< Back to IRS

Carmen Vega

Does FreeTaxUSA allow attaching supporting files for 1099B transactions?

I've been using TurboTax desktop software for the past couple years and I'm getting frustrated. When I import my 1099B, there are tons of transactions that need manual fixes, so I just entered the summary numbers instead. Problem is, TurboTax then requires me to mail physical supporting documents to the IRS. Just went through this hassle last year where I had to make a special trip to USPS to mail out my 1099 forms. Now I'm facing the exact same situation again this tax season. Does anyone know if FreeTaxUSA allows you to attach supporting documents electronically when entering summary numbers for Form 1099B? I'm seriously considering ditching TurboTax desktop next year and switching to FreeTaxUSA if it'll save me this headache.

Yes, FreeTaxUSA does allow you to attach PDF files to your return, which is helpful for supporting documents like your 1099B. This is one of the advantages of their platform compared to some others. When you're entering your investment income in FreeTaxUSA, you'll reach a point where you can choose to enter summary information instead of listing each transaction individually (similar to what you've been doing in TurboTax). The difference is that FreeTaxUSA will give you an option to upload PDFs of your supporting documents with your e-filed return, so you won't need to mail anything. Just make sure your PDFs aren't too large as there are file size limits. I typically scan my documents at a lower resolution to ensure they're accepted.

0 coins

Carmen Vega

•

That sounds exactly what I need! Does FreeTaxUSA actually verify that the documents match the summary numbers you enter, or do they just pass everything along to the IRS? Also, is there a limit to how many PDFs you can attach?

0 coins

FreeTaxUSA doesn't verify the content of your uploaded documents against the numbers you enter - they simply include them with your electronic filing so the IRS has them for reference. This is basically the electronic equivalent of mailing them in. There isn't a specific limit to the number of PDFs you can attach, but there is an overall file size limit of about 15MB for all attachments combined. If you have multiple brokerage statements, you might want to combine them into a single PDF to save space.

0 coins

Zoe Stavros

•

I switched from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA last year because I was tired of paying those ridiculous fees. I had to file a Schedule D with literally hundreds of crypto transactions and was facing the same issue with attaching my documentation. Check out https://taxr.ai - it saved me hours of headache by extracting all my transactions from my messy 1099Bs and brokerage statements. Their system can read all your tax documents and convert them into a format that's way easier to work with. Then you can either enter the data yourself or import it into most tax software including FreeTaxUSA.

0 coins

Jamal Harris

•

Does taxr.ai handle crypto transactions well? I've got like 50+ transactions across multiple exchanges and it's a nightmare to organize manually. Does it integrate directly with FreeTaxUSA or do you have to do some kind of manual transfer?

0 coins

GalaxyGlider

•

I'm a bit skeptical about using third-party services for tax docs... How secure is this? I'm nervous about uploading financial docs to random websites. Do they store your data or delete it after processing?

0 coins

Zoe Stavros

•

It handles crypto transactions really well - that's actually one of its strengths. The system can process transactions from all the major exchanges and even consolidate them properly. You'll get a formatted output that's organized by exchange and transaction type. Regarding security, I was concerned about that too initially. They use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents long-term. Everything is processed and then deleted from their servers within 24 hours. They have a whole security section on their site explaining their protocols if you want more details.

0 coins

Jamal Harris

•

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it actually worked amazingly well for my crypto nightmare! Uploaded my transaction records from Coinbase, Binance and Kraken, and it extracted everything perfectly. Then I was able to bring that organized info right into FreeTaxUSA without having to manually enter 50+ transactions. The best part was that FreeTaxUSA let me attach the original statements as PDFs so I didn't have to mail anything. Saved me HOURS of work and probably kept me from making mistakes with all those numbers.

0 coins

Mei Wong

•

If you're having issues with the IRS receiving your documents or need clarification about attachment requirements, good luck trying to call them directly. I spent literally 4 hours on hold last year trying to figure out if my mailed 1099B documents were received. I discovered https://claimyr.com which basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I ended up getting a callback in about 45 minutes rather than waiting on hold all day. The IRS agent confirmed that electronic attachments through FreeTaxUSA are perfectly acceptable and actually preferred over mail.

