Is the IRS website more accurate than free TurboTax for tax refunds?

But isn't the IRS Free File different than TurboTax Free? I thought the IRS version gives you access to more forms even with the free option. I tried TurboTax this year and they kept trying to make me upgrade for like every little thing.

IRS Free File is a program where various tax software companies (including TurboTax) offer their software for free to eligible taxpayers. The Free File version of TurboTax has fewer limitations than their regular "free" version that they advertise on their website. You're right that TurboTax's regular free version is very limited and will prompt you to upgrade for many common tax situations. If you qualify for Free File (generally income below $78,000), you can access more forms without upgrading. I recommend checking the IRS Free File page and seeing which software options are available to you based on your specific situation.

How exactly does this work? Does it actually file your taxes for you or just tell you where to go file them? I'm confused about what exactly it's doing with your tax info.

Sounds fishy tbh. Tax calculations should be the same regardless of what software you use as long as you input the same information. How can it find "missing" credits if you input all your info correctly?

It doesn't file your taxes - it analyzes your tax documents to identify which credits and deductions you qualify for across different platforms. Sometimes the free versions of tax software don't ask all the questions needed to identify certain credits you might qualify for. The issue isn't calculation errors - it's that different tax platforms have different interview processes. Some ask more thorough questions that might uncover deductions others miss. For example, TurboTax free doesn't always check eligibility for things like education credits or certain income adjustments unless you upgrade. The tool found that my specific situation qualified for a credit that TurboTax free never asked about.

How does this even work? The IRS phone lines are always jammed. I literally can't imagine getting through in 15 minutes when I've spent hours on hold before.

Yeah right lol. There's no way this actually works. IRS phone lines are a nightmare. I'll believe 15 minutes when pigs fly. Sounds like another scam trying to get desperate people to pay for something that doesn't work.

It works by using an automated system that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree for you. When a live agent is about to answer, it calls your phone and connects you directly. It's basically doing all the waiting and menu navigation for you. The IRS phone lines are definitely jammed, that's exactly why this service exists. The system keeps trying different optimal calling patterns until it gets through. I was skeptical too, but it legitimately worked - I didn't have to sit on hold or repeatedly call back. The system did all that for me.

I haven't tried Credit Karma Tax yet. Is it really completely free even for state returns? No hidden charges or upgrade prompts halfway through?

Yes, it's completely free for both federal and state returns. I used it last year and didn't encounter any upgrade prompts or hidden fees at all. They offer all the major forms and schedules at no cost. It's now called Cash App Taxes (Credit Karma sold that part of their business), but it's still free. The interface isn't quite as polished as TurboTax, but it works well and covers most tax situations including self-employment, investments, and homeowner deductions without charging anything.

This is the correct answer. People think big refund = good, small refund = bad, but that's backward. Ideally you want your refund to be as close to $0 as possible, meaning you paid exactly what you owed throughout the year.