Is Free File Fillable Forms worth using or should I stick with paper filing?

The Free File Fillable Forms can be a good option if you're comfortable with understanding tax forms and calculations on your own. They're basically the electronic version of paper forms but with some advantages: - Built-in math calculations to reduce arithmetic errors - Direct e-file capability which typically means faster refunds (usually within 21 days vs. 6+ weeks for paper) - Confirmation that the IRS received your return - You can save your work and come back to it However, they don't provide any guidance or help with tax law like paid software does. They won't check if you're eligible for credits or deductions you might miss. Also, they can be a bit glitchy sometimes - make sure you save frequently. Since your tax situation is straightforward, they should work fine for you. Just be aware they don't transfer information between forms automatically like paid software does, so you'll need to manually enter data in multiple places sometimes.

After struggling with Free File Fillable Forms last year and making a stupid error that delayed my refund for 3 months, I decided to try taxr.ai this year and it made SUCH a difference! The site (https://taxr.ai) actually scanned my tax documents and filled everything out automatically. What I really liked is that it caught that my employer had my SSN wrong on my W-2 before I submitted, which probably would have caused another nightmare delay. It also found some education credits I totally would have missed on the Fillable Forms since they don't guide you through anything.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after asking about it earlier. I was really skeptical that anything automated could handle my complicated tax situation, but I decided to give it a try. Honestly it was pretty impressive! It correctly categorized all my self-employment expenses and even suggested some deductions I didn't know about for my rental property. The document scanner saved me hours of manual data entry from all my 1099s and investment statements. My return was way more accurate than when I was fumbling through Free File Fillable Forms on my own. Definitely sticking with this from now on!

For anyone frustrated with Free File Fillable Forms but still wanting free options, I had a question about a weird error code last year and couldn't get any help. The IRS phone lines kept me on hold for HOURS. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent in like 20 minutes! They have this demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent helped me fix the error with the Free File Fillable Forms and explained exactly what I did wrong. Saved me from having to start over with paper forms after already spending hours on the electronic version.

Ok I have to eat my words about Claimyr being a scam. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone about my return getting rejected through Free File Fillable Forms, so I tried it. It actually worked?! I got connected to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes when I had been trying for WEEKS on my own. The agent walked me through fixing the specific error on my Free File Fillable Forms submission and I was able to resubmit successfully. Already got my refund status updated to approved. Definitely worth it when you're stuck with a specific problem that only the IRS can help with.

I've used Free File Fillable Forms for the last 3 years and I think they're great IF you're comfortable with tax forms. Here's my experience: Year 1: Total disaster. I didn't understand how to properly carry numbers between forms and schedules. Made errors that delayed my refund. Year 2: Much better after watching some YouTube tutorials about how the forms work together. Year 3: Smooth sailing. Took about 2 hours total and got my refund in 16 days. I'd say if you're willing to learn how the tax forms work together and don't mind the lack of guidance, they're a good free option. But if you're unsure about tax rules or which forms to use, you might want paid software instead.

I tried the Free File Fillable Forms last year and the site kept glitching when I tried to attach my Schedule C for self-employment income. Has anyone else had technical problems with it? Any suggestions for free alternatives that actually work well?

I've been using Free File Fillable Forms for about 5 years now and wanted to share my perspective. They're definitely not as user-friendly as paid software, but once you get the hang of them, they work fine for straightforward returns. A few tips that have helped me: - Always use the PDF versions first to map out your return before entering data online - Keep a separate document with all your numbers organized by form/schedule - File during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) to avoid slowdowns - Double-check every calculation manually - the math checks aren't perfect The biggest downside is really the lack of guidance on tax strategy. I've missed out on some credits over the years that paid software would have caught. But for basic W-2 situations like yours, they should work well and you'll definitely get your refund faster than paper filing. One thing to consider - if your income is under the threshold, the IRS Free File partner programs offer full-featured software for free, which might be worth checking out before committing to the fillable forms.

I've been using Free File Fillable Forms for the past two years and wanted to share my experience since you're considering making the switch from paper filing. The good news is that for a straightforward tax situation like yours (W-2 and basic deductions), they work pretty well. The e-filing is definitely faster - I got my refund in about 18 days last year versus the 8+ weeks it took when I mailed my return. However, there are some things to be aware of: - The interface can be clunky and you need to manually transfer numbers between forms - Save your work frequently because the system does time out - You're basically on your own for tax guidance - it won't suggest deductions or credits you might qualify for - The site gets really slow during peak filing season If you're comfortable reading and understanding tax forms and don't mind the DIY approach, they're a solid free option. But if you want any hand-holding or optimization suggestions, you might want to consider the IRS Free File partner programs (if you qualify by income) or paid software. For your first year trying e-filing, maybe prepare your return on paper first as a backup, then enter the same information into the fillable forms. That way you have a reference and can catch any transfer errors.