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Massachusetts Individual income tax return

rapmarks

rapmarks

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It appears that you can only free file Massachusetts personal income tax return through their website (free file) if you are below a certain income. Is this correct?
 
rapmarks said:
It appears that you can only free file Massachusetts personal income tax return through their website (free file) if you are below a certain income. Is this correct?
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Most states outsource this service to third parties.

I did look at the website and it appears mass does the same thing. The different third parties offer free services with different income limits.

But yes, in general all have some sort of restrictions on free filing inclusive of income limits.

Hope that helps.

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Turbo tax has gotten outrageous on the pricing for state return $50 to do it and 20 to efile. I do my family’s. Four different states
 
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rapmarks said:
Turbo tax has gotten outrageous on the pricing $50 to do it and 20 to efile. I do my family’s. Four different states
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You can generally find deals - check slickdeals for offers. They come and go so you need to figure out what discount is good for you and then purchase.

I use HR Block but I see similar deals for TurboTax. Usually federal filing comes free with most deals but state is extra (or higher price is included).

I never pay to e file. If the state isn't willing to offer for free, then they can process the return the hard way. I pay only the certified postage. (Exception was last year where I was receiving a sizeable refund and with COVID, processing times were backed up.) Obviously YMMV if you feel the convenience is worth it.

Ryan

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To clarify, I purchase turbo tax for five federal returns, but I have to do four other state returns. At $70/ each that is an extra$280. I pay for it all, plus I usually spend another $50 on printer ink. I am not getting paid, I do it for my family . So if I can do a states return on line for free, I do it.
 
rapmarks said:
To clarify, I purchase turbo tax for five federal returns, but I have to do four other state returns. At $70/ each that is an extra$280. I pay for it all, plus I usually spend another $50 on printer ink. I am not getting paid, I do it for my family . So if I can do a states return on line for free, I do it.
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Turbotax allows you to install a single copy on 5 different computers. You can then install a different state on each computer if you buy the version with state included.

Obviously e filing is limited to the number allowed, but I'd suggest just mailing in returns than paying an extra $70 each.

I do this for H&R Block as I have 3 different states for people I file for.

Ryan

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rapmarks said:
I pay for it all, plus I usually spend another $50 on printer ink.
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Off topic, I know, but I switched to third party printer cartridges years ago. It's easy to search on Amazon. Saves a lot of money, and quality has not been an issue. Likely depends on your brand of printer, though. (Mine is a Canon.)
 
sjsharkie said:
Turbotax allows you to install a single copy on 5 different computers. You can then install a different state on each computer if you buy the version with state included.

Obviously e filing is limited to the number allowed, but I'd suggest just mailing in returns than paying an extra $70 each.

I do this for H&R Block as I have 3 different states for people I file for.

Ryan

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
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This is very interesting. I only have one computer I do have an iPad, but if I tried it on there, I don’t think I could get the information from last year to import.
 
Have you looked through all of these options in MA?

Find out if you qualify to E-file your MA income taxes for free

Learn which free e-file options are available to Massachusetts personal income tax filers.
www.mass.gov www.mass.gov

I have been filing for my son who in the past 7 years has lived in and worked in NY, MA, OH, UT, AZ, MT and FL. I’ve probably earned my CPA designation by now.
 
While I too have used TurboTax for the past few years, my satisfaction with TT is at a low point after the issues surrounding ESPP sales this year. For whatever reason, TT was not calculating the cost basis on ESPP sales. In some instances, it might calculate a cost basis for the first reported sale, but not the next sale (or sales). I'm still not 100% sure the cost basis is calculated for each of our sales was correct, but that is going to be on TT to explain if we are audited. All I know for sure is the numbers I reported in the TT interview were the correct numbers from the tax and transaction forms generated.

I will likely look at another software option for next year's taxes.
 
BingoBangoBongo said:
Have you looked through all of these options in MA?

Find out if you qualify to E-file your MA income taxes for free

Learn which free e-file options are available to Massachusetts personal income tax filers.
www.mass.gov www.mass.gov

I have been filing for my son who in the past 7 years has lived in and worked in NY, MA, OH, UT, AZ, MT and FL. I’ve probably earned my CPA designation by now.
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You have my sympathy. That link seems to show that I can file for free. Previous links had an income limit.
 
rapmarks said:
You have my sympathy. That link seems to show that I can file for free. Previous links had an income limit.
Click to expand...

Looks like you just need to check the income/age limits on some of the options or use the State Fillable forms and use the links provided.
 
rapmarks said:
You have my sympathy. That link seems to show that I can file for free. Previous links had an income limit.
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To be clear, that option requires you filling the forms yourself and filing. This form filler will require you to do all the worksheets required yourself - it is not the question walk-through that crunches all your numbers.

So you will need to do your federal (through turbotax or other means), anf then transfer your numbers directly. Certainly ok if your Mass return is simple, but a hassle (and a bit more human error prone) to transfer all your data over.

If you don't have 4 different computers, you could uninstall, clear all registry entries, and then reinstall but it is more of a hassle. You could also use AWS to create a virtual workstation just to complete the return and then delete it (x 3 for 3 different state returns) - not super hard but also not for the novice user.

Feel free to dm me if you want more info. Again, paying to efile is not necessary. Not sure how expensive turbotax is, but I think I can buy additional state downloads for $20 each - I paid under $20 for Hr block software with state download that includes 5 federal efiles. So under this model, I could pay $20, get one free state downloads, and download 3 more for $60 = $80 total. You would have to manually file state (or pay to efile state). IMHO that is worth it to save ~$200 in your case.

Ryan





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Massachusetts return fairly simple. One w2 one k1 tuition student loan and state and local taxes. Nit much more
Sounds like I should switch to HR
 
rapmarks said:
Massachusetts return fairly simple. One w2 one k1 tuition student loan and state and local taxes. Nit much more
Sounds like I should switch to HR
Click to expand...
I checked... it says $40 per state. So $140 all in.

Much cheaper though if you have multiple computers you can work from.

Ryan

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sjsharkie said:
I checked... it says $40 per state. So $140 all in.

Much cheaper though if you have multiple computers you can work from.

Ryan

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Last year the charge was 50 per state and then the state file charge of $19.99. Plus if I print them I have to mail them to family member to be signed
 
line 11, college tuition deduction from worksheet where is the worksheet okay I found it an if I am reading it correctly, you can only deduct any tuition that is over 25% of your income?

okay forget this question, I found my answer and can't deduct graduate school tuition
 
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also commuter deduction from worksheet is it correct that you first need to subtract $150 from your tolls?

I figured it out, thanks
 
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