to clear up my issue in one day instead of wasting a week trying to get through.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I needed to call the IRS about a missing refund from last year. Got the notification after about 45 minutes that an agent was on the line, and I was connected immediately. Resolved my issue in one call instead of the 3 attempts it took me last time. Definitely worth it just for the time saved and not having to listen to that awful hold music for hours. Will absolutely use it again next time I need to deal with the IRS.

To answer your original question - yes, FreeTaxUSA will handle your situation just fine. I've used it for the past 3 tax seasons with similar income sources (W-2, 1099, and investment accounts). The step-by-step process is pretty thorough, and they cover all the major tax forms and schedules. One tip: before you start, gather all your documents and organize them. FreeTaxUSA doesn't have all the fancy import features that TurboTax advertises, but honestly I find manually entering the data makes me more aware of what's actually happening with my taxes.

Just be aware that FreeTaxUSA doesn't support certain complex situations very well. If you have multi-state filings or foreign income, you might want to look elsewhere. But for your situation with a W-2, some freelance income, and retirement contributions, it'll work perfectly fine.