Free Options For Filing Your Taxes

The question in the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll was a bit of a trick. Let’s see the results and then I’ll explain:

Q: How will you file your 2017 taxes?

• Free File via online software 5 [20%]
• Free File via fillable forms 0 [0%]
• Manually on printed forms 1 [4%]
• Software 7 [28%]
• Accountant 6 [24%]
• Service like H&R Block, Liberty Tax Service, etc 5 [20%]
• N/A — don’t need to file 1 [4%]
• Unsure/No Answer 0 0%

The IRS’ “Free File” page is largely a listing of 12 different online software sites that offer, to those who qualify, a free option. The criteria varies, for those with an adjusted gross income over $66,000 the IRS offers free fillable forms.

In the poll those who selected “software” are likely using one of the 12 listed by the IRS, though their incomes may disqualify from using them for free.

The following are the 12 Free File Software Offers:

Free Tax Returns.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND
• Your age is 70 or younger, AND
• Live in any state, except: FL, NV, TN, TX, WA or WY
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for some states

FreeTaxUSA® Totally Free SM
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $51,000 or less, AND your age is between 17 and 61
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

1040NOW.NET
Receive a free Federal return if:

• If your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $66,000 or less
• You live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, GA, IA, ID, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NY, OK, OR, RI, SC, VA, VT or WV

OR

• Your AGI is $66,000 or less and you are 60 or younger and
• You live in one of the following states: CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MT, NE, NJ, NM, OH, PA, UT or WI
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address

H&R Block’s Free File
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND your age is between 17 and 50, OR
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

eSmart Free File Edition
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND your age is 54 or younger

Online Taxes at OLT.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is between $14,000 and $66,000
• All Ages
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

1040.com Free File Edition
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $60,000 or less, AND your age is 52 or younger, OR
• You are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state listed above

TaxSlayer
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less AND your age is 52 or younger
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for a free GA state return

TaxAct®Free File
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $53,000 or less AND your age is 56 or younger, OR
• You are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

FileYourTaxes.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Adjusted Gross Income is between $9,000 and $66,000 or less, AND your age is between 15 and 65
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for some states

ezTaxReturn.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND you live in any of these states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, VA or WI
• All Ages

TurboTax ® All Free SM
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $33,000 or less, OR
• You are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
• All Ages
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

I personally use TurboTax ®, but another might work best for you. Too many choices? The IRS has a tool to help you decide. Out of curiosity I put in our info and it showed me 6 software sites with free federal & state returns, and listed the remaining 6 with free federal only.

With the possibility of another government shutdown next week and scammers filing fraudulent returns I wouldn’t delay.

— Steve Patterson