(no subject)

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

I'm a student from out of state and this will be my first year filing my taxes. I've never had to file state and federal taxes and in Texas I would usually go to the local colleges/universities and have a student file them for free/dirt cheap because I am mathematically and financially inept.

Does any one know of any similar services offered nearby? Or even downtown?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

[bex77]

Tufts students offer free help. Here's the info from the local paper:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x2119712240/Get-free-help-to-filing-your-taxes

[upsidown.livejournal.com]

assuming your income qualifies you, you can do it for free online:
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

[ron_newman]

That "fill out IRS forms on the IRS website" option is brand-new for this year. They've never had that before.

TaxACT offers free e-filing for federal taxes regardless of income, but not for state taxes.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

One option often overlooked is the 1040-EZ. If your financial picture is pretty simple (not a lot of investment activity, just regular income, no major deductions) then you can use the ultra-short form.

For just about anything else, consider turbotax or one of their competitors. They're pretty good.

Beware, TurboTax can make you forget to pay your taxes!

[madscientist01.livejournal.com]

"Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner admitted he used TurboTax when he failed to pay about $34,000 in Social Security taxes earlier this decade..." ;)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103552.html?hpid=topnews

[siderea]

That said, TaxACT's price for filing your state taxes is pretty low, $17 total for both with all the bells and whistles.

[ron_newman]

Massachusetts is once more offering free WebFile on the Mass. Department of Revenue website. I used this for several years, but then the state discontinued it. Now it's back again.

You must answer all of these questions 'No' to qualify for WebFile.

[siderea]

Neat!

[ron_newman]

To kidsmokes: Could you please edit this post to include a Subject (perhaps just "Income taxes") so that later folks can find it easily? Thanks.

[craigindaville.livejournal.com]

One note: as a new MA resident (or part-time resident) you may have to file two state tax returns if you earned income in TX as well. That gets to be a major pain (splitting income percentages, etc). Turbotax can help with that, but perhaps the free Tufts kids can, too. I just wanted to flag that for you, since it added a migraine to my taxes last year (moving, relocating jobs, two state tax forms, new marriage, four jobs and two self-employment jobs, jeebus I forgot how much I hated it... putting head between knees and breathing deep...)

[madscientist01.livejournal.com]

I took a quick look for myself, and I'm no tax expert... but as far as I can tell, if you want to deduct apartment rental payments or tuition (or loan interest) payments, you can't use this free filing. Two things you would likely be doing if you are a student.

[ron_newman]

Why? I don't see any reference to those two provisions in the list of questions. I think even the shortest of short paper forms has the rent deduction on it. (I don't know anything about the tuition deduction.)

[madscientist01.livejournal.com]

First, I misunderstood the requirement "Do you have income/loss as reported on Schedule E (To report: Rental, Royalty, income/losses ...) I thought this included rental expenses but it seems to be more for rental property owners than tenants.

As for deducting student loan interest, I am not sure how that is handled in MA. I know for federal purposes, it is an adjustment to income on form 1040. I don't know what this means for WebFile but I wouldn't want to miss out on that if it is a sizable amount.

[ron_newman]

This service may also be helpful:

http://somervillepubliclibrary.org/documents/2009_Basic_Tax_Flier_(Somerville_and_Cambridge)%5B1%5D.pdf