Guide: How To Do Your Taxes for Free

Doing your taxes can be a pain, but it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, wouldn’t it be great if you could file for free?

Well, yes, there are several ways to file your taxes for free in 2025, depending on your income, location, and tax situation. Here are the main options available as of March 20, 2025:

1. IRS Direct File: This is a free, web-based service offered by the IRS for filing your federal tax return directly with them. It’s available in 25 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. You’re eligible if you lived and worked in one of these states for all of 2024 and have simple income types like W-2 wages, Social Security, unemployment, or limited interest (under $1,500). It supports common credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit but doesn’t cover gig work, business income, or itemized deductions. It’s accessible via mobile or desktop at directfile.irs.gov and guides you to state filing tools afterward (state filing isn’t included).
2. IRS Free File: This program partners with eight tax software companies (e.g., TaxSlayer, FreeTaxUSA, TaxAct) to offer free federal tax filing if your 2024 adjusted gross income (AGI) was $84,000 or less. It’s available nationwide through IRS.gov, starting January 10, 2025, with returns processed from January 27. Some partners offer free state filing too (e.g., FreeTaxUSA charges $15 for state), but eligibility varies—check each provider’s rules. There’s also Free File Fillable Forms, open to all income levels, which provides electronic IRS forms with no guidance, ideal if you’re comfortable doing taxes yourself.
3. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE): These IRS-sponsored programs offer free in-person tax prep by certified volunteers. VITA is for people with incomes of $67,000 or less, disabilities, or limited English, while TCE targets those 60 and older. Find a site via the IRS VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887. Some locations, like GetYourRefund.org, offer online assistance too.
4. MilTax: A Department of Defense program for military members, veterans (within 365 days of discharge), and eligible families, MilTax provides free federal and up to three state returns with no income limit. Access it through the MilTax website, where you’ll verify eligibility via the Defense Enrollment system.
5. Commercial Free Tiers: Some tax software companies offer free filing for simple returns. Cash App Taxes is free for federal and one state return if you have basic income (W-2s, unemployment) and standard deductions. TurboTax and H&R Block have free editions for simple Form 1040 returns (e.g., W-2s, basic credits), but they’re limited—TurboTax excludes unemployment income in 2025, and state filing often costs extra ($30-$40).

For the April 15, 2025, deadline, start with IRS.gov to see if Direct File or Free File fits your needs. If your taxes are straightforward (e.g., just a W-2 and standard deduction), these options can save you the $50-$250 a paid service might charge. Double-check eligibility, as complex situations like self-employment or itemizing typically require paid upgrades or a professional. Gather your W-2s, 1099s, and other documents now to file early and get any refund faster via direct deposit.