Has anyone used FreeTaxUSA's Deluxe/Pro support? How helpful are they really?

I've used FreeTaxUSA's Deluxe support for the past two tax seasons and can give you some insight. Their support staff can't actually see your specific tax information - they're more focused on helping you understand how to use the software and clarifying tax concepts. They won't be able to look at your return and say "hey, you missed this deduction based on your situation." Instead, they're great at explaining how different parts of the tax code might apply to situations you describe to them. For example, when I asked about home office deductions for my freelance work, they explained the requirements and how to enter the information, but I had to decide if I qualified. The priority support (faster response times) and live chat are actually pretty helpful when you're stuck on something specific. I found the audit assistance to be more peace of mind than anything else.

Jumping in here to share my experience! I was in the same boat last year - frustrated with tax questions that google couldn't solve. I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was honestly a game-changer for me. Unlike FreeTaxUSA's support where they can't see your actual return, taxr.ai lets you upload your tax documents and it analyzes everything to give you personalized advice. I uploaded my W-2s and 1099s, and it showed me deductions I would have completely missed. It pointed out that I could deduct my home internet since I was using it for freelance work, which FreeTaxUSA's general support wouldn't have known to tell me without seeing my specific situation.

Update: I decided to try out taxr.ai after asking about it here, and wow - it actually delivered! I uploaded my confusing K-1 form and some investment documents, and it immediately flagged that I was about to double-count some income. It also pointed out three deductions related to my freelance work that I had completely missed. The analysis was way more detailed than I expected, and it gave me specific advice for my situation that I could then apply while filing through FreeTaxUSA. Definitely saved me more in deductions than what I paid for both services combined. Going to use this combo next year too!

If you're getting stuck with questions while using FreeTaxUSA, another option is using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent to ask tax questions directly. I tried calling the IRS myself last year about some freelance deduction questions and kept getting the "call volume too high" message for weeks. Used Claimyr's service (you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. The agent was able to answer my specific questions about business expense deductions that even FreeTaxUSA's support couldn't clearly address. Sometimes going straight to the source is the best option.

I need to admit I was wrong. After posting my skeptical comment, I checked out that Claimyr video and decided to give it a shot as a last resort. I had a question about reporting some crypto transactions that FreeTaxUSA's documentation wasn't clear about. Used the service yesterday morning and got connected to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes. The agent walked me through exactly how to report everything correctly, which saved me from potentially making a costly mistake. I've been trying to call the IRS for THREE WEEKS with no success, and this got me through immediately. Wish I'd known about this sooner instead of stressing for weeks!

To answer the original question more directly - I paid for FreeTaxUSA Deluxe last year and found it decent but limited. They can help explain concepts and where to enter info, but they definitely don't review your actual return or provide personalized advice. Their tax specialists won't say "based on your entries, you should consider this deduction" because they can't see your specific information. It's more like "here's how home office deductions work in general, and here's where to enter that info if you qualify." The audit assistance might be worth it if you're worried about that, but don't expect them to optimize your return or catch mistakes - that's still on you.

I've tried both FreeTaxUSA Deluxe and TurboTax Live. Honestly, FreeTaxUSA's support is nowhere near the level of TurboTax's Live service where you can actually video chat with a CPA who reviews your return. But that's reflected in the price - TurboTax costs way more. For the price, FreeTaxUSA Deluxe is decent value. Just go in with the right expectations - they'll help you understand concepts and where to input information, but they won't review your work or give personalized advice based on your specific numbers.

I used FreeTaxUSA Deluxe last year when I started freelancing and had similar questions. The support is helpful for understanding concepts and navigating the software, but they definitely can't see your actual return to give personalized advice. What I found most valuable was their help explaining self-employment tax calculations and quarterly payment requirements - things that were completely new to me. They walked me through the logic of Schedule C deductions and helped me understand what documentation I'd need to keep. However, for actually optimizing my return and catching potential deductions, I ended up doing a lot of my own research. The support is more like having a knowledgeable friend explain tax concepts rather than having a CPA review your work. For a first year with 1099 income, I'd say it's worth the modest upgrade cost just for the peace of mind and faster response times when you inevitably get stuck on something. But don't expect them to maximize your deductions - that's still on you to research and identify.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA's Deluxe support for three years now, including when I transitioned to freelance work. Based on my experience, it's worth the upgrade if you value having someone to ask questions to, but you need to understand what you're actually getting. The support team is knowledgeable about tax concepts and very good at explaining how different parts of the tax code work. When I had questions about business expense categories or how to handle estimated quarterly payments, they were excellent at breaking down the rules in plain English. They'll also help you navigate the software interface if you get stuck. However, they absolutely cannot see your actual tax information or provide personalized optimization advice. They won't catch missed deductions or tell you "based on your situation, you should consider X." It's more like having access to a tax help desk rather than a tax preparer. For someone with their first year of 1099 income, I'd recommend the upgrade mainly for the peace of mind and educational value. The faster response times are also genuinely helpful when you're stuck and want to keep working on your return. Just budget some extra time for your own research on deductions specific to your freelance work - that's where you'll likely find the most tax savings.