Does FreeTaxUSA let you save your progress and come back to finish later?
So I started inputting all my tax info into FreeTaxUSA this morning because I heard it was cheaper than TurboTax. I got about halfway through entering my W-2s and 1099s when I realized I'm still missing some important documents that are supposed to arrive in the mail tomorrow. I don't want to have to start all over again when I get the rest of my paperwork. Does FreeTaxUSA actually save your information so you can log out and come back to it later? Or do I need to complete everything in one sitting? I couldn't find a clear answer on their website about how the saving process works. I'm pretty anxious about messing something up since this is my first year using FreeTaxUSA instead of my usual tax software. Anyone have experience with this?
23 comments


Sebastian Scott
Yes, FreeTaxUSA definitely saves your information so you can come back later! I've been using it for the past 3 tax seasons and it's one of the most convenient features. When you create an account and start entering your information, it automatically saves as you go. You can close the browser, log out, or even switch devices, and when you log back in, all your information will still be there. Just make sure you've created an account and are logged in - don't use it as a "guest" if you want to save your progress. They keep your information available for quite a while too. You can actually access returns from previous years if you need to reference them for the current year's filing.
0 coins
Emily Sanjay
•So once I create an account, will it save automatically or do I need to click a save button before closing? I've lost work in other programs before and I'm paranoid about having to redo everything.
0 coins
Sebastian Scott
•It saves automatically as you complete each section or page. You don't need to manually click a save button before closing. I've accidentally closed my browser multiple times mid-filing and never lost any information. For extra peace of mind, you can navigate back to your dashboard before logging out - that way you can see all your in-progress returns listed there.
0 coins
Jordan Walker
This was literally a game-changer for me last year. I was stuck using TurboTax for years and getting charged $$$, then I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which analyzed my tax situation and recommended FreeTaxUSA as the best option for my situation. What I love is that not only does FreeTaxUSA save your info between sessions (yes, it absolutely does), but taxr.ai helped me understand which forms I needed and what deductions I was missing. The AI actually reviewed my previous returns and found over $900 in missed deductions from prior years that TurboTax somehow missed! I was able to file amendments and get that money back. It's especially helpful when you're waiting on documents like you are - the AI can tell you exactly what you're missing and what to expect.
0 coins
Natalie Adams
•How exactly does taxr.ai work with FreeTaxUSA? Does it like, import your stuff automatically or something? I'm using FreeTaxUSA this year but I'm confused about what forms I need.
0 coins
Elijah O'Reilly
•Does it actually review your previous returns? That sounds too good to be true. I've been doing my own taxes with FreeTaxUSA for years but I'm always worried I'm missing something.
0 coins
Jordan Walker
•Taxr.ai doesn't directly import things to FreeTaxUSA - it reviews your tax situation first (you upload previous returns or tax documents) and then gives you personalized guidance on what forms you need and how to fill them out correctly. It helped me identify which schedules I needed for my side gig income. Yes, it absolutely reviews previous returns - that's actually its specialty. You upload your past returns (I did the last 3 years) and it found several deductions I qualified for but didn't take. The home office deduction was the big one I missed when I was working remotely. FreeTaxUSA is great software but it doesn't automatically look for mistakes in your old returns like taxr.ai does.
0 coins
Elijah O'Reilly
I tried taxr.ai after seeing that comment here and WOW. I was skeptical at first but I uploaded my last 2 years of returns and it found nearly $1,200 in missed education credits my daughter qualified for that I had no idea about! It also confirmed that FreeTaxUSA is the right choice for my situation (which was nice validation). The best part was I could take the specific recommendations from taxr.ai and easily implement them in FreeTaxUSA. And yes, to the original question, FreeTaxUSA absolutely saves your progress. I've been working on my taxes bit by bit over the past week, logging in and out multiple times with no issues at all.
0 coins
Amara Torres
I was trying to get clarification from the IRS about some of the forms I needed to file this year, but kept hitting dead ends with their phone system. After 3 attempts and literal hours on hold, I was ready to give up when someone recommended Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). It's a service that basically gets you to the front of the IRS phone queue - you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who confirmed that I could use FreeTaxUSA for my somewhat complicated situation (rental property + freelance work). And yes, FreeTaxUSA definitely saves your info between sessions - I've been working on mine gradually over the past week, saving and returning without issues.
0 coins
Olivia Van-Cleve
•Wait, how does this actually work? Is it legit? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS without waiting for hours.
0 coins
Mason Kaczka
•I call BS on this. Nothing can get you through to the IRS faster. They're just selling false hope to desperate people during tax season.
0 coins
Amara Torres
•It uses a callback system combined with automated dialing technology. You register your number, and their system continually redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until it gets through. When it does, it calls you and connects you to the available agent. It's completely legitimate and uses publicly available methods - just automated to save you the hassle. I was skeptical too until I tried it. The reason it works is because most people give up after being on hold for an hour, but their system never gives up. Nothing sketchy about it - it's just using technology to solve a frustrating problem.
