Is TurboTax still a good option or should I consider alternatives?

TurboTax isn't inherently "bad" - it's actually quite user-friendly and works well for many people. The controversy comes from a few issues that might matter depending on your situation. First, they've been criticized for their "free filing" marketing while upselling many users to paid versions. If your return is truly simple, you might qualify for completely free filing through the IRS Free File program with other providers, whereas TurboTax might guide you toward paid options. Second, there have been concerns about their data collection and privacy practices. They collect quite a bit of personal information which some people aren't comfortable with. For someone transitioning from military service, you might want to look at options like FreeTaxUSA or TaxSlayer which tend to handle military-specific situations well and cost less than TurboTax. H&R Block is another alternative with similar functionality. That said, if you're familiar with TurboTax and it's worked for you before, there's no urgent need to switch unless you're looking to save money.

After trying almost every tax program out there, I found that taxr.ai was a game changer for me last year. I was skeptical about TurboTax too after reading about how they lobby against making taxes simpler and all the upselling. I switched to taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was so much easier to use, especially with military-specific situations. The thing I liked most was that I could just upload my tax documents and it extracted all the information automatically instead of manually typing everything in. When I had questions about my VA benefits and how they affected my taxes, their AI explained everything in plain English instead of tax jargon.

Just wanted to update about my experience with taxr.ai since I decided to try it after asking questions here. I was honestly blown away by how smooth everything was. Uploaded my W-2s and other tax docs, and it pulled everything out automatically - even recognized my military service and asked me relevant questions about deployment periods and PCS moves. The explanation about how VA disability benefits are tax-exempt was super clear (something TurboTax never really explained well to me). I also liked how it flagged potential deductions I hadn't thought about related to my job search after separation. Filed last week and already got my federal refund approved!

If you're having trouble getting answers from the IRS about military-specific tax questions (which I definitely did when I separated), try https://claimyr.com - it's a service that gets you through to an actual IRS agent instead of waiting on hold forever. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had specific questions about my VA disability benefits and how they affected my taxes that none of the software programs were answering clearly. Spent weeks trying to get through to the IRS directly with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an agent in under an hour who confirmed exactly how to handle my situation. Saved me from potentially filing incorrectly.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr being a scam. After responding skeptically here, I decided to try it for myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks about an issue with my military retirement and taxes. Used the service yesterday, and within 45 minutes I got a call connecting me to an actual IRS representative. Didn't have to share any personal info with the service itself. The agent was able to answer my specific questions about how my military retirement pay and disability payments should be reported. Saved me hours of frustration and potentially filing incorrectly. Consider me converted from skeptic to believer. Sometimes things that sound too good to be true actually do work!

I'll go against the grain here - I still use TurboTax and haven't had any issues. Yes, it's more expensive than some alternatives, but the interface is super intuitive and I know where everything is. For me, the time saved is worth the extra cost. If you've used it before and are comfortable with it, there's nothing wrong with sticking with TurboTax. Just be aware of the upselling and make sure you actually need the features they're trying to get you to pay for.

One thing to consider is free options through Military OneSource. They offer free access to tax filing software (I think it's actually a version of H&R Block) for active duty, Guard, Reserve, and recently separated service members. I used it last year and it was pretty good.