What mobile apps can I use to practice filing taxes before the real thing?

Hey everyone, I'm looking to get ahead of the curve on my taxes this year. Just turned 22 and realized I know absolutely nothing about filing taxes even though I've been working part-time for almost 4 years now (embarrassing, I know). My parents have always just "handled it" for me, but I want to be independent with this stuff going forward. Are there any good apps or programs where I can practice filling out tax forms without actually submitting anything? Like a simulator or something? I'm trying to learn about deductions, credits, and all that jazz before I have to do it for real in a few months. Don't want to mess anything up when it actually matters! Any recommendations would be super helpful.

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22 comments

Javier Cruz

•8M

Tax preparation doesn't have to be intimidating! While there aren't many dedicated "practice" apps specifically for taxes, you can use most of the major tax software programs in "practice mode" without actually filing. You can download apps like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxSlayer and go through the whole process entering test information. They'll walk you through everything step by step, and you can see what deductions or credits you might qualify for. Just don't hit submit at the end! Most of these apps let you go through the entire process for free - you only pay when you actually file. Another great resource is the IRS website itself. They have a lot of educational materials designed for first-time filers. The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program also offers free tax help to qualifying individuals, and some of their training materials are available online.

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Javier Cruz

•8M

Most of the mainstream tax apps have built-in help sections that explain tax concepts as you go through the process. TurboTax probably has the most robust explanations - they have little "learn more" links throughout that explain why they're asking for certain information and how different choices affect your taxes. For practicing different scenarios, absolutely! You can create mock situations like having investment income or being self-employed. Just enter test data as you go through the app and see how it affects your refund or amount owed. It's a great way to understand how different income sources are taxed differently. Just remember not to actually submit anything while you're practicing.

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Malik Thomas

•8M

I was in your exact situation last year trying to figure out the tax maze. I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was a game-changer for learning. It's not exactly a practice app, but it analyzes tax forms and documents and explains everything in plain English. I uploaded a sample W-2 from my job and it broke down exactly what each box meant and how it would affect my return. The coolest part was when I tried it with some 1099 forms my friend had - it explained all the self-employment tax implications I would have never understood otherwise. It really helped me understand the "why" behind tax forms rather than just filling in boxes without knowing what they meant. Definitely check it out if you want to really understand what you're looking at!

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Malik Thomas

•8M

It works with pretty much all the common tax forms including the investment ones like 1099-B, 1099-DIV, etc. For Schedule E and rental properties, it definitely covers those! It actually has specialized explanations for rental income, depreciation, and which expenses are deductible for rental properties. Regarding security, I had the same concern initially. They use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis (they explain all this on their site). You can also use it with sample forms first if you're hesitant about uploading your real documents right away. I started with some sample forms I found online before using my actual stuff.

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Isabella Costa

•8M

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I went ahead and tried it with some sample forms I found online and wow, it's actually really helpful! I've been doing my own taxes for years but realized I never really understood what half the stuff meant. The explanations are super clear and I finally understand why I was getting certain credits but not others. It pointed out a couple deductions I completely missed last year too. Definitely recommend for anyone trying to understand taxes better, not just beginners. Thanks for sharing this tool!

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Ravi Malhotra

•8M

If you're planning to call the IRS with questions (which I highly recommend as you learn), save yourself hours of frustration by using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS last filing season with specific questions about educational credits that none of the apps could answer clearly. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for literally days on my own. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agents are surprisingly helpful when you can actually reach them, and they answered questions that I couldn't figure out from any of the tax apps. Much better than trying to interpret confusing instructions or getting generic advice online.

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Ravi Malhotra

•8M

It's not about cutting in line - they use an automated system that continually redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until there's an opening, then connects you directly. It's basically doing what you'd have to do manually (calling repeatedly for hours) but automated. They explain it better on their site, but that's the gist. I was skeptical too at first! But it's absolutely legit. They don't answer on your behalf or anything sketchy - they just handle the frustrating part of constantly redialing and waiting through the menus. Once you're connected, you're talking directly to the IRS just like if you'd called yourself. The difference is you wait minutes instead of hours.

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Omar Farouk

•8M

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. I was completely wrong and I apologize. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself because I had a weird situation with missing tax forms that none of the apps could help with. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had previously spent 3+ hours on multiple days trying to get through. The agent cleared up my confusion immediately, and I just filed my taxes yesterday with the correct information. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing - saved me a ton of stress!

