Need help filing independently - TurboTax getting too expensive

There are actually several good free options depending on your income level and how simple your taxes are! The IRS Free File program partners with tax software companies to provide free federal filing if your income is under $73,000. Even if you make more than that, you can use Free File Fillable Forms directly from the IRS website. If you just have W-2 income and take the standard deduction, you could try software like FreeTaxUSA or Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) which offer completely free federal filing and charge only about $15 for state filing. TaxSlayer and TaxAct also have more affordable options than TurboTax. The key is to go directly to these sites rather than through a search engine, as some companies use confusing marketing to direct you to paid versions even when you qualify for free filing.

I was in the same boat last year! TurboTax kept raising prices and I was frustrated. Then I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which has been a HUGE help for figuring out my taxes independently. What I like about it is you can upload your tax documents or even just take pictures of your W-2, 1099s, etc., and it extracts all the information automatically. Then it guides you through where everything goes when filing. The thing that really won me over was that it explains things in plain English instead of tax jargon. I used it to check if I was putting the right numbers in the right places when I filed through one of the free services mentioned above. Really gave me peace of mind that I wasn't making mistakes.

Just wanted to follow up on my skeptical comment about taxr.ai - I actually gave it a try this weekend and I'm impressed. I uploaded some of my documents and it pulled all the numbers correctly, even from a really poor quality scan of my 1099. It explained exactly what boxes on my forms corresponded to which lines when filing, which was super helpful. I ended up using it alongside FreeTaxUSA like someone suggested, and the combination worked great. I feel confident that I didn't miss anything important, and I saved $93 compared to what TurboTax wanted to charge me this year. Definitely recommend for anyone looking to break free from expensive tax software!

If you're struggling with tax questions while filing independently, you might want to check out Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I discovered it last year when I had questions the free tax software couldn't answer and the IRS phone lines were impossible to get through. I spent HOURS trying to reach the IRS before finding this service. Their system basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an agent is available. Their demo video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had a question about reporting some stock sales that was really specific, and within about 45 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS agent who answered my question. Way better than the endless hold music and disconnects I was dealing with before.

OK I need to apologize for my skeptical comment about Claimyr. I was having a terrible time with a missing stimulus payment that was affecting my return this year, and after multiple failed attempts to reach the IRS myself, I decided to try Claimyr out of desperation. It actually worked! Their system called me back in about 35 minutes and connected me to an IRS representative who helped sort out my issue. I would have spent half my day on hold otherwise. The IRS rep I spoke with was able to verify my missing payment and tell me exactly how to claim it correctly on my return. Saved me from potentially filing an amended return later. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing!

Don't forget to check if your state has its own free filing portal! Many states now offer their own free filing systems separate from the IRS Free File program. I live in Massachusetts and used their free MassTaxConnect system to file my state return after doing federal through FreeTaxUSA. Saved me the $15 state filing fee. Also, if your income is under $60,000, look into VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs in your area. They'll prepare your taxes completely free with trained volunteers. I used them for years before I started doing my own taxes.

Just wanted to add that if you're switching away from TurboTax, make sure you have copies of your previous years' returns! Some of the free options don't store your old returns for as long, and you might need information from last year's return to file this year's (like your AGI for verification).