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Be aware that some software providers advertise “free” filing but do charge for related services.
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Free options for filing taxes exist for most people, including those with more than $73,000 in adjusted gross income.
Some taxpayers can get free help from volunteers at VITA, AARP, TCE, and other groups.
Be wary of software providers that claim to be free but actually charge for anything beyond the most basic returns.
See Personal Finance Insider’s picks for the best tax software »
If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of filling in all the blanks on a “free” tax-filing program only to be surprised by a bunch of upcharges at the end, you might be pleasantly surprised by some of the newer offerings on the market. A variety of programs offer free filing for most taxpayers. They aren’t all limited to lower-income earners or those with simple returns. Before filing the way you always have, you may want to examine the free options available this year.
Keep in mind, the 2023 federal income tax deadline is on April 18 because of a holiday.
4 ways to get your taxes done and filed for free in 2022
Here are some of the best ways to file your taxes for free:
1. IRS Free File
IRS Free File offers free guided tax preparation to taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) of $73,000 or less. IRS Free File is a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, which is a group of online tax preparation companies who coordinate with the IRS to provide free online federal tax filing for qualified taxpayers. The list of providers changes from year to year and is typically released in mid-January. These eight providers were listed as partners as of mid-2022.
1040NOW Corp.ezTaxReturn.comFileYourTaxesFree Tax ReturnsOnLine TaxesTaxACTTaxHawkTaxSlayer
Each provider has different requirements for income, age, state, earned income, and military status. Also note that many providers charge for filing your state tax return. Be sure to choose a provider that will work best for your tax situation.
Not all Free File providers follow the IRS’ recommended $73,000 gross income limit. Some require a lower income to qualify for free filing, so be sure to check the requirements when choosing a provider.
Note: You must start at the IRS.gov website and find your IRS Free file offer from there. If you go directly to the website of the company, you will receive a different offer and probably pay more to file your taxes.
2. Free tax-preparation software from commercial providers
Most major tax software providers offer some form of free tax preparation and filing service. Whether or not you qualify often depends on your income level and the complexity of your return.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular options on the market that offer free filing.
Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Taxes). When you file your taxes with the Cash App (either in the app or on your computer), you won’t be charged a fee regardless of your income or tax situation. There are no restrictions on which forms you can use or the credits and deductions you can claim. As far as free goes, this one’s hard to beat. You may want to consider this option if you have a higher income, own a small business, earn investment income or have any other tax situation considered more complex. Note, however, that it doesn’t let you fill out multiple state tax returns and has limited customer support.
Tax Act. Insider rated Tax Act as the top tax filing software for 2022. When accessed through the IRS website, taxpayers under age 56 with an AGI of less than $65,000 with any tax situation can file for free. When accessing TaxAct through the provider’s own website, the basic, free version covers W-2 income, unemployment income, retirement distributions, earned income, the child tax credit, education credits, and stimulus credits. You still have to pay to file your state tax return and more complex tax situations will cost more.TurboTax. TurboTax is no longer part of the Free File Alliance, and it only offers free filing for very basic tax returns. The free version covers W-2 income, unemployment income, retirement distributions, interest and dividend income, the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit.TaxSlayer. When accessing TaxSlayer through the IRS Free File website, taxpayers must have an adjusted gross income of $39,000 or less to qualify for free filing. TaxSlayer also advertises a free version of its software for basic filers, but this does not include certain tax credits. To be able to claim these, you’ll need to upgrade to the next level, advertised at $29.95.H&R Block. Much like TurboTax, HR Block is no longer a part of the Free File Alliance and does not offer free tax filing under this program. On its own site, the basic free filing includes W-2 employees, simple returns for students, unemployment income, and allows the child tax credit. The interface is clear and easy-to-understand, making this a favorite option for free filing.
Remember, however, that some tax-software providers will advertise their services as “free” to lure you into their preparing your return with their system, only to inform you at the very end of the process that, because of your specific tax situation, you actually do owe them someting.
“By the time taxpayers have taken an hour or so to enter their information, they often just pay the fee because they don’t want to do it again,” says Sean DiMercurio, a certified public accountant (CPA), founder and partner of DiMercurio Advisors.
However, if the choice is between paying for tax preparation and maximizing your tax refund or sticking with the free version and receiving a considerably smaller refund, paying for the service is probably the better choice.
Important: If you search “free tax filing” in Google, you may find a company that claims to be free, but has charges on the back end. To be sure you can truly file for free, you can go through the IRS website or file in another way outlined in this post.
3. Free help from volunteers
If you need some help filing your taxes, there are programs where volunteers can assist you at no cost.
Examples Of such volunteer programs include:
The IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA is a program that aims to provide free tax preparation to underserved individuals. It’s meant to help taxpayers with low to moderate income, the elderly, people with limited English proficiency, and people with disabilities. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). This program provides free, basic tax returns for people aged 60 and older. It is operated in partnership between the IRS and eligible organizations that assist elderly taxpayers with tax returns, often at locations convenient for the taxpayer. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide. This program provides free tax assistance to anyone, but has a special focus on taxpayers over 50 and those with low to moderate income. They can help with most tax situations. They also offer help for filing your own taxes online.State or local tax departments. Some state tax departments offer assistance for filing your taxes. One example is New York, which offers free virtual assistance from representatives who guide taxpayers through free tax preparation software, step-by-step, as you complete and file your own federal and state returns.
These programs are free if you meet the criteria. VITA, for example, is free for taxpayers who make less than $58,000, are disabled, or have limited English-speaking proficiency.
“VITA is run by current or former IRS employees that help you file your taxes,” Romeo Razi, CPA of TaxedRight.com explains. “There are places all around the US (VITA sites) where you can show up with your tax papers, and have someone help you file your taxes. If you make under $58,000, check out the official IRS website to see if a VITA site is near where you live.”
To find a VITA or TCE site, you can visit this locator tool from the IRS.
Note: Before you visit a VITA site, make sure you have the correct documents with you. You can find the list of things you need to bring on the IRS website. VITA volunteers will file your taxes through tax software provider TaxSlayer.
4. MilTax Tax-Aide
Military families should consider using a free software called MilTax, an e-filing software provided by the Department of Defense tailored to their specific needs. It walks taxpayers through a series of questions to complete their taxes. There is no cost as the benefit is provided as part of military service. Assistance from MilTax consultants is also provided at no cost.
Tax filing doesn’t have to cost anything if you know where to look. Find a program that works for your situation and keep more money in your pocket with one of the free tax filing options available to you.