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Chloe Davis

•8M

One way I practiced was by using the IRS's Free File Fillable Forms. They're the actual forms you'd submit, but you can save them without filing and just play around with entering different numbers to see how things connect. It's more advanced than the guided apps, but I think it's good to see the actual forms. Also, there's a free simulation called "Understanding Taxes" that the IRS developed for educators. It's a bit dated but still has good info: https://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/

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Chloe Davis

•8M

The Free File Fillable Forms are different from TurboTax and other guided programs. It's basically just the raw tax forms in electronic format - you get very little guidance, which makes it more challenging but also more educational. You see exactly how everything connects. For a total beginner, I'd suggest starting with a guided program like TurboTax first to learn the concepts, then maybe try the Fillable Forms to see what's happening "behind the scenes." The Understanding Taxes simulation is definitely beginner-friendly and designed specifically as a learning tool. It walks through basic concepts first before getting into the forms themselves.

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Abigail bergen

•5M

Great question! I was in a similar spot a few years ago. Here's what worked for me: **Free Practice Options:** - **IRS VITA Training Materials**: The IRS has free online training modules that walk through different tax scenarios. Search for "VITA training" on the IRS website - it's designed to train volunteers but perfect for learning. - **Khan Academy**: They have a personal finance section with tax basics that's really well explained. - **Tax software "practice runs"**: Like others mentioned, you can go through TurboTax, H&R Block, etc. without filing. I'd recommend trying 2-3 different ones to see how they explain things differently. **Pro tip**: Start with your actual tax situation from last year (if your parents saved the documents). Go through the process with real numbers to see what you would have gotten, then try "what if" scenarios - what if you had student loan interest, charitable donations, etc. The key is understanding the "why" behind each question the software asks. Don't just click through - read the explanations and help sections. Tax concepts start making sense once you see how they connect to your actual life situation. You're being smart getting ahead of this! Most people wing it their first time and miss out on money.

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Malik Jenkins

•3M

This is super helpful! I didn't know about the VITA training materials - that sounds perfect for getting the foundational knowledge before jumping into the software. Quick question about using last year's documents: should I be worried about practicing with real tax info, or is it safe as long as I don't actually submit anything? I'm a bit paranoid about accidentally filing something or messing up my parents' records somehow. Also, love the idea of trying multiple software options to see different explanations. Do you have a favorite for learning purposes, or are they all pretty similar in terms of educational value?

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Mei Liu

•19d

Using real tax documents for practice is totally safe as long as you don't hit submit! The software can't accidentally file anything without you going through multiple confirmation screens and payment steps. Just be extra careful to exit out completely when you're done practicing - don't save any returns in the software. For learning purposes, I'd rank them like this: 1. **TurboTax** - Best educational content by far. Their explanations are thorough and they have great "why does this matter" sections 2. **H&R Block** - Good middle ground, decent explanations without being overwhelming 3. **FreeTaxUSA** - More bare-bones but excellent for seeing the actual tax concepts without marketing fluff Start with TurboTax for learning, then try FreeTaxUSA to see the same concepts presented more directly. The contrast really helps solidify your understanding! One more tip: Create a simple spreadsheet to track what you learn about different deductions and credits. I wish I'd done this from the start - would have saved me from rediscovering the same information every year.

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Ethan Anderson

•9d

This is such a smart approach to learning taxes! I wish I had been this proactive when I started filing. One resource I haven't seen mentioned yet is the **IRS Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)** on their website. It's like a decision tree that walks you through tax questions with yes/no answers and gives you personalized guidance based on your situation. Really helpful for understanding what applies to you specifically. Also, since you mentioned wanting to understand deductions and credits, try looking up **Publication 17** (Your Federal Income Tax) on the IRS website. I know it sounds boring, but it's actually written in pretty plain English and covers all the common scenarios. You can search for specific topics like "student loan interest" or "standard deduction" to get official explanations. Another practice idea: grab a tax scenario worksheet online (lots of accounting teachers post these) and work through it manually before using software. It really helps you understand the math behind what the apps are doing automatically. You're going to feel so much more confident come tax season! Taking control of your finances at 22 is going to pay off big time in the long run.

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