Filing your taxes for free

Do it like this

1. Check whether you have to file. For 2025, a single filer under 65 had to file with gross income of $15,750 or more, or with over $400 in net earnings from self-employment like side jobs. If a parent can claim you as a dependent, the limits are different: for example, earned income over $15,750 or unearned income over $1,350.
2. File even if you don't have to, if federal income tax was withheld from your paycheck or you qualify for a refundable credit. You may get money back.
3. Gather your forms. Employers and others who paid you must send W-2s and 1099s in January or February. Common ones: W-2 for wages, 1099-NEC for freelance and gig work, 1099-K for payment apps and online marketplaces, 1099-INT for bank interest, 1099-G for unemployment. Wait until you have all of them.
4. Go to IRS.gov/freefile, not a company's site directly. You only get IRS Free File if you start at IRS.gov. Guided tax software is free with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $89,000 or less, and each partner sets its own rules on income, age and state, so use the "Find your trusted partner" tool.
5. Over the limit, or comfortable with forms? Free File Fillable Forms is free at any income, but it does limited math and no state return.
6. Want a person to help? VITA sites offer free basic tax prep by IRS-certified volunteers, generally for people who make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities and people who speak limited English. Every return gets a quality review before it's filed.
7. File by the deadline: April 15 for most people, or the next business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday. Choose direct deposit for your refund.
8. Save the email confirming the IRS accepted your return, plus a copy of the return. You'll need this year's AGI to e-file next year.