Where can I free file with a 1099-G unemployment form without paying extra?

So frustrated right now with this whole tax thing. I was on unemployment for about 4 months last year and now I'm trying to file my taxes. I normally use TurboTax but they're trying to charge me $39 for Federal AND another $39 for State just to include my 1099-G unemployment form! That's $78 total just because I had a few months of unemployment! I don't have complicated taxes otherwise - just a regular W-2 from my current job. It seems ridiculous to pay almost $80 just to add one extra form. Are there any actually FREE options where I can file online with a 1099-G for unemployment without getting hit with surprise charges? Any suggestions would be super appreciated because I'm not trying to spend a chunk of my refund just to file my taxes.

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20 comments

Zane Hernandez

•8M

You definitely have free options! The IRS Free File program partners with several tax prep companies that will let you file for free, including with unemployment income. Visit the official IRS Free File site (https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) and they'll direct you to options based on your income. If your adjusted gross income is under $73,000, you qualify for guided tax preparation. Some good free options that handle 1099-G unemployment forms include: - Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) - completely free for federal and state, handles unemployment - FreeTaxUSA - free federal filing with 1099-G, state is about $15 - TaxAct and H&R Block through the IRS Free File program (if you meet their income requirements) The trick is to ALWAYS start from the IRS Free File portal instead of going directly to the company websites, otherwise you might not get the truly free version.

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Zane Hernandez

•8M

Cash App Taxes has no income limit as long as your tax situation isn't super complex - and unemployment income with a W-2 is definitely within their capabilities. They handle HSA contributions too. For the IRS Free File partners (like H&R Block and TaxAct), they typically have income limits around $73,000, which you'd still be under with your $68k income. Each provider has slightly different eligibility requirements, so the IRS site will help match you with ones you qualify for based on your specific situation.

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Ethan Scott

•8M

After getting hit with fees last year, I found an awesome service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out which tax service would actually be free for my situation. You upload your tax documents, and it analyzes them to tell you which free filing options will work for your specific forms - in your case, that 1099-G unemployment form. I was in the same boat - had unemployment for part of the year plus a W-2, and it recommended Cash App Taxes which ended up being completely free. It saved me from paying those ridiculous fees from TurboTax. The tool also explained which forms my situation required so I knew exactly what to look for in a free option.

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Ethan Scott

•8M

The tool doesn't need an account - you just upload your documents and it analyzes them to see what forms you have and recommends the free services that can handle those specific forms. It's basically a document scanner that tells you what's in your tax forms so you know which free service will work for you. It doesn't file your taxes for you - it just points you to the right free filing service for your situation. It's like having someone look at your documents and say "oh, you have unemployment? Use this service instead of TurboTax to file for free." I was skeptical too, but it saved me from paying those surprise fees.

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Riya Sharma

•8M

If you get stuck trying to reach the IRS with questions about free filing options, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was stuck in an endless loop trying to call the IRS to verify which free file options would accept my unemployment 1099-G. They have this service where they navigate the IRS phone tree for you and get you in the callback queue without waiting for hours. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I used it last month when I had questions about filing with unemployment and student loan interest. Got a callback from an actual IRS agent within 2 hours who confirmed which free file partners would accept all my forms. Seriously saved me so much frustration.

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Riya Sharma

•8M

It doesn't put you ahead in line - it basically has an automated system that navigates all the IRS phone menus and waits on hold for you. Once it reaches the point where you can request a callback, it does that for you. Then the IRS calls you back when it's your turn, just like if you had waited on hold yourself. The reason it works is that most people give up after being on hold for 20+ minutes. Their system just handles all that waiting and menu navigation so you don't have to. I was skeptical too until I tried it - I got a callback about 2 hours later from an actual IRS agent who answered all my unemployment tax questions.

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Millie Long

•8M

Ok I have to eat my words. After being super skeptical about Claimyr, I actually tried it when I needed to ask about my state's unemployment tax withholding (had a weird situation with my 1099-G). Got a callback from the IRS in about 1.5 hours and they answered my question right away. Honestly thought it was going to be a waste of time, but it worked exactly like they said. Filing through FreeTaxUSA now based on the IRS agent's recommendation - free federal with my unemployment and just $15 for state. Way better than the $78 TurboTax wanted!

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KaiEsmeralda

•8M

It's not difficult to use at all, just a bit more straightforward with fewer fancy animations than TurboTax. They have good help content if you get stuck on anything. I actually prefer their no-nonsense approach. For W-2s, you do have to enter them manually - that's one downside compared to TurboTax. But honestly, it only takes a few minutes to type in the boxes from your W-2, and the same for your 1099-G. The time it takes to enter those is worth saving $60+ in my opinion!

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Isabella Oliveira

•2M

Just wanted to add another option that worked great for me last year - TaxSlayer through the IRS Free File program. I had a W-2, 1099-G from unemployment, and some student loan interest deduction, and it handled everything for free (federal filing). The key thing is making sure you access it through the official IRS Free File portal like others mentioned. When I went directly to TaxSlayer's website, they wanted to charge me, but through the IRS portal it was completely free for my income level. One thing I liked about TaxSlayer is that it walks you through each form step-by-step and explains what each line means in plain English. Super helpful when you're dealing with unemployment tax situations for the first time. Definitely worth checking out as another free alternative!

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