Why is FileYourTaxes.com charging for my Federal Return now? Used to be free!

But I thought the new Direct File program from the IRS was supposed to fix all this confusion? Is that available everywhere now? I remember seeing something about it being expanded for this tax season.

The IRS Direct File program has expanded for the 2025 filing season but it's still not available in all states. It's a good option if you have a simple tax situation and live in one of the participating states. The program handles basic W-2 income, standard deduction, and some tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. However, it doesn't support all tax situations yet, so depending on your specific needs, you might still need to use a commercial tax prep service. If your return involves self-employment income, itemized deductions, or certain other tax situations, Direct File might not work for you at this point.

Does it actually file your taxes for you or just tell you where to file? Because if I have to re-enter everything anyway I'm not sure how helpful that would be.

I'm a bit skeptical about using yet another service. How does it make money if it's helping you find free filing options? Are they selling your data or something?

It doesn't file your taxes directly - it analyzes your documents first to tell you which service will actually be free for your specific situation, saving you from starting with the wrong service and wasting time. This way you only have to enter your information once at the right service. They don't sell your data - they're actually pretty transparent about their privacy policy. They make money by partnering with some of the tax services but they show you ALL your free options regardless of partnerships. They saved me from paying $89 that TurboTax tried to charge me when I qualified for completely free filing.

Wait is this for real? How does that even work? I thought everyone had to suffer through those same hold times.

Sounds too good to be true tbh. The IRS is infamous for their hold times. I've literally put my phone on speaker and done an entire workout while waiting. I can't imagine any service actually fixing that fundamental problem.

It's totally legit - they use technology that navigates the phone trees and waits on hold for you. When they reach a real person, your phone rings and you're connected directly. It's not magic, just smart technology that does the waiting for you. They can't create more IRS agents, but they make it so you don't have to sit there listening to the hold music. I was super skeptical too but after waiting 3+ hours on my own with no success, I was desperate enough to try. Got connected to a real person at the IRS in about 40 minutes (while I was doing other things).

Thanks for the suggestion! I tried contacting their customer service through the chat function but waited 45 mins with no response. I ended up calling their number and it went to voicemail saying they're experiencing "higher than normal call volume" 🙄 I'm going to try again tomorrow morning when maybe they're less busy. I just don't want to start all over with another site since I've already entered everything. It's so frustrating when they advertise free filing but then try to charge you at the last minute!

That's so frustrating! Try early morning like 8-9am Eastern time when they first open. That's when I've had the best luck getting through. Also, take screenshots of any "free filing" promotions they advertised to you, so you can reference them. One other thing - sometimes if you just leave your cart sitting there incomplete for a day or two, they'll email you a discount code to entice you to complete your filing. Might be worth trying if nothing else works!

I used it this year and it was pretty straightforward! But it only works if you have a simple return. If you have any investments, self-employment income, or need to itemize deductions, you can't use it. Also, it's still limited to certain states though they expanded the program this year.

Thanks for the info! I'll look into whether my state is included. My taxes are pretty simple - just a W-2 and student loan interest, so maybe I'll qualify. Anything to avoid these surprise fees from the commercial sites!

This is really helpful advice from someone who actually works in the field! I had no idea that the Free File version could be completely separate from their regular website. That explains so much about why I keep running into these fee surprises. Quick question - when you say "import prior year returns," how does that usually work? Do I need to download something from FileYourTaxes first, or can the new software just pull it automatically? I'm worried about losing all my previous tax history if I switch services.

Great question! Most tax software can import your prior year return if you have a PDF copy of it. You'd typically download your 2023 return from FileYourTaxes (usually available in your account under "Documents" or "Tax Documents") and then upload it to the new software. Some services like FreeTaxUSA and TaxAct have import wizards that can read the PDF and pull in your personal info, prior year AGI, and other key details automatically. You won't lose your tax history - you just won't have it all in one convenient dashboard anymore. Pro tip: Even if the import doesn't work perfectly, you really only need a few key pieces from last year - your AGI, bank account info for direct deposit, and any carryover items like capital loss carryforwards. Most people overestimate how much prior year data they actually need to re-enter. The peace of mind of knowing you're actually getting free filing (instead of surprise fees) is usually worth the small hassle of switching!

