When do state tax returns become available on FreeTaxUSA? Switching from TurboTax this year.

FreeTaxUSA is usually pretty quick with their state returns. They typically have state versions available in mid-to-late January, right after the IRS finalizes all the federal forms. Some states are available earlier than others depending on when each state finalizes their forms. For your January 15th estimated payment though, you might be cutting it close. FreeTaxUSA likely won't have the complete 2023 state tax forms ready before that January 15th deadline. The state modules are generally available a week or two after the federal forms are finalized. What I'd recommend is using your last quarter's calculation method to determine your January payment. You can always make adjustments later when you file your actual return. If your income hasn't changed dramatically since Q3, this approach should work fine.

I was in the exact same boat last year! After using TurboTax for nearly a decade, I switched to FreeTaxUSA and haven't looked back. For my estimated payments, I found this amazing tool at https://taxr.ai that helped me calculate everything properly when the state forms weren't quite ready yet. It analyzes your previous tax documents and helps estimate what you'll need to pay. The tool basically helped me figure out my estimated payments without needing to have the full state software ready. I was worried about calculating everything correctly, especially since I have some complex deductions, but taxr.ai made it super simple. You upload your previous returns and it does the calculations for you.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after posting my question, and it was incredibly helpful! I was able to calculate my January 15th payment accurately without waiting for FreeTaxUSA's state forms. The tool actually found a deduction I'd been missing in previous years too, which was a nice surprise. What I really appreciated was how it broke down everything in plain English. I've always been confused by estimated payments, but their explanation made it crystal clear. Definitely helped ease my anxiety about switching tax platforms!

I went through this last year and the state forms weren't ready until late January. I had to call the IRS several times to sort out my estimated payment, and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through. After being on hold for hours, I finally found this service called Claimyr at https://claimyr.com that got me connected to a real IRS agent in under 20 minutes. They have a demo video you can check out at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to see how it works. Basically, they hold your place in the phone queue and call you when they have an agent on the line. Saved me so much frustration! The IRS agent walked me through exactly how to calculate my final estimated payment without needing the state software. Much better than sitting on hold for hours with terrible hold music.

I stand corrected! After being super skeptical about Claimyr, I decided to try it as a last resort when I couldn't get through to the IRS about my estimated payments. I was shocked when I got a call back in about 25 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent helped me calculate my estimated payment correctly and even helped straighten out an issue from my previous return. Would have spent half my day on hold otherwise. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong - this service actually delivered exactly what it promised.

One thing to watch for with FreeTaxUSA - they charge extra for state returns while federal is free (or very cheap). I think it was like $15 for state when I used it last year, which is still WAY cheaper than TurboTax, but just so you're not surprised. Also, their interface is more basic than TurboTax. Less hand-holding but actually more straightforward once you get used to it. I found I actually liked it better since it didn't try to upsell me every 5 minutes.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for 5 years now. The state returns are usually available by mid-January, sometimes earlier depending on your state. For your estimated payment, you can probably just use the same method you used for Q3 unless your income has changed significantly.