I need a free service for the federal and state. I had used H&R Block but last year they told me that Virginia could't e-file which is untrue...


Gimme what you all use.

i don't know any services that are free if you make a decent amount of money. a lot are like "if you make less than $20k, it's free."

I used Turbo Tax. Go to irs.gov and they will give you a huge list of free file services and tell you the qualifications for using them. I believe Turbo Tax's free file requirement was only AGI under 57,000 (or maybe 52,000). Some states can't e-file for free, not sure if Virginia is in that alliance thing or not.

I only made about 18,000 this year due to about 4-5 months of not having a job, so i should make most requirements for free e-filing.

Thanks folks.

What's the need for e-filing as opposed to mailing it in?

I have a link for free software if anyone wants it.

E-filing is much faster and I don't have to rely on grumpy postal workers.

I go halfway by mailing it in and using the direct deposit option.
Hopefully this year I will get something back instead of owing.

I've used Turbo Tax for years. Not free, though.

You get your money in like a week. It rules.

Yeah, Turbotax is idiot proof, which I like, and fast. So it runs me $40, no biggie.

Is that something you do online or is it software that you buy or both?

Never used it before.

I think it's either - online is nice cause it auto-imports everything from last year, offline is nice cause they files stay on your machine and you can do all your friends's stuff, too, plus it feels more secure even though it likely isn't in any real sense.

I saw Turbo Tax basic at Best Buy for $20. What's the difference between that one and the one that was $45?

I've always used the online version, www.tubotax.com ironically enough. It lets you print as many copies of all of your info as you want. Like Loogs said, you get your refund way fast. Costs $19.99.

$20-25 gets you federal and they'll do state, but to e-file state they hit you up for another 15-20.If I recall correctly. Maybe it was cause I had to do two states last year?

I think the $45 one comes with State and free e-filing. Otherwise you have to print it out and mail it like me.

Just be sure you don't qualify for the free version before you pay for it! Though I'm guessing a lot you make more than the maximum income for free-file... But yes, it rules. I've only used the online service through the free-file program. FAST refund, plus even if it doesn't upload info from last year (I used TaxSlayer last year) it's still idiot-proof. You just type in the numbers where it asks you to and does all the calculations for you. At the end it tells you what you get (or have to give). Done.

I was thinking the opposite, but I too could be wrong.