IRS Free File 2024: What It Is, How It Works
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Tax preparation isn’t cheap, but there are some free options if you know where to look. The Free File program and Free File Fillable Forms are two choices available through the IRS.
Here’s more about the programs, who qualifies and how to access them.
What is IRS Free File?
IRS Free File is a partnership between the agency and the Free File Alliance. The program gives eligible taxpayers who earn below a certain income access to an assortment of free tax-prep software to choose from. It is generally available each year from mid-January, right before tax season opens, through the October tax extension deadline.
If you meet the income qualifications, you can browse the available offers on the IRS website. Participating providers include major commercial brands, such as TaxSlayer and TaxAct. The alliance says that 70% of all taxpayers — about 100 million people — should be eligible to file their federal returns free of charge each year through the Free File program.
Who is eligible for Free File?
For the 2024 tax filing season, people who made $79,000 or less in 2023 are eligible. The income threshold applies to all tax filing statuses, and the income limit refers to your adjusted gross income (AGI), not your gross income.
Some providers may have additional requirements, such as age limitations or more restrictive income thresholds. State filing may not always be included with the free federal offer, but the IRS says that over 20 states were available last year.
If you qualify for a free federal return via Free File but are left hanging on a free state return, note that some states may also offer their own free filing programs. Make sure to check your state’s department of taxation and revenue website as well. (And if you need a refresher on state tax rates, you can check yours here.)
» Dive Deeper: Don't qualify for IRS Free File? More options for free tax filing
How does the IRS Free File program work?
You can access the available Free File offers in two ways: You can browse through each provider manually or use the IRS' online lookup tool. The lookup tool will ask you questions about your filing status, your adjusted gross income and your qualifications for certain tax credits. Then it’ll run your answers through the system to surface which of the available Free File programs is the best fit for you.
2024 IRS Free File: Participating tax software providers
The easiest and most legitimate way to access Free File is through the IRS website. Some providers who participate in Free File may not advertise their participation or the correct IRS offer on their commercial websites, so it's important to make sure you're opening Free File directly from the IRS' landing page.
The following tax software providers are participating in the Free File program for the 2024 tax filing season: 1040.com, 1040Now, EzTaxReturn, FileYourTaxes.com, FreeTaxUSA, OnLine Taxes, TaxAct and TaxSlayer.
Free File tax software provider | Additional qualifying requirements | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
1040.com |
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1040Now |
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ezTaxReturn |
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FileYourTaxes.com |
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FreeTaxUSA |
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OLT (OnLine Taxes) |
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TaxAct |
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TaxSlayer |
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*State returns are generally only supported if you qualify for the free federal return. See the IRS Free File offers page for more information. | ||||
Note: Some providers have additional income restrictions, and others may impose limits on things such as age. Most of the providers will help with military pay and can assist you in applying for the earned income tax credit (EITC) if you qualify for it. This table is meant to provide a general overview of the providers, but be sure to use the IRS' lookup tool to read through the fine print and find the best fit for your tax situation.
What are IRS Free File Fillable Forms?
The IRS also offers a little-talked-about free filing option called Free File Fillable Forms. As the name implies, this route allows you to digitally fill out several common federal income tax forms and submit them using the IRS' online e-file service. The IRS calls this option the "electronic equivalent of paper forms."
For the 2024 tax filing season, Free Fillable Forms became available to the public on Jan. 29, 2024.
Unlike the Free File software program, Fillable Forms has no restrictions on who could use this filing option — it is available to all taxpayers, regardless of their income, place of residence or age. Once you submit your return, the agency says, you should get a confirmation email within two days.
If you're new to taxes or not especially confident dealing with tax forms, note that this option may not be a good fit. Although the filing interface is relatively simple, allowing you to add forms and do basic math equations, it does not offer any tax support, filing guidance or help. People who use this service should be comfortable understanding and navigating tax forms on their own.
To use the service, you'll need to create an account on the Free File Fillable Forms landing page. You can see which forms the program supports here.
