What's the easiest way to file my tax return for free without using Turbotax or other paid services?

You absolutely can file without paying for tax software! The IRS actually offers a Free File program that partners with tax software companies to provide free filing options for people with incomes below $73,000. Even if you make more than that, you can use Free File Fillable Forms directly from the IRS website. For your situation, since you already have Schedule D and Form 8949 completed for your crypto transactions, you'll need to complete Form 1040 (the main tax return form) and any other schedules that apply to your situation. At minimum, you'll likely need: - Form 1040 (main tax return) - Schedule 1 if you have additional income or adjustments - Schedule D (which you already have) - Form 8949 (which you already have) Free File Fillable Forms will allow you to complete these online and e-file them for free. Alternatively, you can download the PDF forms from IRS.gov, fill them out, and mail them in.

I was in a similar situation last year with crypto reports and trying to save money on filing. After a ton of frustration trying to piece everything together myself, I discovered https://taxr.ai and it literally saved me hours of headache. Unlike traditional tax software that charges extra for crypto, it analyzed all my forms including the Schedule D and 8949 I already had, then guided me through filling out the remaining forms. The thing that surprised me most was how it actually explained what I was doing rather than just asking me random questions like TurboTax. You just upload your documents and it extracts all the info automatically. For someone in your exact situation with crypto forms already prepared, it's perfect since you can just add those and complete the rest of your return.

Just wanted to update after trying https://taxr.ai from @3's recommendation. Honestly I was skeptical at first but went for it since I had nothing to lose. Within minutes of uploading my crypto forms, the system had pulled all the data and walked me through the rest of the process. It was WAY easier than I expected! The explanations were so clear that I actually understand what's happening with my taxes for once. The best part was when it found a deduction I would have completely missed related to some freelance work I did. That alone saved me $430. I e-filed yesterday and the whole process from start to finish took less than an hour. For my situation it worked perfectly - especially since I already had some of the forms prepared like the original poster.

If you ever need to talk to the IRS about your return after filing (which happens a lot with crypto), you should know the IRS phone lines are practically impossible to get through on. I spent DAYS trying to reach someone last year after I had questions about my crypto reporting. I finally used https://claimyr.com and got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They basically wait on hold for you and call when an agent is available. Saved me hours of listening to that horrible hold music. Might be worth keeping in your back pocket in case you have questions about your crypto forms after filing. The IRS is still figuring out how to handle a lot of crypto situations, so sometimes you need to speak to an actual human.

Ok I need to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try filing myself using the Free File Fillable Forms, but made an error with my crypto reporting. Called the IRS for 3 days straight and kept getting the "call volume too high" message. Finally gave in and tried Claimyr out of desperation. Got a call back in about 20 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. They helped clear up my confusion about reporting some NFT transactions that weren't clearly covered on Form 8949. For anyone filing their own taxes, especially with crypto, having a way to actually talk to the IRS when needed is a game changer. Would've saved me hours of stress if I'd just tried it sooner instead of being stubborn.

Another free option nobody's mentioned is CreditKarma Tax (now called Cash App Taxes). I've used it for the last 3 years including for crypto transactions. Completely free federal AND state filing with no income limits. It's actually pretty user-friendly and handles most tax situations including Schedule D and Form 8949. The only major limitation is they don't support multiple state filings or foreign income reporting.

Whatever method you choose, just make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING. I filed myself last year and didn't keep proper records. Then got a letter from the IRS about my crypto and had NOTHING to refer back to... total nightmare! Take screenshots of every page before submitting, save PDFs of all completed forms, and keep a folder with all your supporting documents. Trust me, future you will thank present you if there's ever a question!