FreeTaxUSA Review 2023: How Can It Really Be Free? Legit? (Pros & Cons)

You know that taxes can be a pain. You also know that hiring a professional to do your taxes can be expensive.  That is why people are flocking to FreeTaxUSA as a FREE tax preparation software.

For most filers, FreeTaxUSA is a great choice.

• A legitimate way to file your federal and state income tax returns
• It does a good job, better than most tax software programs
• A great bargain tax software option,
• It is a suitable $0 option for most filers, but state returns cost extra.
• Its clean interface, solid support features and efficient question-and-answer process
• The interface is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate
• Thousands of 5 star reviews

When it comes to tax season and filing tax returns, there are a lot of options out there. Some people choose to do it themselves, while others opt to use a professional service. There are also a lot of different tax preparation software options available, and FreeTaxUSA is one of them. and it promises to be “the best free tax preparation software” for getting the maximum tax refund guarantee.

But is it really free? And is it any good? I decided to try out FreeTaxUSA for myself and see if it lived up to the hype.

To start with, let’s take a look at the pricing. The free FreeTaxUSA version is, as the name suggests, free. However, there are some optional paid features that you can add on. For example, the Deluxe version is a reasonable price ($7.99 in 2023) and provides features like free audit assistance and priority support.

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Summary of Tax Preparation Software TaxFreeUSA – Free Tax Return For Tax Season

For most people, the free version of TaxFreeUSA will be just fine.

Next, let’s look at FreeTaxUSA customer service representatives and options. FreeTaxUSA offers online chat and email support, as well as an online support center. They also have a very active community forum. Overall, the customer service options are good.

Finally, let’s take a look at the user-friendly interface and common tax federal forms. The interface is straightforward and easy to use. The online forms are also easy to understand. Overall, the experience is good. So, is FreeTaxUSA really free? Yes, it is. And it’s also Legit.

Overall, I was very pleased with FreeTaxUSA. It was easy to use and the price was very reasonable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good, affordable option for tax preparation

Deluxe Version Is A Reasonable Price, Free Version Works For Most People

Death and taxes, we have all heard that saying.  And we can’t avoid paying taxes.  But now we have an option that we can at least not have to pay to FILE our taxes.  When it comes to taxes, most people dread having to file them. 

It can be a confusing and time-consuming tax preparation process, especially if you have a complex tax situation and financial situation. This is where FreeTaxUSA comes in.

FreeTaxUSA is a powerful online personal tax preparation service that lets you federal e-file returns for free. You can also file your state taxes through the site, though there is a fee for this add-on service. And if you need help with your taxes, FreeTaxUSA offers a paid option for an additional service to connect you with a tax services professional.

Overall, FreeTaxUSA is one of the most affordable tax software products on the market. It offers free federal tax filing, and low-cost state filing, no matter how complex your filing situation is. Plus, the site provides a variety of resources to help you understand the tax filing process and maximize your biggest tax refund.

For most experienced filers, FreeTaxUSA is a great choice. It’s an affordable way to file your taxes, and it provides the resources you need to get the job done right.

IRS Free File: Do your Taxes for Free

FreeTaxUSA | FTB.ca.gov

FreeTaxUSA 2023: Is It Actually Free?

Why is FreeTaxUSA so cheap?  I have had a lot of people ask me this question, so let’s take a look at how FreeTaxUSA is free.

There are a few reasons why FreeTaxUSA is so cheap. 

• First, unlike an H&R Block, they don’t have any brick-and-mortar locations.  So they don’t have the overhead costs associated with maintaining physical locations. 
• Second, they don’t spend money on advertising, so they’re able to pass those savings on to their customers. Think about all of those tax preparation or software commercials and ads you see everywhere.  Even during the Super Bowl – someone is paying for all of that,
• Third, they have a very efficient online system that allows them to (audit and approval) process taxes quickly and efficiently, which also saves on costs.

If It Is Free, How Do They Make Money?

TaxFree USA makes money from their state tax return and other optional online services. 

You may undoubtedly infer from the name of the tax software company that one of FreeTaxUSA’s key selling points is that e-filing your taxes is completely free. However, despite the name of the business, only federal tax returns are free. State tax returns are $14.99.

Additionally, the Deluxe edition is available for purchase for $6.99. With this package, you’ll have access to unlimited amended returns, audit help, and priority live chat customer service representatives. If this is your first time paying taxes online or you have a difficult tax situation, Deluxe might be worthwhile.

FreeTaxUSA will ask if you want to use a portion of your anticipated federal refund to cover the cost of your tax preparation services. Although it may seem more practical than immediately bringing out a debit or credit card, there is a $19.99 cost involved.

