I'm filing my taxes with TurboTax and will probably get one of my smallest refunds ever, and I'm happy about it

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I'm filing my taxes with TurboTax and will probably get one of my smallest refunds ever, and I'm happy about it

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philhearing/Flickr/Attribution License

TurboTax is helpful and fairly easy to use (author not pictured).

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  • With a full-time job and freelance income, filing taxes can be complicated.
  • For the second year in a row, I'm using TurboTax to file my tax return. So far, I've found the site helpful and fairly easy to use - especially in tandem with other online tools and apps.
  • Although I won't be getting a huge refund, there's a positive side: I don't owe money at the moment on my freelance income, especially not a huge lump sum like I have in the past, because I prepaid my taxes every quarter.

As someone with both a full-time job and freelance income, filing my taxes takes a little longer than your average process.

As a first-time freelance writer in graduate school in 2014, I didn't know anything about quarterly payments. I got my taxes done at a free tax clinic and at the end, they hesitantly let me know I owed a little more than $1,000 in taxes for my freelance writing income.

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They explained quarterly payments and sent me home with the 1040ES forms marked with the due dates for each quarterly payment. After that first very stressful experience, I vowed never end up owing that much again.

After graduate school, I continued to freelance but made sure to send in quarterly payments. In 2017, I worked a full time job while freelance writing. I started doing my own taxes on TurboTax in 2018, figuring that I could do it on my own now that I knew more about payments and deductions.

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Read more: After getting in trouble with the IRS, I've figured out the best way to do my taxes for working multiple jobs

That year, I sent in large amounts of quarterly payments and after going through all my deductions, ended up with a considerable refund.

Since I used TurboTax that year, the site kept my information on file for my taxes this year.

In 2018, I sent considerably less quarterly tax payments because I could tell I would make less income from freelance writing. With those quarterly payments and deductions, TurboTax predicts that at the time of writing I should get a refund that amounts to approximately $166 ($157 for federal and $9 for California taxes).

I am still looking at other deductions I might've missed, so those final amounts could change. I'm also not taking into account the final TurboTax total for using the service. It's not a huge refund in the end but there's a positive side, for me: I don't owe money at the moment, especially not a huge lump sum like I have in the past.

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Here's what it's like to use TurboTax as a single filer with a W-2 and freelance income.

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Before logging in, I browsed the BankAmeriDeals on the Bank of America website. The deals offer certain percentages of cash back from purchases at restaurants, online stores, and more. I chose the TurboTax instant discount, which expires on April 20.

Before logging in, I browsed the BankAmeriDeals on the Bank of America website. The deals offer certain percentages of cash back from purchases at restaurants, online stores, and more. I chose the TurboTax instant discount, which expires on April 20.

It includes a $5 - $15 discount "at the time of purchase when you file your taxes online at TurboTax using eligible online tax software products." Since I haven't yet finished my taxes, I haven't received the discount, but it shows up as "ready to use" in my account.

In addition, I have an Ebates plugin currently on my browser. Ebates offers cash back and coupons on certain online purchases. Their TurboTax deal includes up to 7.5% cash back. The total amount is pending and should go through once I finish filing my taxes.

In addition, I have an Ebates plugin currently on my browser. Ebates offers cash back and coupons on certain online purchases. Their TurboTax deal includes up to 7.5% cash back. The total amount is pending and should go through once I finish filing my taxes.
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Last year, I had two W-2s because I started a new job in June of 2017. I easily delete the info for my old job and keep the name and info of my new job intact.

Last year, I had two W-2s because I started a new job in June of 2017. I easily delete the info for my old job and keep the name and info of my new job intact.

After that, I just type in the information TurboTax asks for so that it can automatically pull in the info in my W-2. It then asks if everything looks good. I am very anxious about making a mistake so I look at every field very carefully and slowly, often reading the numbers aloud to make sure the online version matches the W-2 in my hand.

Next is deductions and credits. My student loan website sent me an email notification that my 1098-E was available for download.

Next is deductions and credits. My student loan website sent me an email notification that my 1098-E was available for download.

This form, as TurboTax explains on its site, is something that "lenders are required to send you Form 1098-E only if you paid at least $600 in interest during the year."

After logging into my student loan portal, I download the form and then enter the information from Box 1 into TurboTax. This automatically increases my refund for the year. TurboTax keeps track of the refund as if grows and decreases in the top left corner of the screen.

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The next TurboTax section is for health insurance, a section where you can indicate your health insurance status for the year.

The next TurboTax section is for health insurance, a section where you can indicate your health insurance status for the year.

The site then calculates your self-employment tax.

The site then calculates your self-employment tax.
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TurboTax also shows you a comparison of both years.

TurboTax also shows you a comparison of both years.

In 2018, I used the majority of my freelance income to pay off the student loan that is a smaller amount. This also made it so that in my taxes I can report even more money paid in interest.

In 2018, I used the majority of my freelance income to pay off the student loan that is a smaller amount. This also made it so that in my taxes I can report even more money paid in interest.
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I also make sure to search for any other possible deductions. My expenses for freelance usually include meals (if I am interviewing someone in person) and online transcription services. I use Intuit's QuickBooks to keep track of these expenses. I actually received QuickBooks last year after completing my taxes on TurboTax.

I also make sure to search for any other possible deductions. My expenses for freelance usually include meals (if I am interviewing someone in person) and online transcription services. I use Intuit's QuickBooks to keep track of these expenses. I actually received QuickBooks last year after completing my taxes on TurboTax.

Because I categorized these expenses on Intuit, I could see what expenses I might deduct for the year.

Because I categorized these expenses on Intuit, I could see what expenses I might deduct for the year.
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The TurboTax site has helped me stay organized with my taxes, although getting an accountant's expertise is always a good idea. So far, I've found the site helpful and fairly easy to use — especially in tandem with other online tools and apps.

The TurboTax site has helped me stay organized with my taxes, although getting an accountant's expertise is always a good idea. So far, I've found the site helpful and fairly easy to use — especially in tandem with other online tools and apps.

Although my refund isn't as large as last year's, I'm certain this is because I sent smaller quarterly payments. But I am glad I got to keep my resolution of not owing a ton of money at the end of the process. I feel comfortable doing my taxes on my own for now, and pushing myself to always save some of my freelance income for quarterly payments and student loan payments.

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