What are more affordable tax filing options for college students?

TurboTax is notorious for upselling features you likely don't need as a college student with a simple tax situation. Here are some genuinely affordable options: 1) IRS Free File Program - If your adjusted gross income is under $73,000, you can use brand-name tax software for free through the IRS website. Go directly to IRS.gov/freefile to find legitimate options. 2) Cash App Taxes - Completely free for federal and state returns, even with education credits. They handle 1098-T forms with no issues. 3) FreeTaxUSA - Free federal filing and about $15 for state returns. They support education credits and deductions without charging premium fees. 4) Tax-Aid or VITA programs - These offer free in-person help from IRS-certified volunteers, specifically designed for students and people with moderate incomes. With your W-2 and 1098-T, any of these options should work well. Don't pay hundreds for a simple return!

I was in the exact same situation last year - simple W-2 job, college student, and TurboTax wanted me to pay almost $200! I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that completely changed how I file. It's designed for students and simple returns. What I really liked is that I just took pictures of my W-2 and 1098-T forms with my phone, uploaded them, and the system automatically extracted all the information instead of me having to type everything in manually. It figured out which education credits I qualified for without trying to upsell me on premium features I didn't need. The best part was that it explained everything in normal language instead of confusing tax jargon. Definitely worth checking out if you're tired of the big companies trying to squeeze every dollar from broke college students.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai after seeing it recommended here. I gave it a shot and it was honestly way better than expected! The document scanning feature saved me tons of time - I didn't have to manually enter all those W-2 boxes and it correctly pulled all the info from my 1098-T for my education credits. The explanations were actually helpful - it explained why I qualified for the American Opportunity Credit instead of just asking confusing questions. Filed both federal and state returns without any surprise fees. The whole process took maybe 25 minutes compared to the 2+ hours I spent last year getting frustrated with TurboTax. Definitely using this again next year!

If you're still having trouble and need to talk to someone at the IRS about filing options, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS on my own about education credit questions last year - literally hours on hold only to get disconnected. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS representative in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c As a student, I needed clarification on how to report my scholarship and whether it was taxable based on how it was used. The IRS agent was able to explain exactly how to file correctly, which ended up saving me from making an expensive mistake. Definitely worth it for peace of mind if you have specific questions about student tax situations.

I need to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I was desperate for help with my education credit questions. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 20 minutes with an IRS agent already on the line. The agent helped me understand exactly how to claim my textbook expenses as part of my American Opportunity Credit (turns out I was missing out on claiming about $750 in qualified expenses). For anyone in the same situation as me - a student with financial aid, scholarships, and education expenses - getting direct answers from the IRS saved me from potentially missing out on a significant credit. I ended up using one of the free filing options mentioned above and claimed the full education credit I was entitled to. My refund was about $850 higher than what I would have received had I filed incorrectly.

PSA for all students: If your income is below $73,000, DO NOT directly go to TurboTax, H&R Block, etc. websites. Instead, access them THROUGH the IRS Free File page (https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) if you want to use those services for free! Companies deliberately hide their free versions and use confusing language to get you to pay. There was actually a big scandal about this a few years ago. They advertise "free free free" but then charge you for state filing or when you have a 1098-T. I've used IRS Free File for 3 years as a student with W-2s, 1098-T education credits, and even some side gig income, and haven't paid a cent. Literally saved hundreds of dollars.

has anyone here used Credit Karma Tax? i heard they got bought by Cash App but still offer free filing. my roommate used it last year but he doesn't have education stuff like i do