Despite its slightly deceptive namesake, FreeTaxUSA offers an excellent value, especially for users who don’t qualify for free returns. Out-of-state landlords, side hustlers, and self-employed people may all appreciate FreeTaxUSA’s low cost and ease of use.

Overall, FreeTaxUSA is able to offer its services at a much lower cost than its competitors because it has low overhead costs and is very efficient. This makes it a great option for those who are looking to save money on their taxes.

Is FreeTaxUSA Good For You?

FreeTaxUSA is a great option for people who want high-quality tax preparation software at zero to a reasonable cost. The software is simple to use and offers all the basics that you need for preparing your taxes. However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering using FreeTaxUSA. 

• First, the software is not as user-friendly as some of the other options on the market. 
• Additionally, you may have to pay extra if you want to add a state return. 
• Finally, customer service wait times can be long. 

Despite these drawbacks, FreeTaxUSA is a good choice for people who are looking to save money on their taxes.

Who is FreeTaxUSA Good For & Who Is It Not For?

• Whether you are a low, average or high income earner who wants to prepare their own taxes, FreeTaxUSA is especially beneficial. 
• Regardless of their income level, taxpayers can prepare their federal income tax return for free. 
• Self-employed business owners who require free federal filing and inexpensive state tax filing should even consider this option. 
• FreeTaxUSA is a very affordable way to file prior year returns because it offers access to all major tax forms and more than 350 tax credits and deductions.

• Overall, I don’t recommend FreeTaxUSA for professional tax preparers, self-employed filers or first-time filers that need specialized help from a tax expert. 

FreeTaxUSA Review 

If you’re deducting the interest paid on student loans, for instance, there can be a fee for filing online. You have a rental property, I see. It will cost extra. Do you work for yourself? It will cost even more. So which software should you use if you’re filing on a shoestring budget? 

How Does FreeTaxUSA Work?

The tax preparation process is identical to that of other programs: after answering a few simple questions, you go to all the necessary common tax forms where you may manually input your income and determine whether you are eligible for any tax credits or deductions. Along the way, TaxFreeUSA will explain tax concepts, and the software will handle the tax calculations. Your estimated tax refund or tax bill will eventually appear.

FreeTaxUSA supports all of the important IRS federal forms and schedules, and allows you to submit your federal taxes for free. Interactive content is located on each screen, and buttons at the bottom allow you to proceed to the next page or go back. The website prompted me to indicate my filing return status and asked me about dependents. 

Unlike with TurboTax and other tax return preparation software, you cannot import your W-2, 1099, or other documents. 

FreeTaxUSA returns users to the Income page after they have finished this part. The proactive advice offered by FreeTaxUSA is superior to that of the majority of other tax software. It makes it clear which specific information it is seeking and highlights frequent mistakes taxpayers make so you can prevent them. 

The step-by-step wizard will quiz you on various credits and deductions, such as IRAs, the Self-Employed SEP deduction, student loan interest, and home energy upgrades. FreeTaxUSA website now provides a paid option for getting in touch with a tax expert directly.

If you used TaxFreeUSA previously, your information will conveniently and automatically populate in this year’s edition.  FreeTaxUSA’s website will show you a list of all the tax topics associated with your previous income, broken down into Common (like interest, dividends, and Social Security benefits) and Business and Rental (like Form 1099-MISC, Schedule C business, and rental income) categories. 

If you imported data from last year’s taxes, the sums will appear in the previous return column next to “Last Year’s Tax Return,” where you can edit them for the current tax year. FreeTaxUSA returns users to the Income page after they have finished this part.  

Following your review, FreeTaxUSA provides a summary and compares your itemized deductions against the standard deduction so you can decide whether to take.  It then summarizes the information on your tax return and asks you if you want to continue on to state taxes.

Although there is no app available, FreeTaxUSA has a fantastic mobile version of its website in addition to the desktop version. The mobile site includes a hamburger menu that offers shortcuts to all of the tax-related topics. You can e-file federal tax returns for free using FreeTaxUSA’s robust online personal tax preparation service.

My Personal Experience Trying TaxFreeUSA: Customer Service, Options, Interface, , Audit Assistance, Forms

While many people dread tax season, I find it to be an exciting time of year. I get a flurry of additional forms and documents telling me how much money I made over the course of a year, and I fill in the pieces of the puzzle that summarize an entire year’s finances in one place.

But as my income has increased, so has the complexity of my taxes. When I was younger, I used to be able to file my taxes myself using one of the many online tax preparation services. But now, my taxes are too complex for those services. I could hire a professional tax preparer, but those can be expensive.

