FreeTaxUSA Charged Me But Didn't Complete Filing - What Do I Do?
I started using FreeTaxUSA because I heard the Federal was always free and I qualified for the state free-file program. I got all the way to the end where it asked me to pay with my refund, and I agreed to that payment option. BUT I NEVER CLICKED THE FINAL "FILE" BUTTON! I was actually just planning to use their software to figure out all my numbers, then manually fill out paper forms and mail them in myself. The whole thing started seeming like a bait-and-switch when fees popped up, and I got suspicious. Now I noticed they actually charged my card $14.99 even though I never submitted the return! I checked my bank statement yesterday and saw the charge went through. Has anyone dealt with this before? Did they actually file my taxes without me hitting submit, or did they just charge me for using their service? I'm really confused and don't know if my taxes are actually filed or if I need to do them again. Help!
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Diego Flores
This is a common confusion with tax software. FreeTaxUSA likely charged you for preparing your state return, not for filing it. The federal return is always free, but most tax software charges for state returns (usually $15-25 depending on complexity). What probably happened is you authorized the payment method but didn't complete the actual filing process. So they charged you for the preparation service you used, but your return is still sitting in their system unfiled. You should be able to log back into your FreeTaxUSA account and check the status of your return - it will show as "Ready to file" or something similar rather than "Filed" if it wasn't submitted. I'd recommend logging back in ASAP and checking this, especially if we're close to the filing deadline. You might still need to hit that final submit button to actually file your return.
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Chloe Robinson
•Thanks for the quick response! I just logged back in and you're exactly right - it shows "Ready to file" status. So even though they charged me, my taxes aren't actually submitted? That feels really shady...is that normal practice for these companies? Would I be better off just printing the forms now and mailing them?
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Diego Flores
•Yes, that's actually standard practice for most tax software. They charge for the preparation service itself (calculating your taxes, filling out the forms, etc.) regardless of how you choose to file. The actual filing is a separate step. You have a few options now. You can go ahead and e-file through FreeTaxUSA since you've already paid for the preparation. This is generally the fastest and most secure method. Or you can print and mail the forms yourself, but you won't get a refund for the preparation fee since you've already used their service to complete your return.
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Anastasia Kozlov
I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after getting frustrated with these hidden fees. It helped me understand exactly what I was being charged for and why. The software actually reviews your tax documents and explains all the charges in plain English so there's no confusion about what you're paying for. With my FreeTaxUSA situation, I found out I had actually authorized the payment by agreeing to their terms, even though I hadn't completed filing. It felt sneaky, but technically I had agreed to it. The taxr.ai tool showed me exactly where in the terms I had approved the charge.
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Sean Flanagan
•How does taxr.ai work with the actual filing process? Does it replace something like FreeTaxUSA completely or is it more of an add-on service?
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Zara Mirza
•I'm a bit skeptical about adding yet another tax service to the mix. Doesn't that just lead to more fees? What makes this different from the dozens of other tax helpers out there?
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Anastasia Kozlov
•It's actually not a replacement for tax filing software but more of a document review tool. It helps you understand what you're looking at before you commit to anything. You upload your documents (W-2s, previous returns, etc.) and it explains everything in simple terms. No, it's not about adding more fees - it's about understanding what you're already paying for. The difference is it's focused specifically on explaining tax documents and terms rather than preparing returns. I used it to review the FreeTaxUSA terms before committing to payment the second time around.
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Zara Mirza
I was skeptical at first just like many of you, but I tried taxr.ai after my frustrating experience with TurboTax (similar issue to the OP but with a $39 charge). The service actually saved me money by pointing out that I was being charged for a "deluxe" version I didn't need. What impressed me was how it highlighted specific language in my tax forms that I completely missed. For my state return, it showed me I qualified for a free file option that the tax software conveniently didn't mention. Ended up filing completely free this year after all.
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NebulaNinja
If you're having trouble getting answers from FreeTaxUSA directly, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had a similar situation last year where I got charged but wasn't sure if my return was actually filed. Spent DAYS trying to get someone on their customer service line with no luck. Claimyr got me through to an actual human at FreeTaxUSA in about 10 minutes. They have this weird system where they wait on hold for you then call you when a human picks up. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The FreeTaxUSA rep was able to confirm my filing status and even refunded the charge since I never actually filed.
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Luca Russo
•Wait, so this service just calls customer service for you? How exactly does that work? Couldn't I just call myself and wait on hold?
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Nia Wilson
•Yeah right. No way this actually works. These tax prep companies deliberately make it impossible to reach them during tax season. I've waited on hold with TurboTax for literally 3 hours before giving up.
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NebulaNinja
•It uses some kind of system that navigates the phone menus and waits on hold for you. Then when they finally get a human, they call your phone and connect you directly. So instead of you waiting on hold for 2 hours, their system does it. Yes, you could call yourself, but the point is not having to waste your time on hold. Last year during peak filing season, wait times were 90+ minutes for most tax services. With Claimyr, I just went about my day and my phone rang when they got someone.
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Nia Wilson
OK I need to eat crow here. After posting my skeptical comment, I was so fed up with trying to reach H&R Block about a similar payment issue that I tried Claimyr out of desperation. I was absolutely SHOCKED when my phone rang 37 minutes later with an actual H&R Block rep on the line. I didn't have to navigate a single phone menu or listen to that horrible hold music. Explained my situation about being charged without filing and got it resolved in minutes. They confirmed my return wasn't filed and processed a refund for the preparation fee. OP, if FreeTaxUSA doesn't have good online support, this might save you a huge headache.
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Mateo Sanchez
Just to clarify something important - the "federal free file" and "state free file" are specific programs with eligibility requirements (usually income-based). If you qualify, the whole thing should be free. But if you're using the regular FreeTaxUSA service (not the special free file program), then federal is free for everyone, but state always costs money (around $15). It sounds like you were using their regular service, not the special free file program, which explains the state charge.
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Chloe Robinson
•Wait so there's two different "free" versions? That's really confusing. I made about $42,000 last year - would I qualify for the completely free version? How do I know which one I'm using?
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Mateo Sanchez
•Yes, it's super confusing by design. There's the regular FreeTaxUSA where federal is free for everyone but state costs money. Then there's the IRS Free File Program where both federal AND state are completely free if you meet the requirements. For 2025 filing season (2024 taxes), the income limit for the Free File Program is $73,000. So at $42,000 you would definitely qualify! You need to start your return through the IRS Free File website (not by going directly to FreeTaxUSA) to access the completely free version. At this point, since you've already prepared your return and paid for it, your easiest option is probably just to complete the filing. But next year, start at the IRS Free File site to get the truly free version.
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Aisha Mahmood
Pro tip: if you call FreeTaxUSA directly and explain what happened, they will often refund the state preparation fee. I accidentally paid but didn't file last year (was comparing prices between services), and they gave me a full refund when I explained the situation. Their customer service is actually pretty good compared to most tax prep companies. I think their number is 1-800-585-3926 or something like that. Just be super nice and explain you didn't understand you were being charged without filing.
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Ethan Clark
•This doesn't always work. I tried the same thing with them last year and they refused the refund saying I had agreed to the terms. Said the charge was for "preparation" not filing. Might depend on who you get on the phone.
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Keisha Williams
I had almost the exact same thing happen to me with FreeTaxUSA last year! The key thing to understand is that they charge you for the "preparation" service as soon as you agree to pay, even if you haven't actually filed yet. It's definitely confusing because most people think the charge happens when you submit. Since you can see "Ready to file" in your account, your taxes definitely haven't been submitted to the IRS yet. You have two options: 1) Go ahead and e-file since you've already paid for the preparation, or 2) Print the forms and mail them yourself (but you won't get the $14.99 back). I'd recommend just e-filing at this point since you've already paid and it's much faster than mailing. But for next year, definitely look into the IRS Free File program since you qualify based on your income - it would have saved you that $14.99 completely.
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