Free efile offered by IRS

[curiousgeorge]

Hello tax experts!

Would appreciate your comments please on the various efile programs offered by the IRS. Which one would you recommend for:
1. one with low wages and little interest income and qualifies for EIC.
2. another with low SE income, but has to file because it is over $400.

Also need to file NYS/NYC. Any free efiles for these?

Thank you for all you do for all of us who need your kind help.

[teen persuasion]

Not a tax expert, but have used TurboTax to free efile Fed and NYS taxes.

The thing I learned is to go to the NY tax website FIRST and choose one of the freefile companies from their list. Then you will not be charged to file NYS forms. I once went to the IRS site and chose TT. Only after answering all the questions and filing my fed taxes did I learn that I'd have to pay to file NYS. I had to begin again w/ a TT link from the NY tax site. The software was identical, just not "free" for NYS.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I helped a few friends file their taxes, and we used the Turbo Tax link from www.irs.gov. I found it to be pretty user-friendly and it met most people's needs.

Ditto above about the state taxes. Go to your state tax division's website and look around there for free filing options for your state return before shelling out $ for it. Or often, you can just print out the state form and fill in the info using your 1040 numbers. Our state return for easy filers is ridiculously easy. I'm saving my $15.

[teen persuasion]

Rocky Mtn Saver, NYS is very contrary. They just eliminated the "easier" form, so now everyone has to do the 4 page "long" form, plus any additional forms (like the one to transfer all your W2 info to ).

If you start at the NYS tax site and choose one of their free efile companies, it will be free for both NYS and federal. And, you'll only need to do it once.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

You're right, that's super annoying!

[curiousgeorge]

Teen persuasion and Rocky Mtn Saver - thanks much!