I just saw that Musk claims he has ‘deleted’ the IRS free filing program. Is this actually true? What does this mean for people who were planning to use it? Anyone know what’s going on?
Because why let people file for free when a company can make money off them instead?
Zorion said:
Because why let people file for free when a company can make money off them instead?
We FINALLY got away from the big companies controlling tax filing… and now this??
Zorion said:
Because why let people file for free when a company can make money off them instead?
Direct File is still up and running. This is misleading.
Zorion said:
Because why let people file for free when a company can make money off them instead?
Most people already had access to free filing through the Free File Alliance, which lets you pick from different tax software options. The IRS spent a lot of money making something that already existed.
@Kai
Yeah, those ‘free’ tax software options love to hit you with surprise fees. You fill out your info, and suddenly it’s $30 to file because of one small thing. Then another $30 for state taxes.
I’ll print and mail my forms before I pay a company to do basic math for me. There should be no charge for 99% of tax filers, no matter what forms they use.
@Dru
I used H&R Block’s free option. They offered an expert review for $30, but I skipped it, filed both my state and federal for free, and moved on.
@Kai
The Free File Alliance was created by big tax software companies to stop the IRS from making its own free system. They designed it to be confusing and hard to find so most people wouldn’t use it. Less than 5% of eligible taxpayers actually take advantage of it.
@Alden
There are eight companies that offer free filing through the IRS Free File program, including TaxSlayer and FreeTaxUSA. It’s literally a couple of clicks on the IRS website to get to them.
Kai said:
@Alden
There are eight companies that offer free filing through the IRS Free File program, including TaxSlayer and FreeTaxUSA. It’s literally a couple of clicks on the IRS website to get to them.
There was an audit by the IRS itself saying Free File was too complicated and not well advertised.
Why do you think tax companies rushed to create Free File in the first place? Out of kindness?
Why do you have to go through the IRS site to access Free File instead of just being offered it automatically?
Why did Intuit leave the Free File Alliance after the IRS told them they couldn’t hide the free option from search results anymore?
Blaze said:
@Kai
Be honest… do you work for Intuit or H&R Block?
Neither Intuit nor H&R Block are part of the IRS Free File Program. I don’t work for them.
They can’t touch FreeTaxUSA.
Riley said:
They can’t touch FreeTaxUSA.
Been using them too. You do have to pay about $15 for state filing though.
Who does this guy think he is?
Dakota said:
Who does this guy think he is?
He thinks he’s in charge of everything. And no one’s stopping him.
Funny, I don’t remember electing some billionaire from South Africa to make decisions for Americans.