FreeTaxUSA Charged Me But Didn't Actually File My Taxes?

This definitely sounds frustrating, but don't panic! Here's what's likely happening: FreeTaxUSA typically charges a fee for state filing (federal is indeed free). The charge you're seeing might be an authorization hold rather than an actual completed charge. Many tax preparation services will pre-authorize your payment method before you actually file. To figure out your exact situation, I'd recommend checking two things: 1. Log back into your FreeTaxUSA account and check the status of your return. It should clearly indicate whether the return was filed or is still in draft status. 2. Call FreeTaxUSA customer service directly at 801-717-1040. Explain that you didn't complete the filing process and want confirmation that your return wasn't submitted. If your return wasn't filed (which is likely if you didn't click the final submit button), you still need to file your taxes by the deadline. You can either complete the process with FreeTaxUSA, use another service, or file by mail as you originally planned.

I went through something similar with FreeTaxUSA last year when I was trying to figure out the best way to file. After hours of frustration and comparing different services, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed my tax filing experience. It's amazing because it can actually analyze all your tax documents in one go - I uploaded all my W-2s, 1099s, and even my previous year's return, and it pulled all the important information automatically. The system even flagged a deduction I was missing that FreeTaxUSA didn't catch. What really helped in a situation like yours is their audit protection service actually explains why certain things might trigger IRS notices. I was hesitant at first because I'd already spent time on another service, but switching saved me way more than the FreeTaxUSA charge in the end.

I just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai since I was skeptical in my earlier comment. I decided to give it a try after having the EXACT same FreeTaxUSA problem (charged but didn't file), and wow - it actually delivered! The document scanning is legit - it even correctly read a faded W-2 my employer sent. The interface walked me through everything and pointed out deductions I would have missed. The best part was FULL transparency about costs upfront - no surprise charges at the end like I experienced with FreeTaxUSA. My refund was actually $340 more than what FreeTaxUSA calculated because taxr.ai found credits I qualified for but didn't know about. Definitely switching permanently.

For anyone dealing with FreeTaxUSA billing issues (or any tax service really), I highly recommend reaching out directly to the IRS if you can't get a straight answer from the company. The problem is getting through to an actual human at the IRS is basically impossible these days - I spent 3+ hours on hold last month. I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to an IRS agent without the insane wait. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - essentially they navigate the phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when an actual agent is on the line. I was super skeptical but tried it when I had a similar issue with tax software charging me but not filing. The IRS agent confirmed my return wasn't filed and explained exactly what I needed to do. Saved me hours of frustration and uncertainty.

I need to update my previous comment where I called Claimyr a potential scam. After getting nowhere with FreeTaxUSA's customer service about my billing issue, I was desperate and decided to try Claimyr as a last resort. I was SHOCKED when I got a call back in about 40 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line! The agent confirmed my return wasn't actually filed and gave me the exact steps to fix my situation. They even looked up my payment history to verify no return was processed under my SSN this year yet. I was totally wrong about this service - saved me literally hours of frustrating hold music and got me a definitive answer about my tax situation. If you're dealing with tax filing confusion like the original poster, this is actually worth it.

Has anyone actually gotten a refund from FreeTaxUSA in this situation? I had something similar happen (though I did eventually file with them) and found their customer service pretty responsive. Just call their support line at 801-717-1040. One thing to know - if you entered all your info but didn't file, that data should still be saved in your account. So you could potentially log back in and complete the filing without having to start over. That might be easier than starting from scratch with another service, especially with the deadline coming up.

Just a heads up that FreeTaxUSA actually isn't a scam - they're legit but their marketing is confusing. Federal filing IS always free, but state filing costs around $15 which is still way cheaper than TurboTax or H&R Block. The "pay with your refund" option they push at the end adds another fee though. I've used them for 3 years and here's what probably happened: they authorized a charge when you selected payment method, but likely didn't actually process it since you didn't complete filing. Call them and they'll sort it out - their customer service is actually pretty good.

I had a very similar experience with FreeTaxUSA last year! What you're describing sounds like a pre-authorization hold rather than an actual charge. Here's what I learned from my situation: 1. Check your FreeTaxUSA account status first - log back in and see if your return shows as "filed" or still in "draft/review" status. If you never clicked the final submit button, it's almost certainly still in draft. 2. The charge you're seeing is likely just an authorization hold that will drop off in 3-5 business days if you didn't complete the filing process. Banks often show these as actual charges initially, which is super confusing. 3. Don't panic about the deadline - you still have time to file properly. If your return isn't actually submitted (which seems likely), you can either complete it with FreeTaxUSA or use another service. I'd recommend calling FreeTaxUSA at 801-717-1040 to confirm your return status and get the hold removed if that's what it is. In my case, they were able to confirm immediately that my return wasn't filed and the hold disappeared within 2 days. You're not stuck with FreeTaxUSA if you want to switch services - just make sure you don't accidentally submit duplicate returns!

This is exactly why I always screenshot my tax prep progress and keep detailed notes! FreeTaxUSA's interface can be confusing about when charges actually process vs. when they're just authorized. Here's what I'd do in your situation: 1. Log into your FreeTaxUSA account immediately and check your return status - it should clearly show "Draft" or "Not Filed" if you didn't complete the final submission 2. Take a screenshot of this status page for your records 3. Check if the charge on your bank account is listed as "pending" or "posted" - pending charges from incomplete transactions usually disappear within 3-5 business days 4. Call FreeTaxUSA customer service at 801-717-1040 first thing tomorrow morning (they're usually less busy early in the day) The good news is that if you didn't click the final file button, your return almost certainly wasn't submitted to the IRS. You still have time to sort this out before the deadline. FreeTaxUSA generally doesn't process final payments until you actually file, so this sounds like a pre-authorization that got stuck in your account. Don't stress too much - this happens more often than you'd think, and it's usually resolved pretty quickly once you get in touch with their support team.

I've been through this exact situation with FreeTaxUSA! Don't panic - what you're describing sounds like a classic pre-authorization hold rather than an actual charge. Here's what likely happened: When you selected the "pay with refund" option, FreeTaxUSA placed an authorization hold on your payment method to verify it's valid, but since you never clicked the final "FILE" button, your return wasn't actually submitted and the payment shouldn't process. Quick steps to resolve this: 1. Log back into your FreeTaxUSA account and check your return status - it should show "In Progress" or "Draft" if you didn't file 2. Call their customer service at 801-717-1040 and explain you didn't complete filing but see a charge 3. Check with your bank if the charge shows as "pending" vs "posted" - pending authorization holds typically drop off in 2-5 business days I had this same thing happen last year and the hold disappeared after 3 days once I confirmed with FreeTaxUSA that my return wasn't filed. Their customer service was actually helpful in explaining that the authorization doesn't become a real charge unless you complete the filing process. You still have time before the deadline to either complete your FreeTaxUSA return or switch to another service if you prefer. Just don't file duplicate returns!