Free Options For Filing Your Taxes

The question in the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll was a bit of a trick. Let’s see the results and then I’ll explain:

Q: How will you file your 2017 taxes?

• Free File via online software 5 [20%]
• Free File via fillable forms 0 [0%]
• Manually on printed forms 1 [4%]
• Software 7 [28%]
• Accountant 6 [24%]
• Service like H&R Block, Liberty Tax Service, etc 5 [20%]
• N/A — don’t need to file 1 [4%]
• Unsure/No Answer 0 0%

The IRS’ “Free File” page is largely a listing of 12 different online software sites that offer, to those who qualify, a free option. The criteria varies, for those with an adjusted gross income over $66,000 the IRS offers free fillable forms.

In the poll those who selected “software” are likely using one of the 12 listed by the IRS, though their incomes may disqualify from using them for free.

The following are the 12 Free File Software Offers:

Free Tax Returns.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND
• Your age is 70 or younger, AND
• Live in any state, except: FL, NV, TN, TX, WA or WY
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for some states

FreeTaxUSA® Totally Free SM
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $51,000 or less, AND your age is between 17 and 61
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

1040NOW.NET
Receive a free Federal return if:

• If your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $66,000 or less
• You live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, GA, IA, ID, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NY, OK, OR, RI, SC, VA, VT or WV

OR

• Your AGI is $66,000 or less and you are 60 or younger and
• You live in one of the following states: CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MT, NE, NJ, NM, OH, PA, UT or WI
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address

H&R Block’s Free File
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND your age is between 17 and 50, OR
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

eSmart Free File Edition
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND your age is 54 or younger

Online Taxes at OLT.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is between $14,000 and $66,000
• All Ages
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

1040.com Free File Edition
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $60,000 or less, AND your age is 52 or younger, OR
• You are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state listed above

TaxSlayer
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less AND your age is 52 or younger
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for a free GA state return

TaxAct®Free File
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $53,000 or less AND your age is 56 or younger, OR
• You are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

FileYourTaxes.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Adjusted Gross Income is between $9,000 and $66,000 or less, AND your age is between 15 and 65
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for some states

ezTaxReturn.com
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $66,000 or less, AND you live in any of these states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, VA or WI
• All Ages

TurboTax ® All Free SM
Receive a free Federal return if:

• Your Adjusted Gross Income is $33,000 or less, OR
• You are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
• All Ages
• Same criteria apply when filing with a foreign address
• Same criteria apply for free state return(s) for any state

I personally use TurboTax ®, but another might work best for you. Too many choices? The IRS has a tool to help you decide. Out of curiosity I put in our info and it showed me 6 software sites with free federal & state returns, and listed the remaining 6 with free federal only.

With the possibility of another government shutdown next week and scammers filing fraudulent returns I wouldn’t delay.

— Steve Patterson

Our Visit To St. Louis’ Shake Shack

I love trying new restaurants, though I usually wait months to give them time to work out any kinks. However, last month my husband really wanted to try the new Shake Shack that opens on Monday December 11, 2017. No way was I willing to brace the cold on opening day, but that Friday I had a few hours between appointments at the Center for Advanced Medicine. That day my husband, a home health aide, would finish with his morning client at 10:30am and had the rest of the day off.

We agreed to meet at Shake Shack for lunch, the first to arrive would get in line.We’d discussed where my husband would park beforehand, both agreeing the Argyle Garage a block North would be the easiest. My first appointment ran longer than expected, though I enjoyed seeing the X-ray of all the metal hardware in my left wrist. The line was around the corner from the Euclid entrance, so on the Pine sidewalk.

Before visiting Shake Shack I argued it was kinda a big deal. Even though I don’t see us going back anytime soon because of the high cost, I still think it’s a big deal. A restaurant from an international chain in a mixed-use building with no parking lot is a very good thing.

The weekend before we did our annual December visit to Crown Candy Kitchen — another place where you have to wait in line — for a table. We each had a sandwich with a huge shake — our bill with tax and 20% tip was $28. Our eating out budget isn’t big, so I’d rather patronize places where I know the owner than one I can buy stock in.

I’d like to see more local places learn from the big guys:

• List calories on their menu
• Have smartphone apps to place to-go orders
• Though I like servers, consider the order first model. Yes, local places like Porano Pasta do this.

We may return to Shake Shack this Spring or Summer so we can enjoy our expensive meal outdoors while people watching. Perhaps in the evening so I don’t feel as bad about spending nearly $35.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: How Will You File Your Taxes?

The federal government is reopened. at least temporarily, so the IRS will be anticipating your 2017 tax return. The tax season begins tomorrow:

Although the IRS will begin accepting both electronic and paper tax returns on January 29, 2018, paper tax returns will be processed later, in mid-February, as system updates continue. The IRS strongly encourages people to file their tax returns electronically for faster refunds

The filing deadline to submit 2017 tax returns is April 17, 2018.  That’s because April 15 falls on a Sunday in 2018. That would normally result in a move to the following Monday (April 16, 2018). However, Emancipation Day falls on Monday, April 16 this year. Since that’s a legal holiday in the District of Columbia, the tax filing deadline will be pushed ahead for all individual taxpayers to Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (Forbes)

In years past I’ve had to file extensions, now I file as soon as I get all our W-2s & 1099s. Today’s poll isn’t about when you’ll file — but how you’ll file. The options are numerous:

The answers above are presented in a random order. this poll will close at 8pm tonight.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Week 31 of 2017-2018 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 31st week of the 2017-2018 session.

SEVEN (7) NEW BOARD BILLS ON THE AGENDA* FOR INTRODUCTION TODAY 1/26/18:

*Note that just because a bill is on the agenda doesn’t mean it’ll be introduced, similarly, bills not on the agenda might be introduced if they suspend the rules to do so. This information is based on the published agenda as of yesterday @ 11:45am:

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2017-2018 session.

— Steve Patterson

Opinion: St. Louis Should Consider Having School Board Members Appointed By The Mayor

When I wrote the recent Sunday Poll my thought was that we should always elect school board members — I’ve never lived anywhere otherwise. Then I began researching the subject and discovered many big central cities have school boards appointed by their mayor. Of course, this doesn’t make them better or worse than an elected board — just different.

The Post-Dispatch reviewed the pros & cons of elected, appointed, or a combination board in November:

Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cleveland all have appointed school boards. Nationwide, appointed boards are either selected entirely by the mayor or by a combination of the mayor, governor or local elected officials. Here, the governor, St. Louis’ mayor and president of the Board of Aldermen each appoint a member to the SAB. The number of people on an appointed board ranges from three in St. Louis to six in Chicago and 14 in New York.

Wong found that appointed boards improve academic performance and district management. Appointed boards have also been better than elected boards at tackling systemwide priorities such as achievement gaps or graduation rates.

“The appointed board is primarily suited if the city really wants to head-on confront tough challenges and if they really want to push for some of the changes faster,” Wong said. (Post-Dispatch)

I don’t know that an appointed board is right for St. Louis, but it’s worth considering. Of course, I think the entire St. Louis region needs to reconsider much of how it’s governed.

Here are the results from the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll:

Q:  Agree or disagree: The board appointed to run St Louis Public Schools did such a great job we should abandon electing board members

• Strongly agree 3 [15%]
• Agree 3 [15%]
• Somewhat agree 2 [10%]
• Neither agree or disagree 0 [0%]
• Somewhat disagree 2 [10%]
• Disagree 5 [25%]
• Strongly disagree 5 [25%]
• Unsure/No Answer 0 [0%]

The number of responses was lower than usual, I didn’t even vote. Still, more than half support electing school board members.

— Steve Patterson