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Switch tax software using last year’s return
Ops & admin automation · checked 2026-10-17
Export last year’s return as a PDF from your old tax service, import it into FreeTaxUSA’s switch flow, and ask ChatGPT to compare year-over-year totals from redacted copies so you notice what changed before filing.
Independent review. IonBin has no partnership with any tool on this page and was not paid for this page. Our evaluation is our own, based on public documentation and our research. Product names are trademarks of their owners and are used for identification only. How disclosure works.
Goal
Move to a new filing service without re-keying last year’s details, and catch big year-over-year changes early.
Connects through: Upload / export
Not advice
IonBin provides general information and software comparisons, not tax, legal, accounting or financial advice. Tax and legal rules vary by situation and jurisdiction; consult a qualified professional (CPA, enrolled agent or attorney) before acting.
AI tools can make mistakes. Verify every figure against the original documents and official IRS or state guidance before filing or signing.
Redact Social Security numbers, account numbers and EINs before uploading documents to any AI assistant, and check its data-retention settings. Upload originals only to the filing or signing software.
“Free” offers come with conditions: check who qualifies and what state filing costs before you start. IRS Direct File is discontinued for the 2026 season with no relaunch date; see IRS Free File for eligible filers.
Steps
#
Who
What happens
How
Status
1
You
Download last year’s return PDF from your previous service and make a redacted copy
Compares redacted prior-year and current-year summaries and lists the largest changes to double-check
AI platform
Confirmed
4
You
Check flagged items against your documents and file yourself
Human step
Confirmed
Confirmed means the vendor documents it (linked). It doesn't mean IonBin has tested it. AI-platform and human steps need no source.
Human approval
You decide what to file. ChatGPT only lists differences to check.
Watch out for
A year-over-year difference is not an error by itself. Confirm each one against the source document.
Starter prompt
Goal: Move to a new filing service without re-keying last year’s details, and catch big year-over-year changes early. Tools involved: FreeTaxUSA, ChatGPT. Your part: compares redacted prior-year and current-year summaries and lists the largest changes to double-check. Work step by step, show me each draft or proposed change, and wait for my approval before anything is sent, published, signed, filed or changed in a live system.
Assembled from this page’s goal and steps. Paste it into your AI platform and adjust it to your situation.
No platform-specific connection: the steps run in the tools themselves (browser, upload or built-in).
ChatGPT
Confirmed
No platform-specific connection: the steps run in the tools themselves (browser, upload or built-in).
Gemini
Confirmed
No platform-specific connection: the steps run in the tools themselves (browser, upload or built-in).
Perplexity
Confirmed
No platform-specific connection: the steps run in the tools themselves (browser, upload or built-in).
Computed from the MCP and API steps only: "Confirmed" needs the tool's docs to name the platform and the platform to support the connection. Browser, upload and human steps work from any platform.
What we checked
FreeTaxUSA’s import accepts a PDF of last year’s return filed with another tax software, along with W-2s and 1099s as a photo or PDF. It doesn’t list which other services’ PDFs it can read, or exactly which fields carry over. Check the personal details and carryover figures it fills in.
Pricing. FreeTaxUSA lists $0 for a federal return and $15.99 for a state return, for 2025 returns (checked 2026-10-17). Re-check before you file.
ChatGPT’s role is a side-by-side comparison of redacted summaries. It doesn’t see the originals and doesn’t touch the return.
Set it up
Download last year’s full return PDF from your previous service before your access there lapses.
Import the original PDF into FreeTaxUSA when you start the new return.
Make redacted copies (remove SSNs, account numbers and EINs) of last year’s summary page and this year’s draft summary.
Ask ChatGPT to list the largest year-over-year changes in income, deductions and credits, and to say which line each comes from.
Check each flagged change against your documents. A change is not an error by itself.
