How can I file my taxes for free?
Start at IRS.gov/freefile. If your AGI is under the limit, partner software files your federal return free.
New to this?
Filing taxes means sending the IRS a yearly return that shows your income and how much tax you owe or get back. You can pay a company or a preparer to do it, but you often don't have to. The IRS runs free programs with software partners and trained volunteers, mostly aimed at people with simpler returns.
Read first
Myth
The free tax software ads are a trick, so I have to pay to file.
Truth
Through IRS Free File, partner software files your federal return at no cost if your AGI is $89,000 or less. The catch is where you start: go through IRS.gov, not the company's own site.
Worth memorizing
- 1
Free File depends on your AGI.
In the 2026 filing season, guided Free File software was free with AGI of $89,000 or less. Partners add rules.
- 2
Always start at IRS.gov/freefile.
Going straight to a company's website can land you in a paid product. The IRS link sends you to the free version.
- 3
Fillable Forms are free at any income.
Free File Fillable Forms are online IRS forms with basic math. They don't guide you and don't file state returns.
If your income is under the Free File limit, I'd never pay to file a simple return. Open IRS.gov/freefile, use the partner finder, and read the state return terms before you start. If you feel unsure, a VITA volunteer is a great option.
Do this today
Find last year's Form 1040 and write down the line labeled adjusted gross income. Then bookmark IRS.gov/freefile and the VITA site locator so you are ready when your forms arrive.
Practice
1 of 3
Kim earned $70,000 in wages and $500 in interest, and deducted a $3,000 traditional IRA contribution. What is her AGI?
$70,000 + $500 = $70,500 of income. The IRA deduction is an adjustment: $70,500 − $3,000 = $67,500.
2 of 3
Your AGI is above the Free File limit. Which free federal option is still open to you?
Fillable Forms are free at any income. They don't guide you or file a state return.
3 of 3
What is the safest way to reach the free version of a Free File partner's software?
The IRS says you won't get Free File by going straight to a partner's commercial site. Start at IRS.gov.
Tips
Find your AGI before choosing
Your AGI is printed on last year's Form 1040, on the line labeled adjusted gross income. Add up this year's W-2s and 1099s to see roughly where you will land.
Check the state return terms
Some Free File partners include a free state return and some charge for it. Read each partner's terms in the IRS finder before you create an account.
Book VITA early in the season
Volunteer sites fill up near the April deadline. Use the IRS locator in January or February and bring your ID, Social Security cards and every tax form.
Choose direct deposit for refunds
E-filing with direct deposit is the fastest way to get a refund. Have your bank's routing number and your account number ready.
A worked example: checking Free File eligibility
Jordan works as a medical assistant and earned $54,000 in wages. He also had $350 of bank interest and paid $1,100 of student loan interest. He wants to know if he qualifies.
- Jordan adds his income: $54,000 + $350 = $54,350.
- Student loan interest is an adjustment, so he subtracts it: $54,350 − $1,100 = $53,250 of AGI.
- The Free File limit in that season was $89,000. $89,000 − $53,250 = $35,750, so he qualifies and starts at IRS.gov/freefile.
- Wages (W-2)+$54,000
- Bank interest+$350
- Student loan interest−$1,100
- Adjusted gross income=$53,250
- Free File AGI limit$89,000
- Jordan's AGI−$53,250
- Room under the limit=$35,750
Common mistakes
Starting on a company's website
Free File only works when you click through from IRS.gov. Starting elsewhere can put you in a paid version, and the charge often shows up only at the end.
Using taxable income instead of AGI
Free File checks adjusted gross income, which comes before the standard deduction. Checking your taxable income can make you think you qualify when you are over the limit.
Skipping the return to save money
Not filing when you must can cost far more than any software fee. The late filing penalty starts at 5% of unpaid tax per month, and you may miss a refund or credit.
Going deeper
In the US, you can file a federal tax return for free through IRS Free File if your adjusted gross income was $89,000 or less in the 2026 filing season. Above that, Free File Fillable Forms are free at any income, and IRS-trained volunteers prepare returns for free at VITA and TCE sites.
