I started filling out my tax forms today.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I didn't get too far. Vanguard hasn't sent out its 1099 forms yet. Name, address; that's about it.

[Shermann]

1. That's about as far as I usually get

...before taking a break and awarding myself with a little drinky-poo.

[Yonnie3]

2. I got mine on line as I do every year.

I keep them on my computer for a while and them back them up on USB drives.

It is time to buy ink for the printer. I file paper.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. I used to, but I was finally able to file online last year.

I way preferred it to paper.

For years, there was always some reason I couldn't file online. Some form wasn't supported, something like that. I really want to get them in during February this year.

[Yonnie3]

5. For me it was too expensive to file online

The self employment part got expensive but that is no longer an issue.

I've used a couple of free file sites before I was self employed.
One couldn't support the IRA basis form even though they claimed they did. I have a small basis in my IRA and the non-taxable portion is calculated and subtracted from the basis. Simple math.

The other decided they couldn't do it for free because I had a form for losses in my father's estate while in probate.

I've used Turbo Tax for the business and it is very expensive for what it is. I had to manually override the ACA credit and business health insurance deduction to minimize his tax. They interact.

I've got a much simpler return now so I may consider an online return.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. See if the IRS can handle your various forms this year.

https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

[Yonnie3]

10. I'll have a look

That is where I went down the rabbit hole before.

I set up several accounts and then find they don't handle Form 8606 properly on withdrawals. You don't find out they don't handle them until you are almost done.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. That's what kept me from filing online for years. There always just one form that was

not in their quiver.

[at140]

14. I buy HR Block's tax filing software for $19.95

For last 2 or 3 years it is the same price every year.
It gives me 5 e-files so I can file for spouse and kids as well , all for $19.95.
The software is very easy to use.
I do not like on-line-free-software to prepare tax return and file.
I rather do all tax computations OFF-LINE on my own PC, without using internet.

[question everything]

9. A few years ago tax people at the WSJ decided to check the accuracy of paper returns

But where can you find a paper return that is public?

Why, Sansers' of course. Two years ago like all the Democratic presidential candidates he released 10 years of tax returns and the oldest one, 2008, I think, was paper.

There were serval mistakes in his favor and against him.

His office said that everything eventually was OK.

I, too, back in the 90s made a mistake which was taken care of, in the old days when one could talk to an agent.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. When I finally filed online last year, my attempts got flagged several times.

I had forgotten to check one box, or the numbers on one form and another didn't match, because I had transposed digits. Finally the return was accepted.

[DURHAM D]

4. Same re: Vanguard.

I thought January 31st was the deadline for mailing.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. I checked today. They said to expect the forms sometime between

January 30 and February 26.

[question everything]

8. Got mine several weeks ago. But I think that you should be able to

access them online.

[doc03]

13. I printed the 1099R last week online for my Mutual Funds. The 1099DIV for the MM Fund

is not issued if your earnings are under $10 but you are supposed to report it mine was $.98 on a balance of $5000.
The thing holding me up now is the letter I am supposed to get from the IRS stating the stimulus money I received.