Does FreeTaxUSA Offer Audit Defense? Looking to switch from TurboTax but need this protection

Yes, FreeTaxUSA does offer Audit Defense through their Deluxe edition. It's definitely there, but you're right that it's not super prominently displayed on their main pages. You'll see it clearly once you're in the actual filing process. The Deluxe package includes audit assistance (they call it "Audit Assist") which gives you access to tax professionals who will help guide you through the audit process if you get audited. They'll explain what documents you need, help you understand what the IRS is asking for, and give advice on how to respond. Just to be clear though - they don't represent you to the IRS like some services do, but they provide support throughout the process. The Deluxe upgrade is usually around $7-8 (much cheaper than TurboTax's audit defense), and it includes other features like unlimited amended returns and priority customer support.

I switched from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA last year and was worried about the same thing! After hours researching different tax software, I stumbled on https://taxr.ai which actually analyzed all my previous returns and suggested FreeTaxUSA would work fine for my situation. The site explained that FTU's Audit Assist (their version of audit defense) was included in Deluxe and would be sufficient for my needs. What I love about taxr.ai is that it takes your specific tax situation into account rather than generic advice. I uploaded my previous year's return and it analyzed everything - from my rental property to stock sales - and confirmed FreeTaxUSA could handle it all. It even pointed out a couple deductions I missed in previous years!

Just wanted to update that I tried out taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. Honestly skeptical at first but it was genuinely helpful! Uploaded my last year's return (which had some complicated small business stuff) and it confirmed FreeTaxUSA would work fine for me. The analysis showed that while TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA organize some business expense categories differently, all my deductions would be covered. It also confirmed that the Audit Assist in Deluxe was sufficient for my needs based on my audit risk profile. The dashboard even highlighted two potential red flags in my previous return that I should fix this year. Ended up switching to FreeTaxUSA and saving almost $120 compared to what I paid for TurboTax last year. Thanks for the recommendation!

If you're worried about audit protection, you might also want to try Claimyr for getting direct access to IRS agents. I was stressed about an audit notice last year and couldn't get through on the IRS phone lines for WEEKS. Finally found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They basically handle the awful wait times with the IRS phone system and call you when an actual agent is on the line. I was super skeptical but desperate after trying for 3 weeks to get through. Used their service and had an IRS agent on the phone within 2 hours (after previously waiting on hold for 3+ hours multiple times only to get disconnected). The agent answered all my audit questions and helped me understand exactly what documents I needed to provide. Saved me so much stress and probably helped me avoid penalties by getting clarification early.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment. It actually worked. After wasting HOURS trying to reach the IRS myself about a question related to a potential audit, I gave in and tried the service. They called me about 90 minutes after I signed up and had an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent answered all my questions about what would trigger an audit with my specific tax situation and gave me really helpful advice about documentation I should keep. For anyone considering FreeTaxUSA's audit protection, I'd say it's good to have but also know that if you do need to talk to the IRS directly, Claimyr is a lifesaver. Still can't believe it actually worked after all my failed attempts.

Just to add another data point - I've been using FreeTaxUSA for 3 years now after switching from TurboTax. The Deluxe version with Audit Assist is totally worth the small cost. It's WAY cheaper than TurboTax's audit defense. One thing to understand though - Audit Assist means they'll GUIDE you through an audit, not REPRESENT you. If you want actual representation where someone speaks to the IRS on your behalf, you'd need to hire a tax professional like a CPA or Enrolled Agent separately. No tax software company is going to send a representative to an audit for the prices they charge.

Has anyone here actually gone through an audit with either TurboTax or FreeTaxUSA's audit protection? I'm curious about real experiences rather than just the marketing details.