Unable to sign into Free File Fillable Forms - tried everything but still locked out

This is actually a fairly common issue with Free File Fillable Forms this season. The system has been experiencing some technical difficulties, especially during high traffic periods. Here's what you can try: 1. Clear your browser cache and cookies completely before attempting to log in again. Sometimes there's a session conflict that causes this exact behavior. 2. Try accessing the site during off-peak hours - early morning (before 8am) or late evening (after 10pm) when server load is typically lower. 3. If you're still having trouble, you can request a password reset. Even though your password field is clearing, this sometimes resolves the underlying authentication issue. 4. As a last resort, try using a completely different device - perhaps a tablet or another computer if you have access to one.

I had a similar issue last month and spent hours trying to figure it out. After multiple failed attempts, I finally discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me diagnose what was happening. It turns out there was a compatibility issue with my browser extensions. Using their document analyzer, I was able to confirm that my previous session data was causing the conflict. They walked me through fixing the issue and recovering my account. The tool also double-checked all my tax documents to ensure everything would process correctly once I got back in. Saved me from having to start over from scratch!

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here, and it was actually super helpful! Not only did it help me fix my login issues with Free File Fillable Forms, but it also caught a couple of potential errors in my tax forms that probably would have caused problems later. The document analyzer easily identified that I had an outdated security certificate in my browser that was conflicting with the Free File Fillable Forms site. Once I updated that, I was able to log in immediately. And the peace of mind from having my forms checked for errors was totally worth it!

If you're still unable to access your Free File Fillable Forms account, you might want to contact the IRS directly. I tried calling their support line about a similar issue last year, but got stuck in an endless phone tree for hours. Ended up using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual human at the IRS in about 20 minutes. They have this demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c that shows how it works. Basically, they hold your place in the phone queue so you don't have to wait on hold forever. The IRS agent I spoke with was able to escalate my case to the technical team and got my account unlocked within a day.

I have to eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comment earlier, I decided to try Claimyr since I was desperate to resolve my own Free File issue. The service actually works! I got a call back in about 35 minutes with an actual IRS representative on the line. The agent was able to verify my identity and confirmed there was a known system glitch affecting some accounts. She submitted a ticket to their IT department and gave me a case number. This morning I received an email that my account was reset, and I was able to log in successfully without losing any of my previously entered data. Definitely worth it rather than continuing to bang my head against the wall trying to solve it myself!

Another possible solution: try using an incognito/private browsing window. I had a similar issue and this fixed it for me. Something about the cookies or cached data was preventing the login from completing properly. Also, make sure your password doesn't contain any special characters. The Free File system sometimes has issues with certain symbols even though they claim to support them. If your password has characters like $, #, or &, try changing it to something with just letters and numbers.

Has anyone tried using a completely different computer? I had weird issues with Free File last year that turned out to be related to my company laptop's security settings. When I tried on my personal computer everything worked fine. Also, is anyone else worried about the late start to filing season this year? With all these technical issues, I'm getting anxious about meeting the deadline.

I've been dealing with Free File login issues for the past few days and found a few additional things that helped. First, try disabling any ad blockers or privacy extensions temporarily - sometimes they interfere with the authentication process in ways that aren't obvious. Also, if you're using a VPN, try disconnecting from it. The IRS system sometimes flags VPN traffic as suspicious and can cause strange login behavior like what you're describing where the password field clears without any error message. One more thing - check if your system clock is accurate. I know it sounds weird, but authentication systems are picky about time synchronization. If your computer's clock is off by more than a few minutes, it can cause session timeouts that present as login failures. If none of these work, you might also try creating a completely new browser profile (not just incognito mode) to rule out any extension or setting conflicts. I had to do this last year and it finally got me back in.

I just wanted to add another potential solution that worked for me when I had a similar issue. Try logging in using the "Forgot Password" link even if you remember your password correctly. Sometimes there's a glitch in the authentication system that gets reset when you go through the password recovery process. When I did this, I received the reset email immediately and was able to set a new password (I just used the same one I had before). After that, the login worked perfectly and all my previously saved tax information was still there. Also, if you're comfortable with it, try temporarily disabling two-factor authentication if you have it enabled. I've seen cases where the 2FA system gets out of sync and causes the exact behavior you're describing - the password field clearing with no error message. You can always re-enable it once you're back in your account. One last thing - make sure you're not copying and pasting your password. Type it manually instead. Sometimes invisible characters get copied that cause authentication failures without any clear error messages.

I went through this exact same issue last month and it was incredibly frustrating! After trying all the standard troubleshooting steps (clearing cache, different browsers, etc.), what finally worked for me was a combination of things. First, I completely logged out of ALL IRS-related sites (not just Free File, but also IRS.gov if you've been checking your account status there). Then I cleared all cookies specifically for irs.gov and freefile.intuit.com domains - not just a general browser clear, but targeted cookie removal. The key breakthrough was when I realized my antivirus software was blocking certain scripts from running properly on the Free File site. I had to temporarily add the Free File domain to my antivirus whitelist. After doing that and restarting my browser completely (not just closing tabs), I was able to log in successfully. Also, double-check that you're going directly to the official Free File site through IRS.gov and not through a search engine result. There are some unofficial sites that look very similar but have slightly different authentication systems that can cause these mysterious login failures. Your saved data should definitely still be there once you get back in - the IRS systems keep that information separate from the login credentials. Don't give up! I know how stressful it is when you've already put in all that work.