Nobody enjoys filing taxes, but it’s something we all have to do. If you’re wondering how to file your taxes for free, you’re in the right place.
Let’s be honest—handing over our hard-earned money is painful enough without having to pay just to file our taxes.
The good news? If you meet certain conditions, you can file your taxes for free online! If you earn less than $66,000 a year, you qualify to use Free File software.
According to the IRS, this covers 70% of all U.S. taxpayers, so there’s a good chance you’re eligible.
If you make more than $66,000, don’t stress—you can still file for free using the IRS’s Free File Fillable Forms.
Tax filing can be overwhelming with all the information out there, but don’t worry—we’ve gathered everything you need to file for free.
How to File Taxes for Free: Tax Deductions and Credits
Before you file, it’s important to know which tax deductions you qualify for.
There are hundreds of deductions and credits available, and the right ones could save you thousands. Below are some resources to help you maximize your savings.
Hurdlr
When filing taxes for free, apps like Hurdlr can save you serious time and money.
Hurdlr tracks income and expenses on the go and even provides real-time tax deduction info. It’s designed for small businesses and freelancers to help them save.
The app tracks federal, state, local, and self-employment taxes across over 5,000 U.S. municipalities. It also shows your before-and-after-tax income at a glance, so you always know where your finances stand.
Hurdlr auto-categorizes expenses, offers tax estimates, and sends reminders so you’re never caught off guard when tax season arrives. You can even file taxes in-app or send reports directly to your CPA.
Home Office Deduction
With 57 million Americans freelancing or working in the gig economy, more people are working from home than ever.
If you use part of your home exclusively for business, you may qualify for the home office deduction—whether you own or rent.
There are two key conditions:
- Regular and exclusive use – The space must be used solely for business (e.g., a dedicated office, not a kitchen table).
- Principal place of business – Your business must primarily operate from this location.
Working from home occasionally (like one day a week) doesn’t count.
EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit)
The EITC is a tax benefit for low-to-moderate-income workers. To check if you qualify, use the IRS’s EITC Assistant.
Key eligibility rules:
- You must be married filing jointly, head of household, single, or a widow(er). Married filing separately? You’re ineligible.
- Investment income must be under $3,500/year.
- You can’t file Form 2555 (Foreign Earned Income).
- Earned income must be at least $1.
- You must meet income limits.
Depending on your situation, you could get up to $6,431 in credits.
Important: You won’t get the EITC automatically—you must claim it when filing your federal return.
Documents you’ll need:
- Social Security cards/numbers
- Last year’s tax return
- Income statements
- Expense records
- Bank account info
- Dependent care details
If you were denied in the past, you can still apply this year—just file the correct forms.
AOTC (American Opportunity Tax Credit)
College is expensive, and students still have to file (and sometimes pay) taxes. The AOTC helps ease the burden.
This credit covers education expenses for the first four years of college, up to $2,500 per year.
Eligibility requirements:
- Pursuing a degree or recognized credential
- Enrolled at least half-time for one academic period in the tax year
- Haven’t completed four years of higher education yet
- Haven’t claimed the AOTC/Hope Credit for more than four years
- No felony drug convictions
How to claim it:
- Get Form 1098-T from your school.
- File Form 8863 with your federal return.
Warning: If you claim this credit incorrectly and get audited, you’ll have to repay it with interest.
Child Tax Credit
This credit gives you $2,000 per dependent child under 17.
Income limits:
- Married filing jointly: $400,000
- All others: $200,000
Other requirements:
- Child must be your biological, foster, stepchild, or placed with you by court
- You must provide at least half their financial support
- Child must be a U.S. citizen/resident and live with you at least half the year
Note: This credit is non-refundable—if it reduces your tax bill to $0, you won’t get the leftover amount as cash.
Tax Filing
Now that you know which deductions you qualify for, it’s time to file!
IRS Free File
The IRS website offers free filing options:
- Free File Software – Best if you make under $66,000.
- Free File Fillable Forms – For incomes above $66,000 (digital versions of paper forms).
Benefits of e-filing:
- Faster processing
- Direct deposit for refunds
- Real-time tracking
What you’ll need:
- Email address
- Last year’s tax return
- Income and deduction documents
Validating Your Electronic Filing
To e-file, you’ll need to verify your identity using:
- Last year’s AGI (Adjusted Gross Income)
- A Self-Select PIN
- An Identity Protection PIN (if you have one)
How to find your AGI:
- Check last year’s return (Line 37 on Form 1040, Line 21 on 1040-A, or Line 4 on 1040-EZ).
- Contact your previous tax preparer.
- Use the same tax software as last year.
- Request a transcript from the IRS if needed.
Free File Software Options
Here are some IRS-approved free filing services:
H&R Block Free File
- Eligibility: AGI ≤ $66,000 + age 17–51, or EITC-eligible, or active military (AGI ≤ $66,000).
- Features: W-2 photo capture, import from other tax software, step-by-step guidance, Refund Reveal™ tool.
- Guarantees: Maximum refund, audit support, 100% accuracy.
Free1040TaxReturns.com
- Eligibility: Age ≤ 70, AGI ≤ $66,000, and not in DC, FL, IN, NH, NM, SD, TX, or WA.
- Military: AGI ≤ $66,000.
- Perks: Free state filing in select states, 100% accuracy guarantee, SSL encryption.
FileYourTaxes.com
- Eligibility: Age ≤ 65 + AGI $9,000–$66,000, or active military (AGI ≤ $66,000).
- Features: Automated email updates, free customer service, independent software.
FreeTaxUSA
- Eligibility: AGI ≤ $35,000, or EITC-eligible, or active military.
- Security: A+ BBB rating, SSL encryption, U.S.-based.
1040Now.net
- Eligibility: AGI ≤ $66,000 + state restrictions.
- State filings: Available for many states.
OLT.com
- Eligibility: AGI $14,000–$66,000, or active military (AGI ≤ $66,000).
- Perks: Free email support, knowledge base, accuracy guarantee.
ezTaxReturn.com
- Eligibility: AGI ≤ $66,000 + state restrictions.
- Features: Free phone support, ezExplanations for IRS terms, 30-minute filing.
TaxAct Free File
- Eligibility: AGI ≤ $55,000 + age ≤ 56, or EITC-eligible, or active military (AGI ≤ $66,000).
- Perks: Maximum Refund Guarantee, Deduction Maximizer tool.
1040.com
- Eligibility: Age ≤ 52 + AGI ≤ $60,000, or EITC-eligible, or active military (AGI ≤ $66,000).
- Features: Interview-style filing, auto-fill for returning users, live chat support.
TaxSlayer
- Eligibility: AGI ≤ $66,000 + age ≤ 50.
- Perks: Maximum Refund Guarantee, deduction finder, error checker.
TurboTax Free File
- Eligibility: AGI ≤ $34,000, or active military (family income ≤ $66,000), or EITC-eligible.
- Features: W-2 photo capture, 350+ deduction searches, free audit support.
Free File Fillable Forms
If your income exceeds $66,000, you can still file for free using the IRS’s digital forms. They’re not as user-friendly as software but get the job done.
Investing Your Tax Refund
Instead of spending your refund, consider growing it with these smart investments:
Betterment
A great way to start investing with your tax refund. Offers automated financial planning.
Fundrise
Invest in real estate with historical returns of 8.7–12.4%.
Bloom 401k
Optimizes your retirement savings by finding the best low-fee investments.