Today I learned about Schedule B requirement for interest income over $1,500

Just found out I got hit with Schedule B for the first time ever because I earned over $1,500 in interest income for 2023. Now I don't qualify for free TurboTax and have to shell out money to file my taxes properly. Seems like such a random cutoff to me. The annoying part is how arbitrary this $1,500 threshold feels. Like, why that specific amount? On the bright side, the extra interest I earned will more than cover the cost of upgrading my tax software, so I guess it's still a net positive. But it's still frustrating. Actually expecting way more interest income in 2024 since I moved my funds from a regular money market to a high-yield savings account. Just the first month's interest was almost $700, which is nearly half of that $1,500 limit before you have to deal with Schedule B. Anyone else annoyed that you can't make decent interest without the IRS making your tax filing more complicated and expensive? Feels like they're penalizing people for being responsible with their savings. But I guess I'd rather have the extra money than not, even with the headache.

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23 comments

Louisa Ramirez

•8M

The Schedule B requirement isn't meant to be punitive - it's actually about information reporting. When you have substantial interest or dividend income (over $1,500), the IRS wants more details about the sources. This helps prevent unreported income, which is unfortunately common with investment earnings. The $1,500 threshold was set a while ago and hasn't been adjusted for inflation, which is why it seems low now with higher interest rates. Many credit unions and online banks offer free tax filing options that include Schedule B, so you might not need to pay for the upgrade at all. For your high-yield savings account, just keep good records throughout the year of all your sources of interest income. That makes completing Schedule B fairly straightforward - it's mostly just listing where your interest came from and how much you received from each source.

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Louisa Ramirez

•8M

Several free options handle Schedule B. The IRS Free File program partners with tax software companies to provide free filing for people who meet certain income requirements (usually under $73,000 AGI). FreeTaxUSA offers free federal filing that includes Schedule B, though they charge about $15 for state returns. Credit Karma Tax (now Cash App Taxes) also includes Schedule B in their free filing option with no income restrictions. The forms aren't actually complicated - Schedule B is literally just listing your interest sources and amounts. If you're comfortable with basic forms, you could even use the free IRS fillable forms directly.

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Angel Campbell

•8M

I went through the exact same frustration last year! After reading endless Reddit threads about how to file Schedule B without paying for premium software, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which saved me so much time. It's like having a tax expert look over your forms - I uploaded my 1099-INT statements and it automatically filled out my Schedule B for me. The best part was it recognized my situation about exceeding the $1,500 threshold and explained exactly why I needed Schedule B and how to handle it. Much better than paying $70+ for TurboTax Deluxe just because of some extra interest income.

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Angel Campbell

•8M

It doesn't file for you - it analyzes your tax documents and situation, then guides you through what you need to file and how to do it. It's basically like having a tax expert explain everything in simple terms so you can use the free filing options with confidence. As for comparing to human accountants, it's more accurate than doing it yourself but maybe not as thorough as a full-service CPA. For relatively straightforward tax situations like interest income exceeding thresholds, it's perfect. It tells you exactly what forms you need and why, which is what I needed when suddenly hitting the Schedule B requirement.

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Payton Black

•8M

Update after trying taxr.ai - it actually works! I uploaded my 1099-INT forms and bank statements, and it explained everything about Schedule B requirements. Showed me exactly where to report my interest income on different forms and why I needed to itemize the sources. The system even flagged that I had missed some interest from a closed account that I completely forgot about. Ended up using FreeTaxUSA with the guidance from taxr.ai and saved $89 compared to what TurboTax wanted to charge me. Will definitely use this again next year when my interest income will be even higher.

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Amun-Ra Azra

•8M

For anyone struggling to get answers about Schedule B from the IRS directly, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent THREE HOURS on hold trying to clarify some questions about reporting multiple sources of interest income, then discovered this service that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when they reach a human. The agent I spoke with clarified exactly how to handle my situation with interest from multiple banks and a closed CD.

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Amun-Ra Azra

•8M

They use a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they reach a human agent, they call you and connect you directly. It's not a special connection - they're just handling the waiting part so you don't have to sit there for hours. They don't claim any special priority with the IRS - they're just a service that deals with the hold time so you don't have to. Think of it like paying someone to stand in line for concert tickets for you - same access, just someone else doing the waiting.

