TurboTax for the web is free

[dmyaho]

If you're one of the approximately 60 million American taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $25,000 or less, you qualify for free online tax preparation and filing with TurboTax for the Web through the Quicken Tax Freedom Project. Eligible taxpayers can take advantage of all of the functionality of TurboTax for the Web 1040 Regular and 1040EZ. In addition to preparing your return with TurboTax for the Web, you can also file your return electronically, slashing the time it takes to get your refund from six weeks to as little as 10 days.
Turbo Tax for the web (http://www.turbotax.intuit.com/welcome/perm/qtfp/welcome.htm)

[intrepid342]

Was able to file for free last year. Come on, someone find a deal for those fo us who are mondo wealthy (okay, those with more than $25k adjusted)

:rolleyes:

[cratervalley]

Good find -- looks more reliable than GoDaddy's iTax! :)

[whitak24]

i used TurboTax for the web for free last year. i would highly recommend it. even for extremely lazy people like me who really don't like to fill out tax forms, it was fairly painless.
the only thing that was a pain is that you have to print out pages, sign them, and mail them in, so it's not completely electronic.
unfortunately, i don't really qualify for the free service anymore :(

[PoloM1]

ummmm, is it really that unfortunate that you don't qualify for the free service anymore because doesn't that mean you're now making more money?:heh:

[cratervalley]

TurboTax offers online filing...

"Allows you to file your return electronically so you can get your refund fast."

and the cost of filing is included in the cost [but it is listed as free obviously]

[Steve-O]

I qualify!

[whitak24]

Originally posted by PoloM1
ummmm, is it really that unfortunate that you don't qualify for the free service anymore because doesn't that mean you're now making more money?:heh:
you do have a point. but it's still a bummer when you can't get free stuff.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Originally posted by whitak24
the only thing that was a pain is that you have to print out pages, sign them, and mail them in, so it's not completely electronic.
It's completely electronic if you file electronically.

I've used TurboTax each year since 1997. I love it. Each year, I buy it the first day it's available so I can see what kind of return I'm getting. This year is a record for me - $3900 :D

[Two Cents]

Originally posted by kb0wwp

It's completely electronic if you file electronically.

I've used TurboTax each year since 1997. I love it. Each year, I buy it the first day it's available so I can see what kind of return I'm getting. This year is a record for me - $3900 :D

Doesn't that just mean you have too much withholding? :P

[Two Cents]

If you open up a web account at Fidelity (no cash necessary), you can file for half-price. It was free last year.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Originally posted by Two Cents
Doesn't that just mean you have too much withholding? :P

Actually, I declare "EXEMPT" for federal taxes on my W-4, so I have zero withholding. Also, I don't receive EIC (I earn too much for that.)

Can anyone guess the secret of a $3900 return with no taxes withheld? You can do it too, but I don't think you'll like the amount of work it takes...

I'll give you a hint, $3900 is 7% of my salary, so that may tell you where the refund comes from, but not how I get it.

[cratervalley]

Originally posted by kb0wwp


Can anyone guess the secret of a $3900 return with no taxes withheld? You can do it too, but I don't think you'll like the amount of work it takes...


Investment losses? Maybe you took a heckuva lot of itemized deductions?

[Two Cents]

Originally posted by kb0wwp

Can anyone guess the secret of a $3900 return with no taxes withheld? You can do it too, but I don't think you'll like the amount of work it takes...


You have a MONDO tax shelter?

C'mon dude, throw me a bone. I'm single, make way more than $25,000, have no dependents and way too much short-term capital gains. I NEED to lower my taxes, no matter the amount of work.

[Markel]

My local library has TurboTax Deluxe (Federal and State) available for checkout (I think they do it for 3 days). :D

[WhiskeyPapa]

Originally posted by Two Cents
C'mon dude, throw me a bone. I'm single, make way more than $25,000, have no dependents and way too much short-term capital gains. I NEED to lower my taxes, no matter the amount of work.

Your problem is that you have no dependents. That's the secret. I have 8 sprogs, all under 18, all living at home. The Additional Child Tax Credit (Form 8812) allows you to receive a refund of all or part of your FICA (Social Security).

You can only receive the ACTC if you have 3 or more children. I guess the rationale is that your average couple will only have 2 future tax payers covering their Social Security benefits, where I will have 8 future tax payers covering mine.

So my gross income for 2001 is $56,000, and I will have a net take-home of $55,600.

See what I mean when I say it's a lot of work? You not only have to make 8 babies, you also have to live with them and raise them!

[intrepid342]

"no matter the amount of work."

HAHA!! Baby time!:bigmouth: :bigmouth:

[Two Cents]

Oi, I thought you were gonna say you setup a home business or sumthin. Don't do that folks, home businesses are triggers for IRS audits.

Anyway, I don't mind making the babies and all, but raising them? HEEELL no...J/K

[dealsdyker]

The Additional Child Tax Credit (Form 8812) allows you to receive a refund of all or part of your FICA (Social Security).
You can only receive the ACTC if you have 3 or more children.

Is this new? I don't remember Turbo Tax offering this form to me last year and I've got 4! I took the child tax credit but I don't remember an "Additional" tax credit. Maybe I didn't make the right amount to qualify? I'll check out the form. Oh, I just found it on the IRS site... here it is:

Here is a link to IRS FORM 8812 (pdf) (http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8812.pdf)

EDIT, I've stared at this form for about 10 minutes now and I can't figure out if I qualify or not. I guess I'll let Quicken decide. But it looks like if for some reason your child tax credit (CTC) was reduced from the $600/child/year then you can qualify up to the amount of the reduction, but only if you have 3 or more children.

So for example purposes, you have 4 children or 4x600=2400 credit avaiable.
If for some reason one qualified for $2400 CTC but due to income, it was reduced to $2000, one could possibly qualify for the $400 lost out by using the "Additional" CTC (ACTC).

If your CTC was not reduced, you will not qualify for any ACTC? Is that accurate?

[WhiskeyPapa]

I know I've received the Additional Child Tax Credit for 1999 and 2000 tax years. I've always used TurboTax, and it's always caught it. I don't know much more than that. As long as TurboTax finds it, and the IRS keeps giving me my FICA back, I'm not going to worry about it!

[nhbilly]

hey guys

is turbo tax reliable?

the deal is I did my tax using the 1040EZ paper form. I followed the thing word by word, because it took me 2 hrs to figure what the hell I was doing. to the point now......on the paper form I get more money back, on Turbotax I get about $300.00 less :eek:

so which is right?

[cratervalley]

If your parents can still claim you as a dependent you lose a lot of deductions and credits you would otherwise get. I'd trust TurboTax, since it's pretty much more straightforward than the EZ form.

[UnReAL]

i used turbotax this year as well as last year. very simple and easy to use. already got my rebate check direct deposited into my account. electronic filing is the only way to go and turbotax is a great free service for those who qualify.