0 coins
Mason Kaczka
I owe everyone an apology. After calling out Claimyr as BS, I was desperate enough to try it yesterday when I couldn't get an answer about my amended return status (going on 9 months now). It actually worked exactly as described. I got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes who was able to tell me my amended return was finally processed and my refund should arrive next week. I'm still shocked it worked so well. And since we're on the topic - FreeTaxUSA definitely saves your progress. I've been using it for 3 years and regularly save and come back to my return over several days while I gather documents.
0 coins
Sophia Russo
Just want to add that FreeTaxUSA not only saves your current tax return info, but they keep your previous years' returns too. I was able to access my 2022 and 2023 returns when I needed to apply for a mortgage this year. Super helpful! The only thing to watch out for is that you need to be sure you're actually signed in to your account before you start entering information. I made that mistake once and lost about 30 minutes of work because I hadn't logged in first.
0 coins
Evelyn Xu
•Do they charge for keeping previous returns? TurboTax wanted to charge me an extra fee for accessing my old returns!
0 coins
Sophia Russo
•No, accessing your previous returns is completely free with FreeTaxUSA. I can still see all my returns going back to when I first started using them in 2019, no extra charges. That's one of the big differences from TurboTax - they don't nickel and dime you for basic features like that. FreeTaxUSA only charges for their Deluxe version which gives you audit assistance and a few other perks, but all the basic functionality including saving and accessing previous returns is part of their free service.
0 coins
Dominic Green
Anyone know if FreeTaxUSA will import my info from TurboTax? I want to switch this year but don't want to manually enter everything.
0 coins
Hannah Flores
•Unfortunately, FreeTaxUSA doesn't have a direct import from TurboTax. I switched last year and had to manually enter everything. But it was worth it to save $120! And yes, you can definitely save and come back to your return multiple times.
0 coins
Maggie Martinez
Don't worry Sarah - FreeTaxUSA definitely saves your progress automatically! I've been using it for 4 years now and it's super reliable about this. Once you're logged into your account, it saves as you go through each section. I actually do exactly what you're planning - I always start my taxes early and then come back multiple times as I receive additional documents throughout January and February. Last year I probably logged in and out about 6-7 times over a 3-week period as various 1099s trickled in, and I never lost a single piece of information. Pro tip: When you log back in, you'll see your return listed on your dashboard with a status showing how complete it is (like "60% complete" or whatever). You can pick up right where you left off. The interface is really intuitive about showing you what sections you've finished and what still needs attention. You made a great choice switching from TurboTax - FreeTaxUSA has all the same features for a fraction of the cost, and honestly I think their interface is cleaner and easier to navigate. You'll do great!
0 coins
Carmen Ortiz
•Thanks Maggie! This is really reassuring to hear from someone who's used it for so long. I was getting stressed thinking I'd have to rush through everything today before my documents arrive tomorrow. The dashboard feature showing completion percentage sounds super helpful - that's exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for but couldn't find mentioned anywhere on their site. I'm feeling much more confident about making the switch from TurboTax now!
0 coins
Zainab Ahmed
Yes, FreeTaxUSA absolutely saves your progress! I've been using it for the past two years and it's been really reliable about auto-saving everything as you work through each section. Just make sure you create an account and log in before you start entering information - that's the key step. Once you're logged in, it saves automatically after each page or section you complete. You can safely close your browser or log out whenever you need to, and when you come back everything will be exactly where you left it. I actually do the same thing you're planning every year - I start early and then add documents as they arrive throughout tax season. Last year I probably logged in and out at least 5-6 times over a couple weeks as I got various forms in the mail, and never had any issues with lost data. When you log back in, you'll see your return on the dashboard with a progress indicator showing how much you've completed. It makes it really easy to see what sections are done and what still needs your attention. Much better experience than trying to do everything in one marathon session! You're making a smart move switching from TurboTax - the functionality is essentially the same but you'll save a ton of money.
0 coins
Anna Kerber
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I was getting really anxious about potentially losing hours of work if something went wrong. The progress indicator on the dashboard sounds like a great feature - it's those little details that make such a difference when you're trying to stay organized during tax season. Thanks for taking the time to explain how it all works, especially coming from someone with actual experience using it multiple years. I feel so much better about taking my time and doing this right instead of rushing through everything today.
0 coins
Nia Wilson
Yes, FreeTaxUSA definitely saves your progress! I've been using it for three years now and it's one of the most reliable features. As long as you create an account and stay logged in while entering your information, it automatically saves everything as you complete each section. I do exactly what you're planning every tax season - start early and then add documents as they come in. Last year I worked on my return over about two weeks, logging in and out probably 8-10 times as various 1099s and other forms arrived in the mail. Never lost a single piece of data. When you log back in, your return will show up on your main dashboard with a completion status (like "In Progress - 45% Complete") so you can easily see where you left off. The interface is really intuitive about showing which sections are finished and which ones still need attention. One small tip: make sure you're actually signed into your account before you start entering information. The system will let you work as a "guest" but then won't save anything. As long as you see your name in the top right corner of the screen, you're good to go! Don't stress about having to rush - take your time and add the missing documents when they arrive. You made a great choice switching from TurboTax!
0 coins