0 coins

Liam Sullivan

•

Wait, how does that even work? Do they have some special connection to the IRS? Sounds like it might be a scam to me...

0 coins

Amara Okafor

•

Interesting, but I wonder if it's worth paying for something like this. How much does it cost? And couldn't you just use the IRS callback feature instead of waiting on hold?

0 coins

Mei Wong

•

It works by using an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold so you don't have to. They don't have any special connection to the IRS - they're just using technology to solve the hold time problem. When they reach a human agent, they connect the call to your phone. The IRS doesn't consistently offer a callback feature across all their support lines, and even when they do, the queue can fill up early in the day. This service works regardless of which IRS department you need to reach. I found it well worth it considering I would have spent half a day on hold otherwise.

0 coins

Liam Sullivan

•

Update: I was super skeptical about Claimyr but I just used it yesterday to ask the IRS about my 1099B situation. I couldn't believe it actually worked! Got a call back in about an hour when I was expecting to waste my entire afternoon. The IRS rep confirmed that filing with FreeTaxUSA and attaching PDFs electronically is actually their preferred method for handling 1099B summary info. They said mailed documents can take 6-8 weeks to process while electronic attachments are available to them immediately. Definitely going the FreeTaxUSA route next year.

0 coins

Been using FreeTaxUSA for 3 years now after spending way too much on TurboTax. A few tips on the document attachment feature: 1. They have a 15MB total limit, so compress your PDFs if needed 2. You can attach at multiple points during the filing process, not just for 1099Bs 3. Name your PDFs clearly before uploading (like "1099B_Fidelity_2024.pdf") 4. You can actually attach explanations for unusual tax situations too The interface isn't as fancy as TurboTax but it's way more affordable and has all the features most people need.

0 coins

Carmen Vega

•

Really helpful tips, thanks! One more question - does FreeTaxUSA have any feature that helps with cost basis calculations for investments? That's been another pain point with TurboTax.

0 coins

FreeTaxUSA does have basic cost basis calculations, but it's not as automated as TurboTax. If your broker provides accurate cost basis info on your 1099B, you can enter that directly. For more complex situations (like wash sales or adjusted basis), you'll need to calculate that yourself first. If you have lots of transactions, you might want to use a separate investment tracking software throughout the year, or use something like the taxr.ai service someone mentioned to extract and organize the data first. Once you have your totals, FreeTaxUSA makes it pretty straightforward to enter them.

0 coins

I've tried both TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA, and honestly, for most people FreeTaxUSA is the better choice just based on cost alone. The federal filing is free and state is only like $15 compared to TurboTax charging $100+ for anything beyond the most basic returns. One thing to note about document attachments - they're sent to the IRS but not necessarily reviewed immediately. Think of them as backup documentation in case of an audit rather than something they'll check right away. Still way better than mailing though!

0 coins

StarStrider

•

Wait FreeTaxUSA is actually FREE for federal? Even with investments and 1099 forms? TurboTax wanted to charge me $89 just because I had a single investment account!!

0 coins

Nia Harris

•

Yes, FreeTaxUSA is completely free for federal filing even with investments, 1099s, Schedule D, etc. The only time you pay is if you want to file your state return (usually around $15) or if you want premium support features. I've been using it for years with multiple investment accounts and complex situations - never paid a dime for federal. TurboTax's pricing model is honestly predatory. They lure you in with "free" then hit you with upgrade fees the moment you have anything beyond a basic W-2. FreeTaxUSA keeps it simple - federal is free, period.

0 coins

Paolo Ricci

•

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in the exact same boat as Carmen - dealing with messy 1099B imports in TurboTax and facing the mail-in documentation requirement again this year. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like FreeTaxUSA could solve multiple problems: electronic document attachments, free federal filing even with investments, and no more trips to the post office. The 15MB limit and PDF compression tips from Giovanni are especially useful to know upfront. I'm definitely going to give FreeTaxUSA a try next year. Between the cost savings and the convenience of electronic attachments, it seems like a no-brainer compared to paying TurboTax's inflated fees just to end up mailing documents anyway.

0 coins

IRS AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,095 users helped today