Has anyone noticed that the IRS Free Fillable Forms are missing some forms and worksheets? That might be why your refund calculated differently. I had the same thing happen with education credits - the free fillable forms didn't have all the worksheets that TurboTax walked me through.

This is a really common situation, and you're right to be concerned about filing twice! The IRS systems will definitely catch duplicate returns and it can create unnecessary delays and complications. Since you've already submitted your first return, your best bet is to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) rather than submitting a completely new return. The amended return is specifically designed for situations like yours where you need to correct errors or add missing information. Before you do anything though, I'd strongly recommend figuring out exactly WHY there's such a big difference between the two calculations. Was it missing deductions, different filing status, forgotten tax credits, or something else? Understanding this will help you complete the amended return correctly and avoid similar issues in the future. The good news is that filing an amended return is straightforward - you just need to explain what changed and provide the correct information. It takes longer to process (usually 16+ weeks), but it's the proper way to handle this situation without creating red flags on your account.

Has anyone just manually entered their crypto transactions into TurboTax? I only have about 40 trades for the year so wondering if that's easier than dealing with all these third-party services.

I've been dealing with this exact same issue! What worked for me was using FreeTaxUSA instead of TurboTax - it has better support for importing crypto transactions directly from CSV files. I was able to upload my crypto.com transaction history with minimal formatting issues. If you're set on using TurboTax though, I found that cleaning up the crypto.com CSV file first made a huge difference. Remove any duplicate entries, make sure all dates are in MM/DD/YYYY format, and verify that buy/sell amounts match up properly. Sometimes crypto.com includes partial fills as separate transactions which can mess up the import. For the cost basis calculation differences between platforms, double-check how they're handling your staking rewards and any crypto-to-crypto trades. Those are usually where the biggest discrepancies come from.

Has anybody used the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) for making estimated payments? I just signed up but it says it takes like 5 business days to get the PIN in the mail. Is there a faster way to make these payments if I need to catch up quickly?

Just want to add some reassurance here - I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago. Missed all my quarterly payments due to a miscommunication with my accountant, but had increased withholding midway through the year. The key thing that saved me was that the IRS considers your total tax payments for the year, not just whether you made the quarterly deadlines. Your increased withholding since May is actually working in your favor more than you might realize. I ended up owing a small underpayment penalty (around $200 for the whole year), but it was nowhere near the disaster I thought it would be. The penalty is calculated monthly on the underpaid amount, so even missing several quarters doesn't necessarily mean huge penalties if your withholding caught up later in the year. My advice: Don't make any rushed decisions right now. Have your CPA run the numbers first to see where you actually stand. You might find that between your increased withholding and the safe harbor rules others mentioned, you're in much better shape than you think. Sometimes the stress of thinking you messed up is worse than the actual financial impact!

Has anyone dealt with property taxes paid to foreign governments? Can those be deducted on US taxes? I'm in a similar situation with my parents buying in Ecuador.

This is such a complex situation! Your parents definitely need to be prepared for ongoing US tax obligations. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the potential impact on their state tax situation. Depending on which state they currently live in, they may need to officially establish tax residency elsewhere before moving to avoid continued state tax obligations. Also, since they're planning to split time between countries, they should be very careful about the substantial presence test. Even though they're US citizens (so it doesn't affect their filing requirement), it could impact how certain deductions and credits are calculated. I'd strongly recommend they consult with a tax professional who specializes in expat taxes BEFORE making the purchase. The timing of when they buy, when they move, and how they structure their finances could significantly impact their tax burden. Getting advice upfront could save them thousands in taxes and penalties down the road.

For anyone still looking for options, I used FreeTaxUSA for my partnership return last year and it was only $69 for the federal Form 1065. Way cheaper than TurboTax ($199) or H&R Block ($149) for the same thing. The interface isn't as slick as the expensive options, but it gets the job done and asks all the right questions. Just make sure you have all your income and expense categories organized before you start.

I went through this exact same situation last year with my small consulting partnership! After researching all the options mentioned here, I ended up using TaxAct Business for around $75, which was a good middle ground between the free manual option and the expensive software. One thing I'd add that really helped me - before you choose any software or method, make sure you understand the difference between guaranteed payments and distributive shares. This tripped me up initially and almost caused me to file incorrectly. The IRS has some good examples in Publication 541 that Malik mentioned. Also, don't forget that partnerships have different deadlines than individual returns - Form 1065 is due March 15th (not April 15th like personal taxes), though you can file for an extension. Since you're filing for 2023, you're already past the original deadline, so you might want to look into late filing penalties and whether you qualify for any exceptions. Good luck with your first partnership return! It's definitely more complex than personal taxes, but once you get through it the first time, future years become much easier.