Key Takeaways
- IRS Free File now covers taxpayers with 2025 adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less - up $5,000 from last year, one of the largest increases in the program's history.
- VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) offers free in-person help from IRS-certified volunteers, generally for filers earning around $67,000 or less, people with disabilities, and limited English speakers.
- TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) has no income limit and focuses on filers 60 and older, often staffed through AARP Foundation Tax-Aide.
- Cash App Taxes and FreeTaxUSA both offer free federal filing for most tax situations, including itemized deductions - a rarity among 'free' tax software.
- Public libraries frequently host free VITA/TCE tax prep events or provide access to forms during filing season - worth checking your local branch.
If you don’t want to pay a preparer or a software subscription fee, there are several genuinely free ways to get your taxes done or get expert help along the way. Here’s where to look, and who actually qualifies for each option.
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1. IRS Free File and Direct File
IRS Free File gives you access to guided tax prep software at no cost if your adjusted gross income for the year was $89,000 or less (2025 tax year, filed in 2026) – up $5,000 from the prior year, one of the largest single-year increases the program has seen. Eight private-sector partners participate, each with its own additional eligibility rules (age, state residency, or military status can factor in), so compare a couple of options at IRS.gov/freefile before picking one.
If your AGI is above the threshold, you can still use Free File Fillable Forms – electronic versions of paper IRS forms with no guidance, useful if you’re comfortable preparing your own return.
IRS Direct File is a separate, IRS-run filing tool that’s been expanding to more states each season. Check directfile.irs.gov to see if your state and tax situation currently qualify – eligibility depends on both, and it changes from year to year.
2. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)
VITA sites are staffed by IRS-certified volunteers and offer free, in-person tax prep for people who generally earn around $67,000 or less, people with disabilities, and taxpayers with limited English proficiency. Because the exact income cutoff is adjusted and can vary slightly by site, confirm the current limit and find a location near you through the VITA locator tool.
3. TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly)
TCE has no income limit, but it’s built around taxpayers age 60 and older and specializes in the tax issues that come with retirement – pensions, Social Security taxation, and required minimum distributions. Most TCE sites are run through AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, one of the largest free tax prep programs in the country. Find a site through the same IRS locator tool used for VITA.
4. Free Tax Software
A handful of providers offer genuinely free federal filing, though the fine print varies — see our full comparison of tax software and free filing options for a deeper look beyond these free tiers:
- Cash App Taxes offers free federal and state filing for most supported situations, with no income cap – one of only two providers doing this. It doesn’t support multi-state returns or a handful of less common situations.
- FreeTaxUSA covers federal filing for free, including itemized deductions (mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable donations) – unusual for a free tier. State returns cost extra.
- H&R Block and TurboTax both offer free tiers for simple returns (W-2 income, standard deduction), but self-employment income, itemizing, or other complexity typically triggers an upgrade to a paid tier.
Check each provider’s current-year eligibility rules before you start, since “free” tiers are redefined every filing season.
5. Your Local Library
Many public libraries host free VITA/TCE tax prep events during filing season, staffed by the same IRS-certified volunteers, or provide free access to paper forms and reference guides if you’re filing yourself. Availability varies by branch and by season, so check your library’s website or call ahead before assuming a specific location offers it.
A Word of Caution
Free help is legitimate and valuable, but the same due diligence that applies to paid preparers still applies here. Verify that any volunteer or site is IRS-certified before handing over documents, and be wary of anyone – free or paid – who promises an unusually large refund before actually reviewing your return.
Whichever option you use, once you’ve filed, you can track your refund and compare it against the current-year IRS tax brackets and standard deduction to sanity-check your return, and see when you can file and the key deadlines for the current season. If your refund seems delayed once it’s been accepted, here’s why that happens and what to check.
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