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If you meet certain income qualifications, you can file your federal income tax return online for free. This is a great option for those people who are a little wary of going the paper and pencil route and can't afford an accountant to walk them through the tax preparation process.
Filing electronically also increases the accuracy of your return and guarantees that any refund you're owed will be sent out in as little as 10 days thanks to the miracle of Direct Deposit.
How to file taxes online for free will walk you through the correct way to secure free online filing without running into any scams along the way. Disclaimer The content of this page is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice.
Contact the IRS or a professional financial advisor for the most up-to-date and complete information regarding state and federal tax law.
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Getting Started
- There is only one way to file your tax return online for free, no strings attached, and that's by using the IRS' own website as a portal to Free File program participants.
- Free File is a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies, which allows qualified taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax return for free online.
- You'll recognize the names of many of the Free File partner companies like H&R Block and TaxACT, but in order to take advantage of the Free File program, you must start with the IRS' own website and meet the program's qualifications.
- How do you qualify? When filing your taxes, you qualify for the Free File service by having earned an adjusted gross income of $54,000 or less in the previous fiscal year.
- IRS: Free File
- IRS: Free File: Step by Step Instructions
- IRS: Free File: Frequently Asked Questions
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What's the Catch?
- Of course, there's a catch. Why wouldn't there be a catch? While qualified taxpayers can file their federal returns for free by using the Free File program, they won't get a free ride if they choose to file their state returns simultaneously. These are still commercial services the IRS is partnered with after all.
- You also won't get a free ride with that federal return if you don't use the IRS' site as a portal. Once more with feeling—you must start with the IRS website to qualify for the Free File program.
- Using the free version of these tax software programs also doesn't guarantee that they'll help you suss out all of your potential deductions or guide you through more complicated returns with the same precision as they would if you purchased one of their most expensive tax preparation packages.
- If you have a complicated return because of a major life change or because you're self-employed, you might consider paying for a more expensive iteration of these programs. After all, you can write off tax preparation services if you itemize your return.
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Is There a Way to File a State Return Online for Free?
- Some states offer online filing for free through their Department of Revenue or Taxation websites. Some states, like Alaska, Texas and Florida, don't levy a personal income tax at all. For more information about your state's income tax filing procedures, visit the appropriate Department of Revenue, Finance or Taxation website.
- Alabama Department of Revenue
- Alaska Department of Revenue
- Arizona Department of Revenue
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
- California Franchise Tax Board
- Colorado Department of Revenue
- Connecticut Department of Revenue Services
- Delaware Division of Revenue
- District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer
- Florida Department of Revenue
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- Hawaii Department of Taxation
- Idaho State Tax Commission
- llinois Department of Revenue
- Indiana Department of Revenue
- Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance
- Kansas Department of Revenue
- Kentucky Revenue Cabinet
- Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxation
- Maine Revenue Services
- Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury
- Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- Michigan Department of Treasury
- Minnesota Department of Revenue
- Mississippi State Tax Commission
- Missouri Department of Revenue
- Montana Department of Revenue
- Nebraska Department of Revenue
- Nevada Department of Taxation
- New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration
- New Jersey Division of Taxation
- New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department
- New York Department of Taxation and Finance
- North Carolina Department of Revenue
- North Dakota State Tax Department
- Ohio Department of Taxation
- Oklahoma Tax Commission
- Oregon Department of Revenue
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
- Rhode Island Division of Taxation
- South Carolina Department of Revenue
- South Dakota Department of Revenue
- Tennessee Department of Revenue
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Utah State Tax Commission
- Vermont Department of Taxes
- Virginia Department of Taxation
- Washington Department of Revenue
- West Virginia State Tax Department
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue
- Wyoming Department of Revenue
