Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

If your taxes are super simple, you can use the IRS's free fillable forms:

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-form...

You basically type your numbers in and it does the math for you. Then you print it out and mail it in. It can't do anything complex, though.

In my experience (Minnesota), state filing is even easier, usually just copying numbers from your federal form and doing one table lookup. No reason to give the shitty companies more money.



Free File is made by Turbotax. It's likely to discourage the government from entering the space.

  dig freefilefillableforms.com

  ;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
  freefilefillableforms.com. 300 IN SOA a18-64.akam.net. nadmin.intuit.com. 2020102802 10800 3600 604800 86400


There's an actual law and legal agreement between IRS and tax companies to operate Free File.


And that relationship isn't disclosed to users. You have to dig to find it.


Thank you, that actually appears to be much more user friendly than I would have imagined. When I think of government websites I think I'm still stuck in the mindset of government websites 10 years ago (aka absolutely horrible). I've been surprised at how good things have gotten regarding them a few times, so I guess I need to snap out of that mindset.

While looking over the requirements and supported forms I didn't find anything about student loans (form 1098E), would you happen to know if that method is compatible with them?


Free Fillable Forms supports every tax form as far as I'm aware.

It's really no different from doing your taxes by hand on paper, except it does almost all the math for you.

I've been using it for years (with about 15 different various forms) simply because I refuse to support the tax prep software companies out of principle.

And each year I just look at the previous year's which I saved as PDF for reference in case I forget which number goes where.


Sorry, no idea.


Also, if your income is under $72,000 you can use the TurboTax website completely free through the Free File program: https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/browse-all-offers


Use another service on that page, any of them. Turbo tax is full of dark patterns. They're corrupt and dishonest swindlers.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: