Wish I could help you more.

I guess I should file an extension but I read that you don't need to actually file for it until June 17th since I live in a zone that qualified. The thing on my computer said that an extension costs $10 but I am not sure if that is the IRS or and H and R Block thing. At this point my head is swimming with passwords, no access, etc. I hope I'll get some sleep...I am very anxious though so I doubt it.

I have the tech skills of a 6 year old, correction...a paranoid 6 year old. I am terrified to do anything for fear I'll screw it up, get scammed again somehow, or not be able to un-do whatever I just did. It is a nightmare for the tech impaired to live these days. I can't even ask someone for feedback right away since I live alone.

(you said you are owed a refund)
then there won't be any penalty for filing late.... as I understand things.

I don't know if I owe them a few hundred or they owe me a few hundred. I won't know until I file. It is a Catch 22, sort of.

if you don't file on time, and thus your payment is late....

so if you are owed a refund, there can be no penalty, since you owe them nothing....

Of course the US and taxes are anything but logical. I wish I could afford tRump's accountant and then I would never owe anybody any money, ever and I'd get off scott free of caught.

form or get actual blank forms from an IRS office?

(Since your printer isn't working.)

You should also be able to file by paper if you need to do so later. Sounds like you have it pretty straight forward and will need minimal forms.

Condolences.

if I knew it would work. My dad always helped but he died and I have been in Tax Hell since. Having the ACA messes things up a lot. I am supposed to get tax credits and that is when I started to have problems.

I'm on SS, so with me that part is kinda messy because the calculations are goofy. You do need a calculator. However, just slowly follow the instructions and things should be OK.

You can also file online directly with the IRS.

However, I would probably just do it on paper first. You can either mail it in or log in to the IRS.

I think you can do it.


We've never hired anyone or used an app or service. We've been married 39 years. Own a home. I have SS. Gather everything you need and start filling out the forms. You can take as many IRS forms as you want. Practice makes perfect.

You can also use this free service if you are over 60. https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/722
One site near me is available until Dec, but most are closing after Apr 15th.

If your library has tax forms they may also have information on free help. You could fill out the extension form and then sort things out. I’m so sorry that you have had so much trouble.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers


Scroll down and there is a section on finding free tax prep locally. When you hit the link for free help there is a *Notice posted and under that a button to click to search. You may have to expand the search past 5 miles but then options should appear.

that has tax volunteers to help. It got 2 1/2 stars on Yelp but a DUer said that they use them and it was a good experience. I think that is where I'll be going next week, especially if my printer is still not functioning. I have until June 17th, I think. At least that is what I read on the IRS page.

I’m glad there is someone to talk to. Computers can really complicate things. Take care!😊💗

I certainly didn't think that this was going to happen. Usually doing my taxes hits some snags but nothing even close to this. My gut instinct was right...I asked the tech people if it would change how I do my taxes and they told me all data was saved. I had a feeling it wasn't going to be as simple as the tech guys said after they cleaned my computer after being scammed for two days.

You can bypass (What kind of OS?) your computer's data system by finding your email provider's URL and work from there.

By "clean" do you mean that you wiped the data clean? If you didn't do a high security wipe, you can recover a lot of your data with data recovery apps. "Graphically coded" (I don't know what else to call them.) files are more difficult to retrieve, like pdfs or scanned docs, but it's still possible. Whatever you do, it'll cost you some money.

I don't know what else to tell you except that if you use the photo and email capabilities on your cell phone, you might be able to rig a fix. Some tax form companies will allow you to do everything on line, so you can use your smart phone to do all of it.

It computer place "cleaned my computer" but it was supposed to save everything (docs, emails, photos) and I would just need to do visual changes and change passwords. Not so it turned out. I spent 2 hours just trying to get to my emails and Google passwords fixed and that worked but my printer won't print from my computer. I spent 2 hours trying to fix that, reinstall it, etc and got no where. Did the scammers screw up my printer connection too? Are they even related?

Can I use it to file my taxes with the IRS? I can't print forms and obtain the old ones. Will I be able to use my tablet to do everything except print and copy?

Tablet ought to work. IMO
They have all your old returns, but I believe it costs money and time, so do file for an extension.

I replied below with a similar message.

I guess I won't be using them again. Thanks for the heads up. I'll do my best to avoid them. I was going to go over tomorrow...cross that off the list.

At this late stage, they might not be able to do your final 2023 tax return unless it's super easy.

They'll probably file a $0 extension if you are getting money back -or- they will give a tax estimate if you owe money and the instructions to file your extension and make a partial guestimate payment. Then things can be resolved in a month or so when they are free to work on your taxes.

easy, but time-consuming. Have your documents ready.

Did you go to the IRS website and file on-line with them? How is it time consuming (which area) and what should I be prepared to do? Will a moron like me be able to navigate it on my tablet? If I do it on my desktop will I be able to do it without a printer and email? Should I try it on my tablet with gmail that works? Does the IRS save it for you? Which links did you go to? Seniors, low income, ACA assistance, etc? You have to spell it out for me since I am running on fumes and already threw up twice from the stress, anxiety and frustration. I think a 3rd time is coming but I have an empty stomach now. Yuk...

I need a gigantic Xanax or two, or three.

All the big questions are answered on the IRS home page.

Tablet should be fine. The IRS obviously has all your returns. You should qualify for direct filing with them, and many states also participate.

I don't know about a printed return.

My reply to your reply to me may be redundant, but no prob for me.

Good luck

just to be able to gather my remaining strength and brain cells to tackle this. I'm looking forward to tomorrow like I'm getting a root canal.

instead of printing.

Maybe you can get it from them.

Sorry you are going through this. There are bad people in the world, and some of them run H&R Block.

Having an accountant you can trust and rely upon is so important. Often, it's one or the other. The wife had one she could trust, but he didn't file forms on time. Our new one is a gem, meaning wonderful and rare.

I make under $34,000 a year so I count every penny. Maybe I should just let the IRS audit me and they can do my taxes for me for free. They already have all of my info in their system. Their computers know what we basically make and they have all the data already. Filing taxes every year is BS! A waste of time and money and other countries don't go through this crap. The whole thing is a scam for low income Americans who can't afford rich accountants and claim I owe nothing...like half of the "cash strapped" GOP billionaires.

I said wife's accountant, but it's probably more like "tax preparer". These people can save you more than they cost by finding deductions you don't know about.

I was suggesting you contact the IRS to see if they can help.

New York state has invented tax charges retroactively from years ago on my wife's business. One year she owes nothing. The next she owes back taxes from ten years ago plus interest.

She received a notification by mail from them that she owed about $500. She called to discuss. They said she owes more than four thousand! They are making it up.

The word is that NYS is the worst place to incorporate because they do make-up charges.

which is frustrating. I read reviews about the IRS volunteers preparing taxes for seniors but they only got 3 stars. H and R Block is about the same it turns out. I feel like I can't trust anyone. Every time I try all these pop ups appear and I don't know if they are good or bad. I am tech illiterate and when I am upset it is like an explosion in my head and number and letters all mix together. I don't know who is the least corrupt and who is affiliated with whom. They must he doing this on purpose since it is so incomprehensible to the average person. I think the IRS gets a kick back from H and R Block, Turbo Tax, etc. There is no other explanation for this BS to be continuing in a developed country. This is a sham.

If you are wealthy, they likely aren't very good. They're trained to do basic income tax.

Let me do our taxes for free online. Didn't need copies of anything for submission. I entered information from the husband's W-2, assorted 109X forms that we needed, and then our Adjusted Gross Income from the previous year. And again--I did not have to submit any forms for it. Just enter the data from those forms, and send the return through 1040.com.

Also, the device you're using does not matter. It's access to a browser that matters. So you can submit the information on your tablet, a phone, a laptop, whatever. The device is immaterial, outside of storing a copy of the tax return.

If you're still having printer problems, then save your return to your hard drive or tablet. Most of the tax prep companies save them in PDF form. Then transfer the data to a thumb drive or smart card. Or you may be able to print from a tablet or phone via a cable that runs from your device to USB. Now check to see if your printer has a USB port. Many of the modern ones let you print directly from there, rather than through your computer.

If your printer doesn't have the port, take the drive or device (w/USB cable) to an Office Depot, UPS store or other such printing place, and get physical copies printed up for a few bucks.

program I used. 1040.com. It was free for my income level and the tax filing for my state of NY was free too. I efiled both and kept a PDF copy in a file on my desktop. No printer needed to file both returns. Was so easy this year. Hope they have it every year.

