Submitted 8 months ago by LifeOfChance@lemmy.world to [deleted]
First, the IRS is doing a pilot of it’s new Direct File program, which is free. Not everyone qualifies but it’s worth checking: directfile.irs.gov
If you don’t qualify, FreeTaxUSA.com is what I’ve always used. It’s dead simple, especially if you don’t have any weird tax situations like investment properties or inheritance or anything. It’s $15 for state taxes, but federal taxes are free.
I’m assuming you’re American.
File for an extension? That would at least buy you some time, and as far as I’m aware, it’s free to do so. I’ve never done it, though, so I’m not sure if there are other implications.
File for an extension?
Filing an extension requires you still to pay what you think you’ll owe. The extension just gives you more time to get the paperwork right and all the required forms together without facing fines or interest.
There are free options for federal taxes: turbotaxsucksass.org (yes that is the real URL, the site was initially created by John Oliver for a Last Week Tonight episode).
What state are you in? Many also offer free options for state taxes.
I mean, they don’t give you that option if you need anything more than the most basic stuff. I used it for a long time and qualified for the free one, but the second I needed one extra form for something to do with school, they wanted like $50. And of course they wait until the end to reveal that so you’ve already done all the work.
Depends on what goes into your taxes. Turbotax forces fees on you if you need certain forms. An actual free federal tax service is something like Free Tax USA which simply has an optional state filing for $15.
Depends on your income. Those making poverty level wages don’t pay, while other folks pay out the ass.
As others have said request an extension. Give them a call and discuss your situation and you will find they are quite reasonable when you preempt problems.
assuming you’re not in some weirdly abnormal circumstances (crypto?), it’s pretty simple to download a form 1040 and the instruction booklet. For the cost of printing it out and mailing it (at most a few bucks,)
as for paying the taxes, it’s generally better for you if you work something out with the IRS (a playment plan, etc,) rather than letting them do the collections route. They may have free tax advice on that matter as well.
You can also order the forms (they come with instructions) to be sent to you by mail from the IRS for free. See www.irs.gov/…/forms-and-publications-by-us-mail.
Also one’s local library will likely have copies. (Or perhaps let you print out form-fill able versions at no cost.)
An extension is a good idea and if you’re underwater there is debt recovery assistance available (it will vary by region) which may include considering bankruptcy - but this is something you should talk to a professional about and unless you live in a backwards red state those professionals are usually state subsidized and free.
The irony of a country that pushed for independence partly on the basis of unfair taxation going on to establish a tax system that practically requires you to pay a fee to pay your tax is just chef kiss
You know much I had to pay at the end of the last tax year? $0. Our tax office does the calculations for you based on the income that your employer reports, compares that to the amount of tax your employer has paid on your behalf, 99.9% of the time these are the same number and you get a letter saying you are cool, go about your life. The only time you’d need to hire a professional is if you have complex trusts or investment income - at which point you can probably afford it - but the system is set up to ensure that for normal people who just earn a salary or wage, there is nothing they need to do besides a form when you start a job
a country that pushed for independence partly on the basis of unfair taxation going on to establish a tax system that practically requires you to pay a fee to pay your tax is just chef kiss
There are many free federal filing options, such as filing directly to the IRS via the mail or by using a third party service like Free Tax USA.
What is the reason exactly you can’t do the taxes yourself? Not being able to figure out how to do them is a poor excuse, especially if you’re an adult. If you would have done your taxes a couple months ago, you would know the exact amount you owe amd would have had more time to plan. I suppose hindsight it 20/20.
To add to this, a few minutes of searching would hopefully surface FreeTaxUSA.com. Don’t need to know shit and it’s free.
Not understanding how to do them is a perfectly good reason not to do it. Call me stupid I really don’t care. I couldn’t afford them either.
PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Ditto on the other guy’s suggestion to request an extension.
Having said that… you’re making $6,500 a month and can’t come up with $60?? It’s not any of my business but a good friend would really be pushing you towards some lifestyle changes soon.
astraeus@programming.dev 8 months ago
Yeah, but it could be they live in one of the states driving American inflation at a ridiculous rate and $6500 a month is barely enough to cover rent and bills.
PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Perhaps. The idea of not being able to make ends meet with $6500/month is so incompatible with my life experience that I really don’t have much help to offer OP.
PatFussy@lemm.ee 8 months ago
There’s nowhere in the US where 6500 is rent and bills unless you consider the 3000 a month on onlyfans a bill.
Even in the most expensive places like San Francisco or New York you are not going to struggle finding a place for 3k a month. You are more likely to be rejected for not making 30% wage than finding rent less that 3k.