I keep seeing posts here where people are waiting for TurboTax or H and R Block discounts, even though there are free options like FreeTaxUSA or Cash App for filing taxes.
I’ve been using FreeTaxUSA for a while now and it works fine for me. Are there any reasons I’m missing to switch to TurboTax or H and R Block? I’d like to understand why these are still so popular.
They’ve spent a lot of money on marketing to convince people they’re leaving money on the table if they don’t use their software.
But honestly, all tax filing programs do the same thing if you provide the right information. It’s just that TurboTax and H and R Block have better ads.
@Wei
Most tax returns are simple enough that a free option like FreeTaxUSA does the job. TurboTax just plays into the fear that you might miss something and lose money.
@Wei
I could probably do my taxes manually, but the convenience of having all my info saved year after year makes TurboTax worth it for me. It’s quick, and I’m usually busy around tax time.
Free options don’t cover as many forms, and they don’t handle things like business filings, depreciation, or imports from accounting software. For people with more complex taxes, that’s a dealbreaker.
Colby said:
Free options don’t cover as many forms, and they don’t handle things like business filings, depreciation, or imports from accounting software. For people with more complex taxes, that’s a dealbreaker.
Fair point, thanks for the insight.
@Paris
TurboTax isn’t perfect either. If your situation gets complicated, you often end up manually fixing things in forms mode. Still, for regular 1040 filings, it’s convenient and doesn’t cost too much if you share a license with family.
@Colby
Good point. TurboTax has had some funny bugs over the years, but for basic filings, it usually works fine.
I pay for TurboTax because it’s convenient and familiar. Learning a new system feels like too much hassle when this one works for me.
I use FreeTaxUSA. It’s free except for state taxes, which cost me $15. I can’t believe people still use TurboTax.
Niall said:
I use FreeTaxUSA. It’s free except for state taxes, which cost me $15. I can’t believe people still use TurboTax.
TurboTax spends a ton on ads. They’ve mastered selling to people who don’t realize there are cheaper or free alternatives.
Niall said:
I use FreeTaxUSA. It’s free except for state taxes, which cost me $15. I can’t believe people still use TurboTax.
I get that. But I see people who know about FreeTaxUSA still using TurboTax, and I’m curious why.
@Paris
I once tried a different free service and they took forever to respond to my questions. It was frustrating.
Niall said:
I use FreeTaxUSA. It’s free except for state taxes, which cost me $15. I can’t believe people still use TurboTax.
Does FreeTaxUSA have a version you can install locally? I don’t like uploading my personal info to the cloud.
@Presley
I use their online version and haven’t had any issues with data security in years. TurboTax spends big on ads, and unfortunately, they’ve also been fined for misleading customers into paying for services they didn’t need.
I like using software that keeps my data on my computer.
Freddie said:
I like using software that keeps my data on my computer.
Does TurboTax still offer desktop software? I thought they switched to an online-only model.
Freddie said:
I like using software that keeps my data on my computer.
Does TurboTax still offer desktop software? I thought they switched to an online-only model.
They still offer desktop versions for Windows and Mac. With the desktop program, your data stays local unless you e-file.
Freddie said:
I like using software that keeps my data on my computer.
That’s a valid reason for sticking with it.
The IRS offers a free direct file option, but you’d better hurry. TurboTax and H and R Block are spending millions trying to shut it down.