1: Free Tax USA
https://www.freetaxusa.
2: Cash App Taxes (Formally Credit Karma Tax)
https://cash.app/taxes
3: OnlineTaxes
https://olt.com/
4: MyFreeTaxes (for AGI $89,000 or less)
https://myfreetaxes.com/
5: IRS Free File: Do your Taxes for Free (for AGI $89,000 or less)
https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-f...s-for-free
https://irs.treasury.go
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And yes, although all I have seen says it's only NY, to encourage e-filing, NY says everyone SHOULD e-file, and all tax programs (at least for individuals) are not allowed to charge for e-file. I don't know that professional s/w has that, maybe the reverse -- I believe IRS requires professional preparers e-file unless there is a reason it can't be (it's possible a request from the taxpayer could satisfy that). But it's easier for the preparers anyway.
I used Freetaxusa last year just to see how it was. It didn't seem as airtight as H&R Block's software. The process didn't vet my circumstances as thoroughly, nor guide me through specific steps. e.g. it asked me how I wanted to deduct my home office, but didn't offer any assistance in calculating my deduction when I said I wanted to go by the sqft of the office. I had to pull the numbers from the previous year when I'd filed with H&R Block. And it completely missed a couple deductions. I caught them when I compared against my previous year's return to see what the differences were, and I had to figure out a way to include them manually.
If your taxes are simpler (e.g. standard deduction), I can see the attraction. But if you're itemizing and/or have a schedule C, I think the peace of mind is worth the extra $25 or so.
Another minor thing they also were wrong with (1099-Misc from a broker, comes for at least two things when your stock is borrowed by shorts -- if it pays dividends, you get "income in lieu of dividends or interest" (which doesn't get preferable dividend tax treatment), and if your broker allows it, you can explicitly allow your stock to be borrowed and you get paid "interest" for it being borrowed (plus the above if it paid a dividend when borrowed).
They ONLY called 1099-misc "contest winnings" -- now they allow you to type text but I don't see it show up on the forms anywhere.
In any case, for at least two things, it is investment income. One for interest expense deductions, and one for the surcharge on investment income when AGI is above $200K (single). It can be manually entered IF you know (and want to), but they don't even suggest it or do it automatically.
"When using digital media (PDF, photo, etc.) imports and/or uploads on FreeTaxUSA.com, any information submitted by the customer through this service may be processed using automated (AI) and/or manual (human) methods. AI may assist in extracting or organizing that information, but the extracted information is presented for your review and confirmation. You are responsible for verifying accuracy before your tax return is filed. AI does not make changes to your return without your review and approval. The information given may be used to improve and develop and train our artificial intelligence and other machine learning models. We implement robust safeguards in our use of AI to maintain security and compliance, ensuring sensitive information is protected and handled responsibly. Any sensitive information is anonymized or excluded from use. "
They say they take safeguards. I say I don't trust those safeguards. See just about every breach notification or article about how AI models keep leaking information.
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H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2025 PC/Mac [Download] on Newegg [newegg.com] is currently $24.99 by using promo code NYAF369, this is a limited time offer currently active on 1/16/26.
Keep in mind that you get 5 activations. If you only need the 1 activation, you can easily sell the others for $5 each, which is what I did last year to recoup some of the cost.
I think I'll need 3 activations this year for friends and family, but I'll save up 2 to sell in March/April to SDers who waited it out for a better deal and couldn't find one lol.
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