Yes, filing your federal taxes can be completely free, and millions of taxpayers qualify. The method that works for you depends on your income, the complexity of your return, and whether you also need to file a state return. Here’s a breakdown of every legitimate free option available.
IRS Free File for Incomes Under $89,000
The IRS partners with private tax software companies to offer free federal filing through a program called IRS Free File. If your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $89,000 or less, you can use one of these partner products at no cost for your federal return. Each partner sets its own eligibility rules beyond the income cap, which may factor in age, state residency, or military status, so you may qualify with one partner but not another.
There’s an important catch: you have to start your return from the IRS Free File page on IRS.gov. If you go directly to a software company’s website and start there, you’ll likely end up on their standard free tier, which has more limitations. Some Free File partners also include free state tax preparation, but not all of them, so check before you begin.
Free File Fillable Forms for Any Income
If your income is above $89,000, IRS Free File Fillable Forms lets you file your federal return for free regardless of how much you earn. Think of it as the electronic version of filling out paper tax forms by hand. The system does basic math for you but doesn’t walk you through questions or suggest deductions. This option works best if you’re comfortable reading IRS forms and already know which ones you need. It does not include state filing.
Commercial Software Free Tiers
TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, and other major tax software companies all advertise free versions. These work, but they’re designed for the simplest returns. The free tiers generally cover a basic Form 1040 with a limited set of credits.
Where you’ll hit a wall: freelance or self-employment income, investment income, itemized deductions, and rental property income typically require a paid upgrade. H&R Block’s free tier, for example, doesn’t let you itemize. TaxAct’s free version excludes freelance and investment income entirely. TurboTax limits its free option to “simple returns,” which means W-2 income with standard deductions and a handful of common credits.
State returns are another potential cost. Some of these companies include one free state return, while others charge a separate fee for state filing even on the free plan. Read the fine print before you start entering your information, because switching software mid-process is a hassle.
Free In-Person Help Through VITA and TCE
If you’d rather have someone prepare your return for you, two IRS-sponsored volunteer programs offer that at no charge.
- VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance): Available to people who generally make $69,000 or less, people with disabilities, and taxpayers with limited English proficiency. Trained volunteers prepare and e-file your federal and state returns at community centers, libraries, and other local sites.
- TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly): Geared toward taxpayers age 60 and older, with volunteers who specialize in pension and retirement-related tax questions.
Both programs run during tax season at thousands of locations nationwide. You can find a site near you using the IRS VITA locator tool on IRS.gov or by calling 211. Bring your ID, Social Security cards, W-2s, 1099s, and any other income documents. Wait times vary by location, and popular sites fill up fast, so going early in the season or on a weekday morning helps.
MilTax for Military Members
Active-duty and reserve military members, including the U.S. Coast Guard, and certain veterans can use MilTax, a Department of Defense program. It covers federal filing plus up to five state returns for free, which is especially useful for military families who may have lived in multiple states during the year.
What About State Returns?
Free federal filing doesn’t automatically mean free state filing. Some IRS Free File partners include state returns, and MilTax covers up to five. But many free options, including Free File Fillable Forms and several commercial free tiers, either charge for state returns or don’t offer them at all.
If you live in a state with no income tax, this isn’t an issue. For everyone else, check whether state filing is included before you commit to a platform. In some cases, your state’s tax agency offers its own free filing tool on its website, which you can use alongside a free federal option.
How to Choose the Right Free Option
Your best path depends on your situation:
- W-2 income, standard deduction, under $89,000 AGI: IRS Free File through a partner gives you guided software at no cost. Start from IRS.gov.
- W-2 income, standard deduction, any income level: Commercial free tiers handle basic returns well. Just confirm state filing is included if you need it.
- Comfortable with tax forms, any income level: Free File Fillable Forms works for any federal return, but you’re on your own with the math and form selection.
- Income under $69,000 and prefer in-person help: VITA volunteers will prepare and file everything for you.
- Age 60 or older with retirement income questions: TCE volunteers specialize in exactly your situation.
- Active-duty or reserve military: MilTax handles federal and multiple state returns for free.
The most common reason people end up paying when they didn’t need to is starting directly on a software company’s website instead of going through IRS.gov first. The IRS Free File partners are required to offer truly free filing to eligible taxpayers, but only when you access them through the IRS portal. Going directly to the same company’s site may route you into a product that nudges you toward a paid version as soon as your return gets slightly complex.