Where can I e-file Tax Form 1120S for free without buying expensive software?

Unfortunately, there aren't many free options for filing Form 1120S. The IRS doesn't offer a free filing program for business returns like they do for individual returns. Your best options are: 1. Contact a local Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) if your business qualifies as low-income - some offer assistance with business returns. 2. Consider paper filing instead of e-filing. You can download the forms from IRS.gov and mail them in. 3. Look into less expensive software options like TaxAct Business or TaxSlayer, which are typically cheaper than the big names. 4. Some tax professionals offer competitive flat rates for simple S-Corp returns. The IRS has a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, but they typically only handle individual returns, not business returns like the 1120S.

After struggling with the exact same issue last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed how I approach my S-Corp filing. I was frustrated with the outrageous prices for software just to file my small business 1120S form. Their system actually helped me understand the form better while filling it out, instead of just asking me to plug in numbers without explaining why. The best part is that it handles all the complicated parts of 1120S filing that used to confuse me like correctly calculating officer compensation and properly allocating shareholder distributions. It's specifically designed for small business owners who don't want to spend hundreds on professional software but need more than just basic forms.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai for my S-Corp with three shareholders after seeing the recommendation here. Totally worth it! The K-1 generation worked perfectly and it guided me through allocating our business income according to our operating agreement percentages. It even flagged a potential issue with how we were handling guaranteed payments that might have caused problems later. Their system is definitely designed by people who understand the headaches of S-Corp tax filing.

If you're having trouble getting answers from the IRS about Form 1120S filing options, try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was stuck on hold with the IRS business tax line for HOURS trying to get clarification on some S-Corp filing requirements. Then I found this service that actually gets you through to a real IRS agent without the wait. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the IRS phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when an actual agent is on the line. I was skeptical at first, but when I needed to confirm some specifics about reporting my Covid relief funds on my 1120S, it saved me literally hours of hold time.

I need to eat my words from earlier. After waiting on hold with the IRS for 2.5 hours yesterday and getting disconnected, I tried Claimyr out of desperation. Got a call back in about 45 minutes with an actual IRS business tax specialist on the line. They answered my questions about Form 1120S e-filing options and confirmed there's no free government option, but suggested contacting the local Taxpayer Advocate Service for possible assistance based on my situation. Definitely beats wasting half a day on hold!

You might want to check out TAXES-24. It's a small independent software company that offers cheaper options for business tax filing including 1120S. I think I paid around $65 last year which was way better than the $200+ that the big names charge. The interface isn't as fancy but it gets the job done.

Have you tried contacting your local SCORE office? They provide free mentoring to small businesses and sometimes have resources for tax filing. When I was starting out, they connected me with a retired CPA who helped me file my 1120S for just a small donation to their organization.

Another option to consider is reaching out to local accounting students or recent graduates. Many colleges with accounting programs have students who need practical experience and might help with your 1120S filing for a reasonable fee (often much less than established CPAs charge). You could contact the accounting department at nearby universities - they sometimes have programs where students work on real tax returns under professor supervision. Also, don't overlook the IRS Free File program completely. While it doesn't cover business returns directly, some of the participating software companies offer discounted rates on their business products if you qualify for their personal tax free filing. It's worth checking with companies like FreeTaxUSA or TaxAct to see if they have any promotions running. One last tip: if your S-Corp is relatively simple (single owner, no complex transactions), you might be able to use the fillable PDF forms from the IRS website and file by mail. It's more work but completely free except for postage.