If you can save your forms as a pdf, you can email them to yourself, go to the UPS or FedX store, forward the email to the address they give you, and print them off at the store.

Where I used to live, they set up at the library. Find one and take hardcopy 2022 taxes and documents tothem fir help.

It's called VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Good for those making less than $64, 000.

BigmanPigman, where are you?

60 and over: https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/722

$64,000 or less: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers

They only got 2 1/2 stars so I am a little nervous. If you had a good experience then I will definitely go see them.

libraries or the AARP. My CPA brother-in-law (now deceased) used to volunteer for them.

I believe CA is one of the states that can file for free from there. Also you can get past returns from them.

https://www.irs.gov/

Maybe. I file for free every year. I am warned that if I want a copy of my return, I have to get it before November (?) of that year, as after that, the form will not be available.

I make a duplicate that I keep on my computer. I don't have a paper copy of anything.

And good morning.

I'm computer literate, and I could not get the ID setup that they weren't supposed to be using anymore--but are--to work. It would not accept that I was who I said I was.

One of the other companies is probably the better bet: TaxSlayer, 1040.com, and etc.

No phone help at all and I tried 12 times.

What is TaxSlayer? Is it online filing like H and R Block?

I did my own taxes up to last year. A friend told me about the AARP service. Sooo much easier and less stress. This year a retired accountant completed mine. Good luck.

On edit: Do not need to be a member of AARP and there is no charge. I believe you do need to be a senior citizen.

I've worked on PCs since before the web. mainframes for 20yrs before that.

There's no excuse to give you back a crippled computer.

Find a REPUTABLE person (or any teenager!) who will come to your HOME
to help you get things back in place. I could probably do it in under 2hrs, if I
came...but walking you through it is hugely impractical. In THIS case, whomever you choose
will need the precise information only available by sitting in front of your computer him/herself.

If it were a single problem it could probably be done remotely. This is essentially rebuilding your
personal system.

HTH.

A thought for your current predicament...Borrow someone else's computer for this tax thing..

Another thought: Public Libraries often offer online printing services so you could send the pages
to the library to print and pick them up later...

All is not lost, talk to friends and acquaintances and find your tech!

with the basics when I got it back from being cleaned. I emailed him again, twice. He has a computer and knows tech stuff well. I couldn't even follow what he was doing and couldn't write it all down. I wish you were my neighbor.

Truthfully I'd actually enjoy it. (Understand, not many people will feel this way )....

I would offer your friend money to continue to help...let him be the one to refuse that...

You could be specific and say you must have your printer back, and for him to concentrate

on that...

If he can't or won't you'll have to ask around...

Is that you need to make a prepayment if you think you're going to owe taxes, otherwise there might be penalties.

Without trying to recover data on it before wiping it?

It's crazy to wipe out a hard drive without trying data recovery first.

Look, I use HnR block software (download), having the previous years return just helps the software streamline the process, but it's not necessary. The other issue is electronic filing, your last return with them created a PIN that would be used to electronic file your return. You don't need this just start over.

In my town, the local university offers free tax filing services. It’s so the accounting majors get some real world practice.

I could research if there is one in my city. Tax volunteers are at a church a few miles from me and they help you for free. Someone on DU recommended them. Since I have until June 17th I now have more time to unravel the scammers' mess. I hope I don't need to buy a new printer. My neighbor will stop by and see if he can help sometime this weekend. Trying to undo what the scammers did is taking a ton of my time, money and my mental health is suffering, too. I hate them, a lot!!!

1040.com online. You can e-file both federal and state for free or low cost if you’re above $79,000. No need for a printer. You can save the PDF file on your computer or tablet

Possibly 3 main problems. I'll exclude the email problem and suggest this.

You said you have hard copies of the form. Buy (via Amazon perhaps) a 2022 program, preferably via download, if available, and using your hard copies, redo your 2022 taxes using the new program. Then you can save it, and use its information to transfer to your 2023 program. (Might want to try HR Block cause I've read this year's TurboTax downloads from Amazon were glitchy).

After that, all that's needed would be printing out the 23 forms which means you'd have to solve your printer problem (by reinstalling the drivers, perhaps?) Or you can efile.

They also have computer you can use free. Print is 10 cents a page.

I am computer expert but I still have issues with filing taxes. I use freetaxusa. It’s pretty good and walks you through the whole process. But still can be confusing.

https://www.freetaxusa.com/

Good luck!