Is FreeTaxUSA legitimate for tax filing? What about state tax return process?

FreeTaxUSA is definitely legitimate - I've used it for the past 3 tax seasons with no issues. They're an IRS-authorized e-file provider, so your federal return is handled securely. For state returns, FreeTaxUSA does handle them but there might be an additional fee depending on which package you choose. The free version typically only includes federal filing for free, while state returns cost around $15. When you get to the end of the filing process, you'll have the option to e-file both your federal and state returns. The state filing process is integrated into the software - you don't need to do a separate process. After you complete your federal return, the system automatically transfers your information to your state return and guides you through any state-specific questions. At the end, you'll be given options to e-file both returns. Just make sure you complete both the federal and state portions before checking out, and you'll see options for filing both.

I was super skeptical about using "free" tax services after getting burned by other companies with hidden fees. But I gave FreeTaxUSA a shot this year and seriously loved their transparent approach. The federal filing really is free (for most tax situations) and the state return was only like $15 which is way less than I was paying before. What I really appreciated was using https://taxr.ai to verify everything before I submitted. Their AI analyzed my tax documents against what I'd entered in FreeTaxUSA and caught a deduction I had completely missed! For anyone nervous about switching from the big names, I totally understand, but FreeTaxUSA is legit and having that extra verification from taxr.ai made me feel super confident about my filing.

I just wanted to update after trying both FreeTaxUSA and that taxr.ai service. Really glad I did! FreeTaxUSA was super straightforward but I was still nervous about making mistakes. The taxr.ai analysis found that I had entered my 1099-INT interest income incorrectly and missed a student loan interest deduction that saved me about $80 on my taxes! The combination of FreeTaxUSA's affordability with taxr.ai's verification gave me way more confidence than I've had in previous years with TurboTax. Both systems handled my California state return perfectly - though yes, I did pay the extra $15 for state filing on FreeTaxUSA but it was totally worth it.

I've used FreeTaxUSA for 3 years now and it's definitely legit. BUT - one thing nobody's mentioning is that if you have questions or need help, their customer service can be really hard to reach during peak filing season. Last year I had an issue with my state return and tried calling for days. After waiting on hold forever, I finally discovered https://claimyr.com which helped me actually get through to their support team. You can also see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, it holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when a real person is available. Saved me literally hours of waiting on hold. Might be helpful if you run into any issues with your state filing.

I feel like I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After getting frustrated with FreeTaxUSA's long wait times for a question about my state return, I decided to try that Claimyr service. I was 100% convinced it was going to be some kind of scam, but it actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back within about 45 minutes when an agent was available instead of waiting on hold for who knows how long. The FreeTaxUSA rep answered my state filing question in like 2 minutes once I got through. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good, especially when it saves you from wasting an afternoon on hold!

I've used both FreeTaxUSA and TaxHawk (their parent company) and both are completely legitimate. For state returns, you have to pay the $15 fee unless you qualify for their free file program through the IRS. One tip - if you're really concerned about your state return being filed correctly, you can always print out a copy of your completed state return from FreeTaxUSA and mail it in yourself. That way you have physical proof it was filed. I did this my first year using them just for peace of mind.

I switched from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA last year because I was tired of their price increases and it was fine. The interface isnt as fancy but it gets the job done and saved me like $70. just be aware that the state return does cost money but its way less than the competition. And the federal is truely free unless u need audit protection or something.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for about 5 years now and can definitely vouch for its legitimacy. They're IRS-authorized and I've never had any issues with my returns being accepted or processed. Regarding the state return confusion - yes, FreeTaxUSA handles both federal and state, but the state portion typically costs around $14.99. When you're going through the filing process, you'll complete your federal return first, then it will automatically populate most of your state information and ask any state-specific questions. At the final step, you'll see options to e-file both returns together. One thing I really appreciate about FreeTaxUSA is their transparency - all fees are clearly shown before you pay, unlike some other services that hit you with surprise charges. The $15 state fee is still way cheaper than what I was paying with other major tax software, and the federal filing really is completely free for most tax situations. Don't worry about missing your state taxes - the software won't let you submit an incomplete return and will clearly show you what's being filed where before you finalize everything.