The 2026 tax filing season is in full swing at the IRS. And although doing one's taxes is a near-universally dreaded task, there is a glimmer of good news: It doesn't have to be expensive.
Direct File, a short-lived initiative in which certain Americans could file their federal taxes for free directly with the IRS, is no longer available, but there are still a handful of ways Americans can prepare (and submit) their returns for free. The most popular federal option is IRS Free File, a partnership the government launched with several online tax prep services in 2003. Depending on your income, you may qualify for free guided tax preparation from one of eight name-brand companies.
Spoiler alert: You won't find TurboTax or H&R Block among those firms. TurboTax and H&R Block are no longer affiliated with the IRS Free File program. That said, both advertise free tax prep services on their websites, and there are a plethora of other tax software options for taxpayers who can't or don't want to pay to file a return.
Here's what you need to know.
IRS-approved: Learn how E-file.com can help with your taxes this year.
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How to file taxes for free
Identify whether you are eligible to file for free
To be eligible for IRS Free File, you’ll need to calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI). You can do this by taking your income (wages, capital gains, dividends, retirement distributions, business income and such) and subtracting any adjustments (student loan interest, alimony, teacher expenses, retirement contributions and the like).
If your AGI for 2025 was $89,000 or less, you qualify for free guided tax preparation through the IRS. The $89,000 limit for IRS Free File applies to both single taxpayers and families. If your adjusted gross income is over $89,000, you qualify only to use Free File Fillable Forms, in which you complete electronic forms yourself without guidance.
Pick a free service or program to use
IRS Free File
If you qualify for guided tax preparation, head to the IRS website to see the eight options available from the Free File Alliance in 2026:
- TaxSlayer
- Online Taxes at OLT.com
- FreeTaxUSA
- TaxAct
- FileYourTaxes.com
- ezTaxReturn.com
- 1040NOW.NET
- 1040.com
Each of these services has its own restrictions, so read the fine print. Some offers are only valid for people who live in certain states, are a certain age, are in the military or make below a certain amount of money.
IRS Free File is focused on federal tax returns, not state returns, so you'll need to pay extra attention if you live in a state with income taxes. A few of the IRS Free File offers, like OLT.com and FreeTaxUSA, give a free state filing to anyone who qualifies for a free federal return. Others, like 1040.com, only give free state filing to eligible Free File users in some states. Two don't offer free state returns, period.
Need help navigating it all? Enter your personal information into the lookup tool at IRS.gov and it'll narrow down the choices for you.
If you don't qualify for guided prep, check out Free File Fillable Forms. This isn't for beginners — you have to select the right form, type in your data, make sure you're not introducing errors and file the federal return on your own. Though it's free, this method does require a bit of tax knowledge.
FYI: IRS Free File is available in English and Spanish.
Free versions of online tax software
Despite no longer being affiliated with IRS Free File, both TurboTax and H&R Block — two juggernauts in the tax-prep space — still offer ways you can file for free.
TurboTax Free Edition is tailored for simple tax returns, meaning you file a simple Form 1040 only, have W-2 income, take the standard deduction and claim basic credits like the child tax credit and earned income tax credit. The student loan interest deduction, Schedule 1-A and retirement plan distributions are fair game, too. Intuit says about 37% of filers qualify to use TurboTax Free Edition.
Through Feb. 28, you may also be eligible to file federal and state taxes for free using TurboTax's or Credit Karma's mobile app. This is a limited-time do-it-yourself offer for people who did not use TurboTax to do their 2024 taxes, though it covers "any tax situation," per the website.
H&R Block Online Free Edition starts at $0 for federal and state tax prep. H&R Block says about 52% of filers qualify for this service, which is focused on simple tax situations and includes coverage for the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit, education expenses and retirement income. For tax situations that are complicated beyond that, you'll have to pay.
Live tax help, access to six years of storage and assistance reporting items like freelance income, crypto sales and real estate taxes also cost extra through H&R Block.
Other free tax software options include FreeTaxUSA, which boasts a "free federal return for everyone" on its website and supports the earned income credit, investments, homeownership and small business taxes in addition to complex federal returns. (Filing your state taxes with FreeTaxUSA costs $15.99 per state. You can add Deluxe Support for $7.99 and access Pro Support for $44.99.)
There’s also Cash App Taxes, which boasts that it's "100% free from start to finish."
Cash App Taxes supports a variety of documents and tax situations, including Form 1040, student loan interest, Schedule A itemized deductions, the first-time homebuyer credit and self-employment. But you'll have to seek tax prep elsewhere if you're a minor, have foreign earned income or fall into a few other categories. You also can't use Cash App Taxes to file state taxes if you haven't already filed your federal return with it.
You may be able to unlock a free tax prep offer if you own specific financial products, as well. Chime customers can file federal and state taxes and pay "zero fees" thanks to a deal with april, an AI-powered tax engine that's also teamed up to offer free tax filing for PayPal debit card users.
Finally, you may want to check your local government websites for information about where to file for free or cheap. States like California and Pennsylvania have their own free state e-filing systems for residents who qualify.
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)
Whether you're doing taxes yourself or prefer a preparer, the IRS has two initiatives that provide free help for taxpayers who need it: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. VITA is targeted at people who make $69,000 or less a year, have disabilities or speak limited English. Americans 60 and up who have questions about retirement, pensions and such are eligible to get advice through TCE.
The programs typically operate out of libraries, college buildings and community centers. Use the IRS's free-tax-prep tool to find a provider near you. (You might have to make an appointment.)
Another option for free tax help is AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, which offers both in-person and online tax assistance to "those who qualify, free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income," according to its website. The program runs through April 15.
Gather your paperwork
Filing your taxes requires a whole bunch of documents. The exact papers you must gather depend on your situation, but most people will need to reference income statements like Form W-2 (from your employer) and any Forms 1099 (for freelance income, interest income, gambling winnings, et cetera).
You'll also need to know your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number, as well as your prior year adjusted gross income or your self-selected PIN. This should be on your 2024 tax return. You may also need a government ID.
Need to file your taxes? See how you can maximize your refund this year with TurboTax.
Free tax filing FAQ
Where can I file taxes for free?
Check out the above options.
The IRS is pretty strict about what its tax software partners can and can't charge for. Free File participants are prohibited from upselling additional services, sneaking in hidden fees, operating deceptively in order to manipulate you and more, according to the IRS website.
If you're doing your taxes on your own, be diligent. It's easy to get fooled into paying for add-ons like "Pay With My Refund," "Refund Processing Service" or "Refund Transfer." These functions often offer to take money from your refund to cover any prep fees you owe — but usually charge an additional fee in the process.
Be careful what you click on, and read the fine print.
Can I file a tax extension online for free?
If you need extra time to get your federal taxes done, you can electronically request an extension with the IRS by using Free File (regardless of what your income is). You can also submit Form 4868 by visiting a preparer's website, mailing in the physical paper or making an online payment to the IRS and indicating that it's connected to an extension.
Filing for an extension will give you six additional months to file your 2025 taxes. But take note: Even though an extension moves your deadline for filing back, you still have to pay any taxes you owe by April 15.
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Bottom line on filing taxes for free
If you're hoping to file your taxes for free in 2026, a good place to start is the IRS website. Depending on your income level and needs, you may qualify for guided tax prep from the IRS itself or an online provider. If you don’t qualify for Free File and have a bit of tax knowledge, you can use the agency’s Fillable Forms option to do your taxes for free.
Failing that, browse offers on websites like TurboTax, H&R Block and Cash App Taxes directly to see if your federal return is simple enough to do for free. Do your research, gather your paperwork and be sure to ask for help if you need it.
