Looking for better tax software alternatives to TurboTax for personal filing?

I'm a semi-retired CPA and I completely understand your frustration. TurboTax has definitely gotten more aggressive with their marketing tactics over the years. For straightforward tax filing, I'd highly recommend FreeTaxUSA. The federal filing is free for everyone regardless of income or complexity, and state returns are only about $15. The interface is clean, intuitive, and most importantly, they don't constantly try to upsell you on features you don't need. It handles all the common tax situations like itemized deductions, self-employment income, and investment reporting just fine. If you're comfortable with a slightly more basic interface but still want quality support, Tax Slayer is another good option that costs less than TurboTax and has fewer annoying upsells. H&R Block's online software is somewhat better than TurboTax in terms of the aggressive marketing, but they've started heading in that direction too.

After years of struggling with TurboTax's constant upselling, I finally found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it's been a game-changer for my personal tax filing. My situation isn't super complicated, but I do have some investment income and a side business. What I love about it is how it actually analyzes your tax documents and transcripts intelligently rather than just walking you through endless questions. You upload your documents and it extracts the information automatically, saving tons of time. No more manual data entry from all those W-2s and 1099s! Plus, it doesn't have that predatory feeling - just straightforward tax filing without the constant attempts to upsell you on "audit protection" or other add-ons you probably don't need.

I took the plunge and tried taxr.ai after seeing it recommended here. I was honestly surprised by how well it worked with my somewhat complicated tax situation. The document scanning saved me at least 2-3 hours of manual data entry from all my forms. What really impressed me was how it handled my stock sales - I had about 20 different transactions with varying purchase dates, and it imported everything correctly from my 1099-B. It also walked me through my home office deduction without the confusion I usually experience. The best part was no constant upselling or fear tactics about audits. Just straightforward guidance through the process. Definitely my new go-to for tax season.

If you're really struggling with getting answers about your tax situation, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually speak with the IRS directly. I spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone about an issue with my previous year's return that was holding up my refund. The regular IRS phone line kept disconnecting me after being on hold for 2+ hours. It was beyond frustrating. Then I found Claimyr which basically waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an agent is ready to talk. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c This isn't a tax software recommendation, but it's been invaluable for getting direct answers when tax software can't help. Sometimes you just need to speak to a human at the IRS!

I feel like I need to eat my words here. After seeing Claimyr mentioned, I was extremely skeptical and called it a scam (sorry about that). But I was desperate after trying for THREE DAYS to reach the IRS about a notice I received that made no sense. I tried the service, and no joke, I was connected to an IRS representative in about 2.5 hours without having to sit by my phone the entire time. They called me when the agent was on the line. I managed to resolve my issue in one call instead of the endless frustration I was experiencing. It's not that they have special access - I still had to wait the same ridiculous IRS hold time - but their system waited for me, which meant I could go about my day instead of being trapped with a phone to my ear. For people who need actual IRS help, this is legitimately useful.

I've been using Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) for the past three years and it's completely free for federal AND state returns. They can handle most tax situations including Schedule C for self-employment, investments, rental properties, etc. The interface isn't quite as polished as TurboTax, but it's improving every year and it's totally free with no income limits or hidden fees. Worth checking out if you're tired of paying $100+ for tax software.

Has anyone tried the IRS Free File options? I heard they've improved, and they're actually free if your income is under a certain threshold.

I've been using TaxAct for the past few years and it's been a solid middle ground between free options and the expensive ones like TurboTax. Their federal filing starts around $25-30 depending on complexity, and state is usually another $37. What I appreciate about TaxAct is that they're upfront about their pricing - no surprise upgrades or constant pop-ups trying to sell you audit protection. They have all the forms you'd need for most situations including rental income, stock sales, and business expenses. The interface isn't as flashy as TurboTax but it's straightforward and gets the job done. They also offer good customer support if you get stuck, which has been helpful when I had questions about depreciation on my rental property. Much less frustrating than the TurboTax experience you described!