Help !!

[spork]

I've used TaxAct.com for years. The federal return is free and if you choose to do state it's only about $25. They, of course, want you to upgrade and purchase more in-depth versions or their other products, but you just have to periodically skip a screen that asks if you want more info and you just click on by.

I'd look at some of the online options mentioned here. They'll usually provide a checklist or "if you answer yes to all these" you can use this version, so that you can see up front if the free version will cover your needs. Also, you don't have to file the return after filling out all the info -- if you decide not to.

[hotcouponmama]

Originally Posted by Ggbwg The clothing you donated has to be a significate amount of $ before you can claim it. I donated $500 in clothing 2 years ago and not 1 did i get to claim.

Did you itemize? If you didn't itemize, you won't be able to claim it. You could have $10 in charitable contribution and get to claim it as long as you itemize...which is filling out a schedule C for your 1040 form. If you don't do a sched.C then even if you had $1000 in charitable deductions, you wouldn't get the deductions.

When do you itemize? When your deductions that you can line item list are bigger than the standard deduction amount.