That’s why I was excited to find out about FreeTaxUSA. FreeTaxUSA is a tax preparation service that allows you to prepare and file your federal income taxes for free. And if you need to file your state taxes, it’s only $14.99. That’s a great price, especially compared to the hundreds of dollars I would’ve had to pay for a professional tax preparer.

I was a little bit apprehensive about using FreeTaxUSA, since I’d never used it before. But the process was actually very easy. I wasn’t able to import the W-2 from my wife’s employer, but the rest of the information I needed was easily accessible. I was also able to e-file my return, which was very convenient.

Overall, I was very pleased with FreeTaxUSA. It was easy to use.

Is It Worth Using: Free Version vs Deluxe Version?

The short answer is yes. Which one depends on your needs, but the premium version is such a reasonable price that you can’t go wrong with either reasonably priced option!

FreeTaxUSA is a great platform for those who want to do their taxes themselves but need a little help getting started. The site is easy to navigate and the instructions are clear. Plus, the fact that you can file your taxes for free is a huge plus.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you use FreeTaxUSA. First, as the name suggests, the free version does not include all the extra features of the Deluxe version. This means that you will not have access to live chat support or step-by-step assistance for audits. Additionally, if you need to file an amended return or print and bind your tax return, you may need to pay a fee.

Overall, FreeTaxUSA is a great option for those who want to do their taxes themselves but need a little help getting started. The free version is a great way to get your feet wet and see if the platform is right for you. However, if you need additional features or assistance, you may want to consider upgrading to the Deluxe version.

What Does FreeTaxUSA Do Well?

What’s impressive about TaxFree USA is that users have given FreeTaxUSA an average rating of 9.2/10 on TrustPilot. This is one of the highest average customer ratings I have seen for any tax software.

Overall, it’s clear that FreeTaxUSA is a reliable and well-liked tax software option. It’s even good for those who are self-employed or have complex tax return situations. However, it’s not the best choice if you want a streamlined user interface or quality mobile app.

What Are The Benefits of FreeTaxUSA?

• You can prepare your taxes using FreeTaxUSA’s user-friendly interface, which is basic and simple. 
• Maximum refund guarantee – get your maximum, biggest, larger refund.
• No invasive upsells because there’s only one plan, your tax-prep experience won’t be marred by offers to upgrade to a more expensive product. Multiple alternatives for refunds. 
• Your refund can be mailed as a check, transferred into your bank account, or loaded onto a prepaid debit card. 
• Your completed tax returns will be kept in your account with FreeTaxUSA for a maximum of seven years. 
• Assurance of accuracy. IRS fines and expenses linked to calculation errors will be covered by FreeTaxUSA. The guarantee does not apply if it is determined that you submitted the information incorrectly.
• In order to allow users to view all of their income, deductions, credits, and other factors simultaneously, FreeTaxUSA also shows section summaries as users navigate the software. Users can identify that they might have skipped a section with just a quick glance. 
• FreeTaxUSA’s base price does not include audit support; however, the Deluxe Edition, which costs only $6.99, does, making it more affordable than similar products.

Pros of TaxFreeUSA

• While the website could use a little more hand-holding in some areas, the overall experience is good. 
• The software is easy to use and the no-nonsense interface is straightforward. 
• The context-sensitive help is also generally helpful, although in a few cases I had to go to the IRS website for more detailed information.
• The security options are excellent, with the ability to add an extra layer of security by requiring a PIN for electronic filing. 
• I also appreciate the option to download my return as a PDF for secure offline storage.
• The mobile website experience is also excellent. The website is easy to use and navigate on my iPad, and I was able to complete my return with no problems.

Drawbacks

FreeTaxUSA has a lot to offer, but it also has some limitations for users who want premium features. The software has a few drawbacks that you should be aware of. 

• Importing W-2 and 1099 forms are not supported by FreeTaxUSA. It can be time-consuming and tedious for users to enter data from their tax documents into the software. 
• A state filing cost must be paid, while several businesses include free state filing for W-2. The Free Edition of FreeTaxUSA’s state tax return preparation service costs $14.99. 
• Some of the screens and the user interface can be confused to people who are not familiar with filing their own taxes online.

Cons of TaxFreeUSA

• While it’s great that FreeTaxUSA offers free federal filing, there are some downsides. First, you can’t import your W-2 or 1099 forms – you have to enter the information manually. This can be time-consuming and tedious.
• Second, the user interface is uninspired and not particularly user-friendly. 
• Third, the help screens are often hidden behind the Q&A pages, so it can be difficult to find the answers you need.

Overall, FreeTaxUSA is a decent option for simple tax returns. However, if you have a more complex return, you may want to consider a paid tax software provider.

Most importantly – you can’t beat the price.

