Money·4 min read

File Your Taxes for Free at These 4 Websites

A woman working on taxes
Design: theSkimm | Photo: iStock
January 26, 2023

Tax filing season is underway. But if you want to file for free, you may have to meet certain qualifications (like age or income). 

Tell me more. How do I know if I qualify?

The IRS Free File program partners with several popular tax prep companies to help you file for free. 

The catch? It’s only available to those with an adjusted gross income (aka an AGI) of $73,000 or less. (Hint: AGI is your total annual income minus adjustments like contributions to a retirement account.) 

This year, several popular options that have been available through Free File in prior tax years are no longer available for free online. Like TurboTax and H&R Block.   

Okay. So where *can* I file my taxes online for free?

You have options. We Skimm’d the best of the free filing sites  — here’s where to find them. 

1. ezTaxReturn.com

Taxpayers of any age with an AGI of $73,000 or less can use ezTaxReturn.com to file their federal tax returns for free in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington state, and Wisconsin. 

Taxpayers 65 or older with an AGI of $41,000 to $73,000 in Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, and Texas can file their federal taxes for free as well. 

ezTaxReturn.com doesn’t offer free state filing.

2. FreeTaxUSA

Filing through FreeTaxUSA is free for federal taxes and $14.99 for state taxes. Or free for both if your AGI is less than $41,000 — or less than $73,000 if you were in the military on active duty during 2022.  

AGI required for free filing: Less than $41,000, or less than $73,000 if you were in the military on active duty.

Cost for filing federal taxes: Free

Cost for filing state taxes: Free if you qualify, or $14.99 if you don’t

3. TaxSlayer

TaxSlayer offers free filing for federal taxes to anyone 57 or younger with an AGI of $60,000 or less. If you don’t qualify, the cost to file a federal return is $19.95 and each state return is $39.95. 

Free state tax filing with TaxSlayer is hit or miss, depending on where you live. People in Arkansas, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia and meet the AGI requirement can file for free. 

For anyone living outside of those states (and for those who don’t qualify due to the income limit), it’s $19.95 to file a federal return and $39.95 for each non-qualifying state.

4. TaxAct

Via TaxAct.com, free filing for federal taxes is available to anyone aged 20 to 58 with an AGI of less than $73,000 or less. If you don’t qualify due to the income limit, it’s one of the more expensive options listed here. Federal filing can cost up to $64.95 and state up to $44.95.

If you qualify for a free federal return, you file your state return for free in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Washington DC, and West Virginia.

Are there options for free military tax filing?

Yes. Those who were on active-duty military service in 2022 can use any IRS Free File product to file for free, as long as your income meets the requirement of $73,000 or less.

Great. And what if I don’t meet any free filing requirements?

If you want to spend $0, consider using a tax form, a pen, and a calculator and doing it the old-fashioned way. Your state may offer free state tax return services on its website, which could be an easy way to cross that to-do item off your list. (Hint: Generally, you need to file your federal taxes before you can file your state taxes, so finish those up first.)

theSkimm

Free tax filing is out there if you meet the qualifications. Consider using an IRS Free File partner — if you can — to save some money this tax season.

Subscribe to Skimm Money

Your source for the biggest financial headlines and trends, and how they affect your wallet.

fbtwitteremail