Penny Pinching Mom

Online Tax Preparation for Free or Cheap

Tax time is here! Sure, you have until April 17th to file this year. But if you’re expecting a refund, why not go ahead and get it as soon as you have all of your W2s? I’m still waiting for one of mine, but without a doubt I’ll be filing as soon as humanly possible after I get it.

I had always done my own taxes up until a couple of years ago. Then one year I had a job that paid well, and had them done by the new tax place in town. I was quite happy with my refund, but it cost us $80 to get them done. And they were cheaper than most.

Then I discovered the joys of online tax preparation, which you can do for free if you qualify. Even if you don’t qualify for the free file options, it is generally much cheaper than going to a brick and mortar tax preparer. You simply find a provider you would like to use, fill out their online forms, and they do all the figuring for you. If you use the efile and direct deposit options, you can have your money in no time. And for those of you who can’t wait that long, many offer refund anticipation loans.

So where do you go to get your taxes done online? Here are some options:

• TaxEngine.com
  Free filing if your adjusted gross income is less than $30000. Will also file state returns for free for many states.
• H&R Block online product selection
  H&R Block, one of the most trusted names in tax preparation, now has downloadable software and online tax preparation products at reasonable prices.
• CompleteTax
  No credit card option if you are receiving a refund. Try it for free, and only pay if you decide to file with them.

For more information, go to IRS.gov. There you can find more free file options, as well as free forms and publications if you want to do your own taxes.

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If you are a bargain hunter and do any shopping online, you’re probably no stranger to eBay. If you’re willing to look for them, there are loads of deals to be found there.

Don’t have the time to search for the good stuff? There’s a site that will do most of the work for you. Lastminute Auction has listings of auctions that are ending in less than one hour, and have high bids of less than one dollar. And they are sorted by category for your convenience.