Overall, I was very pleased with FreeTaxUSA. The software is easy to use, the mobile experience is fine, and the security options are top-notch. The only thing that I would like to see improved is the help documentation, which could be more detailed in some areas.

If you’re confident in your tax knowledge and just need to file a simple return, then FreeTaxUSA could be a good fit.

How Does TaxFreeUSA Compare To It’s Competition?

FreeTaxUSA vs Turbotax

In comparison with TurboTax, there are several things to note in our review of FreetaxUSA. 

• Unlike the latter, TurboTax doesn’t have an additional charge for state filings. 
• However, once you add a state, the cost of TurboTax increases to over $50/stat. 
• On FreeTaxUSA, it remains $14.99/state. 
• The audit support on FreeTaxUSA is available with the Deluxe Edition. 
• TurboTax, on the other hand, requires an add-on.  So, neither platform’s base version includes that notable feature. 
• FreeTaxUSA advantages come from itemized deductions, capital gains income, and self-employed income filings, which are part of the free version. 
• With Turbo Tax , you’ll need either the Deluxe , Premier , or Self-Employed plan 
• The biggest H&R Block vs FreeTaxUSA complaint is the customer service. While FreeTaxUSA’s customer service is available via email and telephone, H&R Block offers in-person support at more than 10,000 offices across the United States. In addition, H&R Block has a live chat feature on its website.
• To purchase TurboTax – CLICK HERE

FreeTaxUSA vs TaxAct

• The biggest downside of TaxAct is that it doesn’t include live chat or phone support with any of its plans. If you need help, you’ll have to submit a support ticket and wait for a response. 
• FreeTaxUSA, on the other hand, offers all its users free live chat and email support. And if you need phone support, it’s available with the Deluxe and Self-employed plans for an additional fee.
• If you’re looking for the cheapest option and don’t mind not having phone support, TaxAct is the way to go. But if you want the best value for your money, FreeTaxUSA is the better choice.

TaxHawk vs FreeTaxUSA

• The biggest difference between these two platforms is the user experience. 
• TaxHawk is sleek and easy to navigate. The interface is uncluttered, and the platform walks you through each step of the filing process. 
• FreeTaxUSA, on the other hand, has a look that is dated and more difficult to use. The platform is overloaded with information, and it’s not always clear where you’re supposed to go next.
• If you’re looking for the best looking free tax filing platform, TaxHawk is the clear winner. The platform offers a better user experience

Needless to say, FreeTaxUSA is the clear winner when it comes to pricing. But that’s not all. FreeTaxUSA also offers a host of free features that are simply unmatched by any other platform.

SEE THE FAQ 15 COMMON TAX QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK ABOUT FREETAXUSA

• What is The Price of FreeTaxUSA?
• What is the difference between TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA?
• Is FreeTaxUSA reliable and safe?  How trustworthy is FreeTaxUSA?
• Is FreeTaxUSA legitimate?
• Are there any downsides to using FreeTaxUSA?
• How to login to FreeTaxUSA?
• How long does it take to get a refund from FreeTaxUSA?
• How to track refunds from FreeTaxUSA?
• How to file an amended return FreeTaxUSA?
• I invested in cryptocurrency; can FreeTaxUSA Online help me file it? 
• Does my side business require me to use the self-employed tier? 
• Does FreeTaxUSA offer refund advance loans?
• Does FreeTaxUSA offer any deals on refunds?
• Who owns Free tax USA?
• Which Is Better – FreeTaxUSA vs TurboTax?

Brief Background of FreeTaxUSA

Over 20 years ago a CPA decided to start FreeTaxUSA, and it is a part of the IRS Free File Alliance.  Taxfree USA was started to solve a problem.  Tax preparation services from a CPA can be pricey.  And monay online tax filing services can be more expensive than you might think – depending on the tax prep software program you decide to buy.

The business is an original IRS Free File Alliance member and a authorized IRS e-file provider. Millions of federal tax returns were safely filed with the IRS using this method. The software is updated annually by a group of tax analysts to reflect the most recent modifications to the federal and state tax laws. When the software is updated, it undergoes stringent testing and is approved by the IRS as well as each state. 

FreeTaxUSA does not advertise – it instead relies on word of mouth advertising to spread the word.   Their pricing is transparent and no unclear upselling. FreeTaxUSA only offers the Free and Deluxe versions, as opposed to other well-known tax preparation software providers who frequently offer four, five, or even more versions, which may be confusing to tax filers. 

• Pew Research: A Third of Americans Say They Like Doing Their Income Taxes
• CFPB: Guide to filing your taxes
• The Best Online Tax Filing Software
• IRS Independent Assessment of the Free File Program
• An Analysis of the Free File Program

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