How to File Taxes for Free in 2026
The 2026 tax filing season is in full swing at the IRS. And while paying taxes is a task almost universally dreads, there’s a glimmer of good news: It doesn’t have to be expensive.
Direct File, a temporary initiative where some Americans could file their federal taxes for free directly with the IRS, is no longer available, but there are still a few ways Americans can prepare (and file) their returns for free. The most popular federal option is IRS Free File, a partnership the government established with several online tax preparation services in 2003. Depending on your income, you may qualify for a free guided tax preparation from one of eight named companies.
Spoiler alert: You won’t find TurboTax or H&R Block among those firms. TurboTax and H&R Block are no longer affiliated with the IRS Free File program. That said, both advertise free tax preparation services on their websites, and there are plenty of other tax software options for taxpayers who can’t or don’t want to pay to file a return.
Here’s what you need to know.
IRS Approved: Learn how E-file.com can help with your taxes this year.
How to file taxes for free
Determine if you are eligible to file for free
To qualify for IRS Free File, you’ll need to calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI). You can do this by taking your income (wages, dividends, dividends, retirement benefits, business income, etc.) and subtracting any changes (student loan interest, alimony, teacher expenses, retirement contributions, and the like).
If your 2025 AGI was $89,000 or less, you qualify for a free adjusted tax preparation through the IRS. The $89,000 IRS free file limit applies to both single taxpayers and families. If your adjusted gross income is more than $89,000, you’re only eligible to use Free File Fill-Out Forms, where you fill out electronic forms yourself without instructions.
Choose a free service or plan to use
Free IRS file
If you qualify for guided tax preparation, go to the IRS website to see the eight options available to the Free File Alliance in 2026:
Each of these services has its limitations, so read the fine print. Some offers are only valid for people who live in certain states, are of a certain age, are in the military or earn less than a certain amount.
IRS Free File focuses on federal tax returns, not state returns, so you’ll need to pay extra attention if you live in a state with high income taxes. A few of the IRS Free File offers, such as OLT.com and FreeTaxUSA, offer free filing status to anyone who qualifies for a free federal refund. Others, like 1040.com, only offer free status filing to eligible free filers in other states. The two do not offer free status refunds, period.
Need help navigating it all? Enter your personal information into the lookup tool on IRS.gov and it will bring down the options for you.
If you don’t qualify for guided preparation, check out Free Forms to File. This is not for beginners — you have to choose the correct form, type in your data, make sure you don’t introduce errors and file the federal return yourself. Although it is free, this method requires some tax knowledge.
FYI: The IRS Free File is available in English and Spanish.
Free versions of online tax software
Despite not being affiliated with IRS Free File, both TurboTax and H&R Block — two juggernauts in the tax preparation space — still offer ways to file for free.
TurboTax Free Edition is designed for simple tax returns, which means you just file a simple 1040 form, have W-2 income, take standard deductions and claim basic credits like the child tax credit and the earned tax credit. Student loan interest deductions, Schedule 1-A and retirement plan distributions are fair game, too. Intuit says about 37% of filers are eligible to use TurboTax Free Edition.
On Feb. 28, you may also be eligible to file federal and state taxes for free using TurboTax or the Credit Karma mobile app. This is a limited-time do-it-yourself offer for people who didn’t use TurboTax to do their 2024 taxes, though it covers “any tax situation,” per the website.
H&R Block Online Free Edition starts at $0 with state and federal tax preparation. H&R Block says about 52% of filers qualify for the service, which focuses on simple tax situations and includes coverage for the earned income tax credit, child tax credit, education expenses and retirement income. In more complex tax situations, you will have to pay.
Live tax help, access to the last six years and help with reporting things like self-employment income, crypto sales and real estate taxes also cost more with H&R Block.
Other free tax software options include FreeTaxUSA, which boasts a “free corporate return for everyone” on its website and supports credit for earned income, investments, real estate and small business taxes in addition to complex corporate returns. (Filing your state taxes with FreeTaxUSA costs $15.99 per state. You can add Deluxe Support for $7.99 and access Pro Support for $44.99.)
There are also Cash App taxes, which boast that they are “100% free from start to finish.”
Taxes for Money App supports various documents and tax situations, including Form 1040, student loan interest, Schedule A itemized deductions, first-time home buyer credit. But you will have to seek tax preparation elsewhere if you are a minor, have foreign income or fall into a few other categories. You also can’t use the Taxes for Money app to file state taxes if you haven’t filed your state return with it.
You can turn on a free tax preparation offer if you own certain financial products, too. Chime customers can file federal and state taxes and pay “no fees” thanks to an April deal, the AI-powered tax engine has been retooled to offer free tax filing for PayPal debit card users.
Finally, you may want to check your local government websites for information about where you can file for free or cheap. States like California and Pennsylvania have their own free mailing programs for eligible citizens.
VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance)
Whether you do your own taxes or prefer to prepare, the IRS has two initiatives that provide free assistance to taxpayers who need it: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and Tax Counseling for Seniors (TCE). VITA is aimed at people who make $69,000 or less a year, have a disability or speak limited English. Americans age 60 and older who have questions about retirement, pensions and more are eligible for advice from TCE.
Programs often operate out of libraries, college buildings, and community centers. Use the IRS’s free tax preparation tool to find a provider near you. (You may need to make an appointment.)
Another free tax help option is AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, which offers in-person and online tax assistance “to those who qualify, free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers over 50 and with low to moderate income,” according to its website. The program continues until April 15.
Collect your papers
Filing your taxes requires a lot of documents. The exact documents you need to collect depend on your situation, but most people will need to refer to income statements such as Form W-2 (from your employer) and any Forms 1099 (for self-employment income, interest income, gambling benefits, etc.).
You’ll also need to know your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number, as well as the last year’s adjusted gross income or a PIN of your choice. This should be on your 2024 tax return. You may also need a government ID.
Need to file your taxes? See how you can maximize your return this year with TurboTax.
Free tax filing FAQ
Where can I file taxes for free?
Check out the options above.
The IRS is strict about what our tax software partners can and can’t charge you. Free file partners are prohibited from selling additional services, stealing hidden fees, operating under false pretenses to defraud you and more, according to the IRS website.
If you do your own taxes, be diligent. It’s easy to be fooled into paying for add-ons like “Pay With My Refund,” “Refund Processing Service” or “Refund Transfer.” These services often offer to take money from your refund to cover any preparation fees you owe – but they often charge extra for the process.
Be careful what you click on, and read the fine print.
Can I file a tax extension online for free?
If you need more time to get your federal taxes done, you can request an extension electronically through the IRS through Free File (regardless of income). You can also submit Form 4868 by visiting the preparer’s website, by mailing in physical paper or by making an online payment to the IRS and indicating that it is attached to the extension.
Filing an extension will give you six additional months to file your 2025 taxes. But be careful: Even if the extension pushes back your filing deadline, you still have to pay any taxes you owe by April 15.
The bottom line is filing taxes is free
If you’re hoping to file your taxes for free in 2026, a good place to start is the IRS website. Depending on your income level and needs, you may be eligible for a tax refund from the IRS itself or an online provider. If you don’t qualify for Free File and have some tax knowledge, you can use the agency’s Fillable Forms option to do your taxes for free.
Failing that, browse the offers on websites like TurboTax, H&R Block and Cash App Taxes directly to see if your federal return is easy enough to do for free. Do your research, gather your paperwork and be sure to ask for help when you need it.