Great question! Most tax software can import your prior year return in a few different ways. The easiest is usually downloading a PDF copy of last year's return from FileYourTaxes (most services let you access previous years for free even if you switch). Then the new software can often extract the key info automatically. Some services like FreeTaxUSA and TaxAct also have import tools that can pull data directly if you have your previous year's AGI and filing info handy. Don't worry about losing your tax history - the IRS keeps records of everything anyway, and you can always download copies of past returns from your old service. The import process usually takes 10-15 minutes and saves you from re-entering basic info like dependents, address changes, etc. Much easier than starting completely from scratch! Just make sure to double-check the imported info for accuracy before filing.

Good question! Most tax software can import your prior year return if you have the PDF file saved on your computer. You'll usually find an "Import Prior Year" option when you start a new return. If you don't have the PDF saved, you can typically download it from your FileYourTaxes account before you switch services. However, don't worry too much about losing tax history - the IRS keeps records of all your filed returns, and you can always request transcripts directly from them if needed. For most people, you really only need the previous year's return to get started with new software. The key info (like your AGI from last year for identity verification) is easy to find and enter manually if the import doesn't work perfectly. Your tax history isn't actually stored in the software anyway - it's all filed with the IRS. The convenience of having it in one platform is nice, but it's not worth paying unnecessary fees for!

Great question! Most tax software can import your prior year return in a few different ways. The easiest is usually downloading a PDF copy of last year's return from FileYourTaxes (you should be able to access this in your account under "prior year returns" or similar). Then when you start with a new service, look for an "import" or "transfer" option during setup. You can either upload the PDF or manually enter key info from last year like your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) which the IRS uses to verify your identity. Don't worry about losing tax history - you're not actually losing anything since you can always log back into FileYourTaxes to view old returns if needed. The new software just needs a few key numbers from last year to get you started and verify your identity with the IRS. Most people are surprised how quick the switch actually is once you get past the initial hesitation. Usually takes 10-15 minutes to get set up with your basic info in a new service.

Most tax software can import your prior year return in a few different ways. Some services let you upload a PDF copy of last year's return, while others can import directly from the major tax prep companies if you provide your login credentials (though I'd be cautious about sharing logins). The easiest method is usually downloading a PDF copy of your 2023 return from FileYourTaxes.com before you cancel or switch. Most services can read the key information from that PDF - things like your AGI, filing status, dependents, etc. You won't lose your tax history since the IRS keeps records of everything anyway. Don't worry too much about losing access to old returns either. You can always request transcripts directly from the IRS if you need them for loans, financial aid, or other purposes. The convenience of having everything in one place isn't worth paying unnecessary fees!

Great question! Most tax software can import your prior year return if you have the PDF or tax file saved. You usually don't need to download anything special from FileYourTaxes - just look for your 2023 tax return PDF in your email or downloads folder. When you start with a new service, there's typically an "Import Prior Year" option during setup. If you can't find the file, don't worry too much about losing tax history. The key info you actually need year-to-year (like your AGI from last year for identity verification) is right on your 2023 tax return. Most of your basic info like W-2 data changes every year anyway, so you're not really losing much by starting fresh. The tax software companies make it seem like you're locked in, but honestly, switching takes maybe an extra 10-15 minutes to re-enter your basic info. Much better than paying unnecessary fees! Plus, your actual tax returns are always available through the IRS if you ever need them for loans, etc.

Great question! Most tax software can import your prior year return in a couple of ways. The easiest is usually downloading a PDF copy of last year's return from FileYourTaxes (most services let you access past returns for free even if you switch). The new software can often read the PDF and pull in key info like your AGI, withholdings, and basic demographic info. Some services also let you manually enter just your prior year AGI and a few other key numbers, which is usually enough for most people. You're not really "losing" your tax history by switching - the IRS has all your filed returns anyway, and you can always access old returns from FileYourTaxes if needed later. The import process usually takes 5-10 minutes max, so don't let that keep you stuck paying unnecessary fees! Your peace of mind and saving money is worth a few extra minutes of data entry.

Most tax software can import your prior year return through a PDF upload or by connecting to the IRS database if you have your previous year's AGI (Adjusted Gross Income). You don't need to download anything special from FileYourTaxes - just have your 2023 tax return handy (either the PDF or paper copy). When you start with a new service, they'll typically ask for your prior year AGI and either let you upload your return PDF or manually enter key info like your filing status, dependents, and major income/deduction amounts. It usually takes 10-15 minutes to get the basics transferred over. Your tax history from previous years doesn't disappear - the IRS keeps all your filed returns on record. The convenience of having it pre-populated in FileYourTaxes isn't worth paying extra fees if you can get the same service for free elsewhere. Plus, manually reviewing your info when switching can help you catch any errors that might have been carried forward year after year. I'd definitely recommend trying the IRS Free File portal first before switching services entirely though!