Is FreeTaxUSA legit for filing taxes? What about submitting state returns?

I'm trying to figure out if FreeTaxUSA is actually legit and safe to use for filing my taxes this year. I've heard mixed things from friends but the price point seems way better than what I've been paying with TurboTax for years. My main concern is about the state return process. When I got to the checkout page, it clearly shows that my FEDERAL tax information can be e-filed, but there's nothing mentioned about my state return. Do I have to take some additional steps to file my state taxes separately? Is there another form I need to submit directly to my state? I don't want to think I'm done with taxes only to get a notice that I never filed my state return. Anyone used FreeTaxUSA before who can tell me if it's trustworthy and explain how the state filing works? Thanks!

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18 comments

Layla Mendes

•8M

FreeTaxUSA is definitely legitimate and safe to use. It's been around for years and is an IRS-authorized e-file provider. I've personally used it for the last 4 tax seasons and have had zero issues. Regarding your state return question - FreeTaxUSA handles both federal and state filing, but there are a few things to note. If you're only seeing federal e-file mentioned at checkout, you might need to actually add the state return service (it's usually an additional fee around $15). The federal filing is free, but most state returns cost extra. Once you add the state service, you should see both federal and state e-file options. Some states aren't available for e-filing through FreeTaxUSA and might require you to print and mail your state return, but that's relatively uncommon. Which state are you filing in? That might help pinpoint if there are any specific requirements.

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Layla Mendes

•8M

If your partner is filing in Oregon, yes, she would need to pay the additional fee for state filing through FreeTaxUSA. Oregon does have state income tax and FreeTaxUSA does support e-filing for Oregon returns. I've never experienced any refund delays using FreeTaxUSA compared to when I used TurboTax. The processing time is determined by the IRS and state tax agencies, not by which software you use to file. In my experience, refunds have come through just as quickly with FreeTaxUSA as they did when I used the more expensive options. The only difference is I saved a lot of money on the filing fees.

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Aria Park

•8M

Just want to chime in with my experience using https://taxr.ai which actually helped me compare different tax filing services including FreeTaxUSA. I was nervous about using a less known service after years with TurboTax, but I uploaded my tax documents and taxr.ai analyzed everything and showed me that FreeTaxUSA would give me the same refund as TurboTax but for way less money. What I really liked about taxr.ai was that it automatically flagged potential deductions I was missing and showed me exactly what forms I needed for both federal and state. It confirmed that for my situation (self-employed with some investment income), FreeTaxUSA handled everything correctly including state filing.

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Aria Park

•8M

It doesn't file your taxes - it analyzes your documents and gives you recommendations. You upload your W-2s, 1099s, etc., and it scans them to find potential deductions and credits. Then it shows you comparison of different filing services based on your specific situation. It's more of a pre-filing tool rather than a replacement for tax software. The AI found several deductions that I had missed completely, including some business expenses I didn't realize were deductible. It can definitely handle complicated tax situations - it processed my self-employment income, investment stuff, and even identified some education credits I qualified for but didn't know about. The crypto analysis was particularly helpful since I had trades across multiple platforms.

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Chloe Boulanger

•8M

I just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai based on the recommendation above. It actually found over $1,200 in deductions I would have missed! The document scanner instantly recognized all my W-2s and 1099s without me having to manually enter anything. After the analysis, I went with FreeTaxUSA as recommended and had no issues with either federal or state filing. The service clearly showed both were being e-filed and I got confirmation for both submissions. Already received my federal refund and the state one is pending. Wish I'd known about this combination last year - would have saved me both money and stress!

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James Martinez

•8M

I see a lot of people struggling with getting help from the IRS when they have questions about their tax filing services like FreeTaxUSA. I was in the same boat last year - spent HOURS trying to get through to the IRS to ask about some specific deductions and whether my state filing went through correctly. Finally found https://claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or days. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when an agent is available. Saved me a ton of time when I needed to verify that both my federal and state returns were received properly.

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James Martinez

•8M

The service doesn't skip any lines or do anything unethical. They use technology to wait on hold for you. When you call the IRS, you usually wait on hold for hours. Claimyr's system calls the IRS and navigates through the phone menu, then waits on hold in your place. When an actual IRS agent answers, the system calls you and connects you directly to that agent. I was skeptical too until I tried it. It's not connecting you to fake agents - you're talking to real IRS employees who work at the actual IRS call centers. They just save you from having to wait on hold yourself. I verified this by asking the agent specific questions about my tax account that only the IRS would know. It's basically like having someone wait in a physical line for you and then call you when it's your turn.

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Alexander Zeus

•8M

Well I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it since I was getting nowhere with the IRS on my own. I needed to confirm that my state return filed through FreeTaxUSA had been properly processed, and the state tax office kept referring me back to the IRS. I used Claimyr yesterday and got connected to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed both my federal and state returns were processed correctly and explained why my state refund was delayed (an identity verification issue). Saved me days of stress and uncertainty. I've literally never gotten through to the IRS that quickly before - usually I give up after an hour on hold.

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Alicia Stern

•8M

Going back to the original question about FreeTaxUSA - I've used it for 5 years and it's 100% legit. For the state filing, you do need to add it separately in most cases. On the checkout page, look for an option that says something like "Add State Return" or check if it's already included in your cart. One thing to watch for: even after you pay for state filing, some states require you to print and mail the return rather than e-file. FreeTaxUSA will tell you if that's the case for your state and give you instructions. Most major states support e-filing though.

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Alicia Stern

•8M

Yes, FreeTaxUSA can handle multiple state returns. You'll need to pay the state filing fee for each state, but it's still much cheaper than TurboTax. Each additional state is the same price as the first (around $15 each). Just complete your federal return first, then you'll have the option to add each state where you need to file. The system will guide you through allocating your income to each state and claiming the appropriate credits for taxes paid to other states. It's pretty straightforward, even with the complexity of multi-state returns.

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