IRS Free File guided software
The IRS partners with private tax software companies to offer free federal filing. In the 2026 filing season, the limit was $89,000 of adjusted gross income or less. Each partner also sets its own rules on age, state and income.
Free File Fillable Forms
These are electronic versions of IRS paper forms, free for any income. You pick the forms and type in your numbers. They do limited math and don't include state returns.
Free help from volunteers
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites prepare basic returns for free, mostly for people who meet the Earned Income Tax Credit income guidelines, people with disabilities and people with limited English. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) focuses on people 60 and older.
Direct File was not offered
IRS Direct File, a government-run filing tool the IRS tested in two earlier seasons, was not on the IRS list of free filing options for the 2026 filing season. Check IRS.gov each January for the current options.
What adjusted gross income means
Adjusted gross income, or AGI, is your total income minus a short list of adjustments. Income includes wages, tips, self-employment profit, interest, unemployment pay and most other money you received. Adjustments include things like deductible traditional IRA contributions, student loan interest and half of any self-employment tax.
AGI comes before the standard deduction, so it is higher than your taxable income. That is the number Free File checks. If you are near the limit, a deductible IRA contribution made before the April deadline can lower your AGI.
How to use Free File step by step
Go to IRS.gov/freefile and choose guided tax software or Fillable Forms. For guided software, use the IRS partner finder, which asks a few questions and shows the partners you qualify for. The IRS then sends you to that partner's site to make an account.
If you go to a partner's regular website directly, you will not get the Free File version. The regular product may look similar but charge at the end. If a screen asks you to pay for your federal return when you expected Free File, stop and restart from IRS.gov.
When Fillable Forms make sense
Fillable Forms suit people above the Free File income limit who are comfortable with tax forms, or people who used to file on paper. You need to know which forms and schedules apply to you, and you read the instructions as you go.
The forms do simple math, like adding lines, but they won't spot a missed credit. You will also need a separate way to file your state return, since Fillable Forms cover federal only. Many states run their own free filing options, so check your state tax agency's website.
Getting help from VITA and TCE
At a VITA or TCE site, an IRS-certified volunteer prepares your return with you, usually at a library, school or community center. The IRS does not set one income limit for VITA, but sites generally focus on people who meet the Earned Income Tax Credit income guidelines, and each site may set its own rules.
Bring a photo ID, Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return, every W-2 and 1099, last year's return and a voided check for direct deposit. Military members and their families can also use MilTax, a free service from the Department of Defense.
What to gather before you file
Wait until your forms arrive, usually by early February. You need W-2s from each job, 1099 forms for interest, freelance or gig pay, and any Form 1098-E for student loan interest or 1098-T for tuition.
Keep last year's return handy. Your prior-year AGI is often used to confirm your identity when you e-file. Filing on time matters even if you owe and can't pay, because the penalty for filing late is much larger than the penalty for paying late.
Questions people ask
Is IRS Free File really free?
Yes for the federal return, if you qualify and start at IRS.gov. Some partners also include a free state return and some charge for it, so read the terms before you start.
Can I file for free if I have 1099 or gig income?
Often, yes. The IRS lists Schedule C, for self-employment profit, among the forms Free File partners support, as long as your AGI is under the limit. Check each partner's own list of supported forms.
Is IRS Direct File available?
It was not among the IRS's free filing options for the 2026 filing season. Free File, Fillable Forms, VITA, TCE and MilTax were. Check IRS.gov each January in case the options change.
When does Free File open?
It usually opens in January, around the start of the filing season, and the IRS posts the new AGI limit then. Fillable Forms can also be used to file an extension request.
Printable worksheet with answer key, free for classrooms. Lesson plan for this unit.
Sources
- IRS: IRS Free File, do your taxes for free
- IRS: Free File, most commonly filed federal forms are available
- IRS: 2026 tax filing season opens with several free filing options available
- IRS: Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers (VITA and TCE)
- IRS: Failure to file penalty
Updated October 4, 2026. General education, not personalized financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are examples. Check current rates and limits before you act.
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