Attorney analysis of FreeTaxUSA's user agreements and service guarantees
FreeTaxUSA offers genuinely free federal filing with straightforward terms. While support is limited, the transparency and pricing make it a reasonable budget option.
FreeTaxUSA is owned by TaxHawk and offers genuinely free federal tax filing for all tax situations - not just simple returns. State filing costs extra, but the pricing is transparent and there are no surprise upgrades required. This straightforward approach is reflected in their terms of service.
Unlike competitors whose "free" tiers have narrow eligibility, FreeTaxUSA's free federal filing works for all tax situations including complex returns with schedules, investments, and self-employment.
The trade-off for free filing is minimal customer support. Email support can take days for responses, and phone support is not available for free tier users.
FreeTaxUSA will pay penalties and interest if there's a calculation error, but like all competitors, user input errors aren't covered.
Audit support is informational only - they'll help you understand IRS letters but won't represent you. Actual representation requires paid upgrades.
The price you see is the price you pay. No forced upgrades or surprise requirements to access features you need.
Previous year returns are accessible for free, making it easy to reference past filings without paying archive fees.
FreeTaxUSA's privacy policy is more straightforward than competitors, with less aggressive data sharing with partners.
FreeTaxUSA works well for users who are comfortable with self-directed tax preparation and don't need extensive hand-holding. If you understand your tax situation, the limited support isn't a significant drawback.
Users who want no-frills tax filing at the lowest cost, are comfortable with email-only support, and don't need audit representation or extensive guidance.
If you've experienced accuracy problems or have questions about your tax situation, schedule a consultation.
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