Getting stuck in login loop on IRS Free Fillable Forms website - can't submit my taxes
Title: Getting stuck in login loop on IRS Free Fillable Forms website - can't submit my taxes 1 I'm completely frustrated trying to access the Free Fillable Forms site! I set up my account back in early February and spent hours filling out all the required tax forms. I had to hold off on submitting because I was waiting for confirmation on a few numbers from my investment account. Now that I finally have everything ready to file, the site keeps bouncing me back to the login page every time I try to get in! Enter email and password, click login, and boom - right back to the "create account or login" screen. Been trying for 3 days straight with different browsers, clearing cookies, everything. Anyone else dealing with this nightmare or know how to get through? My filing deadline is coming up fast and I'm starting to panic!
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Amina Diop
14 This is a common issue with the Free Fillable Forms site, especially during peak filing season. Here are a few things to try: First, try using a different browser altogether - not just clearing cookies but switching from Chrome to Firefox or Edge. Sometimes the site has compatibility issues with certain browsers. Also, disable any ad blockers or privacy extensions as these can interfere with the authentication process. Next, try accessing the site during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) when server load is lower. The IRS systems often get overloaded during daytime hours, especially as we get closer to filing deadlines. If you still can't get in, you might need to create a new account. Unfortunately, this means redoing your forms, but it's better than not filing at all. Before doing that though, I'd suggest contacting the Free Fillable Forms technical support. They have a dedicated help desk for these issues.
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Amina Diop
•7 Do you know if there's any way to recover the information I already entered if I have to make a new account? I spent hours on those forms and really don't want to start over. Also, would contacting the IRS directly help at all?
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Amina Diop
•14 Unfortunately, there's no way to transfer information between accounts on Free Fillable Forms. The data is tied to your specific user account, and there's no export/import function. That's why it's always best to try all troubleshooting steps before creating a new account. Contacting the IRS directly won't help with technical issues on the Free Fillable Forms site. The IRS outsources the management of that platform to a third-party vendor who handles all the technical support. Your best bet is to use the "Help" link on the Free Fillable Forms site to reach their dedicated support team.
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Amina Diop
8 After struggling with similar login issues with tax websites, I started using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed my filing experience. I was locked out of my tax account last year and couldn't access any of my partially completed forms. Taxr.ai helped me analyze all my tax documents to verify everything was correct before I had to start over with a new account. It scans your tax forms and explains everything in plain English, pointing out potential errors before you submit.
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Amina Diop
•12 How exactly does this work? I'm halfway through my forms on Free Fillable Forms but keep getting locked out. Does taxr.ai actually let you access your locked account or does it just help if you have to start over?
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Amina Diop
•19 Is this some kind of paid service? Seems suspicious to promote it here. Isn't the whole point of using Free Fillable Forms to avoid paying for tax help?
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Amina Diop
•8 It doesn't let you access your locked account - nothing can do that unfortunately due to IRS security protocols. What it does is scan your physical tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) that you would be inputting into the forms and helps make sure you're entering everything correctly when you have to start over. It's not free, but it's much more affordable than a tax professional. The service analyzes your documents for potential errors or missed deductions, so when you have to restart your forms, you're not making the same mistakes twice. I found it especially helpful with my complex 1099 situation.
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Amina Diop
12 I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was exactly what I needed! I was so frustrated about getting locked out of my Free Fillable Forms account, but taxr.ai made starting over much less painful. I uploaded my W-2 and some 1099s I had, and it gave me a complete breakdown of where everything needed to go on the forms. It even found a work expense deduction I was going to miss! Managed to complete my new forms in half the time it took me originally. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the same boat with Free Fillable Forms login issues.
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Amina Diop
5 I had the same problem with Free Fillable Forms last year and wasted DAYS trying to get back in. After countless failed attempts, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent who helped resolve the issue. They have this service that gets you past the IRS phone tree nightmare and connects you with a live person - check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent explained that sometimes accounts get flagged for inactivity or security reasons and gave me specific steps to recover mine. Saved me so much stress!
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Amina Diop
•16 Wait, I thought it's impossible to talk to real IRS agents these days? I tried calling so many times and just get stuck in automated phone hell. How does this service actually work?
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Amina Diop
•19 This sounds fishy. You're saying some third-party service can magically get you through to the IRS when millions of people can't get through? I've heard the IRS only answers like 10% of calls. Seems like a scam to take advantage of desperate filers.
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Amina Diop
•5 It's definitely not impossible to talk to IRS agents, just extremely difficult without help. Claimyr works by using technology to navigate the phone systems and wait on hold for you. When they reach a human agent, they call you and connect you directly. It's like having someone wait in line for you. The IRS does have real people answering calls, the problem is their understaffing and massive call volume. The IRS answering rate varies throughout the year, but it's definitely low - that's exactly why I used this service. I was skeptical too until I tried it and actually got connected to an agent who helped me resolve my account issue.
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Amina Diop
19 I need to eat my words. After sounding off about Claimyr sounding like a scam, I was desperate enough to try it. To my complete shock, I got a call back in about 45 minutes with an actual IRS person on the line! The agent confirmed that my account had been flagged due to "unusual login patterns" (probably me trying to log in 50 times in frustration). They walked me through a security verification process and restored my access. My forms were still there! Saved me from having to redo everything and probably kept me from missing the filing deadline. Never been happier to be wrong about something.
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Amina Diop
3 Try checking if you're using the correct URL. There are several scam sites that look like the official Free Fillable Forms site. The legitimate site should be accessed through the IRS.gov website. Also, make sure your password doesn't contain special characters - I had issues with that last year.
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Amina Diop
•1 Thanks for the suggestion! I double-checked and I'm definitely using the link directly from IRS.gov. I've been going to irs.gov, clicking on File, then choosing Free File Fillable Forms from their official options. My password does have a special character (an exclamation point) - do you think that could be causing the issue?
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Amina Diop
•3 That's good you're using the official link. Yes, the password could definitely be the problem! When I used an exclamation point in mine last year, it kept kicking me back to the login page. Try creating a new account with only letters and numbers in your password. The system is incredibly picky about these things despite their own instructions saying special characters are allowed.
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Amina Diop
22 Does anyone know if the forms auto-save on Free Fillable Forms? I'm having the same login issues, but I'm wondering if my information will still be there if I eventually get back in, or if I should just give up and use TurboTax or something?
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Amina Diop
•4 They do auto-save, but only if you clicked "Save" before logging out last time. If you just closed the browser without explicitly saving, you might have lost some work. I'd recommend trying the different browsers approach someone mentioned above before switching to paid software.
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Jessica Suarez
I went through this exact same issue last month! The login loop is incredibly frustrating. What finally worked for me was completely clearing all browser data (not just cookies - everything including cache and stored passwords), then restarting my browser and trying again. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions like password managers or autofill tools when logging in - these can interfere with the site's authentication. If that doesn't work, try using an incognito/private browsing window. Sometimes the site has conflicts with stored session data. The Free Fillable Forms site is notoriously finicky, especially during peak season. I also found that waiting until very early morning (like 5-6 AM) when server traffic is lowest helped me get through. Don't panic about the deadline - if worst comes to worst, you can always file for an extension to give yourself more time to sort this out!
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