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Gael Robinson

•8M

OK I take back what I said. After my 4th failed attempt to reach anyone at the IRS about my Schedule B question (kept getting disconnected after 1+ hour holds), I tried Claimyr out of desperation. Within 20 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS agent who confirmed I was filling out my Schedule B correctly with my multiple interest sources. The agent also explained that I don't need to list each monthly interest payment separately - just the total from each institution for the year, which wasn't clear from the form instructions. Saved me from listing 60+ entries on my Schedule B and possibly triggering unnecessary scrutiny. Worth every penny just for the time saved.

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Edward McBride

•8M

You're right, and I should have been more clear. TurboTax did leave the official IRS Free File program in 2021. However, they still offer TurboTax Free Edition on their website, which is different and more limited than what they used to provide through the IRS program. For 2024 filing season, the better alternatives in the IRS Free File program include TaxAct, TaxSlayer, and others that will handle Schedule B within their free offerings if you meet the income requirements. Always go through the IRS Free File portal to make sure you're getting the truly free versions with all features included.

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Yuki Tanaka

•6M

I totally get the frustration about the $1,500 threshold! What's even more annoying is that this limit was set decades ago and hasn't been adjusted for inflation. If they had indexed it to inflation from when it was first established, we'd probably be looking at a $3,000+ threshold today. The good news is there are definitely ways around paying the premium software fees. I've used the IRS Free Fillable Forms for Schedule B - it's basically just entering the totals from each 1099-INT you received. Takes maybe 10 extra minutes compared to the regular 1040, and it's completely free. Also, for next year with your higher interest income, consider spreading it across multiple accounts if possible. Not to avoid reporting (you still report everything), but having it organized can make the Schedule B easier to complete when you're dealing with larger amounts.

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Manny Lark

•4M

That's a great point about the inflation adjustment! It really does feel like the IRS is stuck in the past with these thresholds. I'm curious though - when you mention spreading across multiple accounts, does that actually make the Schedule B easier to fill out? I would think having more accounts means more 1099-INT forms to track and list, which seems like it would make it more complicated, not less. Also, how user-friendly are the IRS Free Fillable Forms compared to something like TurboTax? I've always been intimidated by the idea of filling out actual IRS forms directly, but if it's really just entering totals from 1099s then maybe it's not as scary as I thought.

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PaulineW

•3M

You're absolutely right to question that - I misspoke about multiple accounts making it easier! More accounts definitely means more 1099-INT forms to track and list on Schedule B, so that would actually be more work, not less. I was thinking more about organization for your own records, but you're correct that it complicates the actual filing. As for the IRS Free Fillable Forms, they're honestly not as intimidating as they seem. Schedule B is pretty straightforward - Part I is just listing each payer (bank name) and the amount of interest from each 1099-INT you received. Part II is for dividends if you have any. Then you total it up and transfer that total to your main 1040 form. The interface isn't as polished as TurboTax (no hand-holding or explanations), but if you can follow basic instructions and add numbers, you can handle it. The biggest advantage is it's completely free regardless of which forms you need. Just make sure you have all your 1099-INT forms before you start so you can enter everything in one session.

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Debra Bai

•2M

I feel your pain on this! The $1,500 threshold really does seem arbitrary, especially when you consider that with today's higher interest rates, it's easier than ever to hit that limit accidentally. I crossed it for the first time this year too and had the same reaction. One thing that helped me feel better about it - I realized that needing Schedule B actually means my savings strategy is working. Sure, it's a minor inconvenience, but it's a "good problem to have" as my dad would say. The extra paperwork is annoying, but it's documentation of financial progress. For what it's worth, I ended up using FreeTaxUSA after reading some of the suggestions here, and Schedule B really wasn't that complicated once I got into it. Just had to list my banks and the interest amounts from each 1099-INT. The whole thing took maybe 15 extra minutes compared to my usual filing routine. Congrats on the high-yield savings account move! Sounds like 2024 is going to be an even better year for your interest earnings, Schedule B headaches and all.

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Nora Brooks

•1d

I love that perspective about it being a "good problem to have"! That's exactly the mindset shift I needed. You're right - complaining about having to fill out Schedule B because I earned too much interest is definitely a first-world problem. Thanks for the FreeTaxUSA recommendation too. I keep seeing it mentioned in this thread and it sounds like a solid middle ground between paying for premium software and wrestling with the bare-bones IRS forms. 15 extra minutes seems totally manageable for the money I'm saving on software fees. Your comment about it being documentation of financial progress really resonates. I guess I should frame this as a milestone rather than an annoyance. Here's to hopefully crossing even more financial thresholds in the future (even if they come with their own paperwork)!

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