Best Ways to File Your Taxes for Free
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When filing your tax return, many people can get overwhelmed by the whole process. Even if you don’t have many tax documents in your tax filing, completing your federal or state returns can be tedious. At the same time, you may not want to pay a tax expert to file for simple returns.
Thankfully, a few software programs out there make tax preparation a much more user-friendly experience when tax season comes around. Some online tax software options even come with customer support for complex tax situations or functionality designed with freelancers and independent contractors in mind.
Best of all, if you don’t need the full-service version for your federal return, many tax prep solutions come with a free version. Whether you’re self-employed or completing your federal filing as the head of household, here are the best ways to file your taxes for free.
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Overview of the best ways to file your taxes for free
Tax Preparation Software | Best for… |
H&R Block | Good balance of form support and user interface |
TurboTax | Best user interface |
TaxAct | Very simple tax situations |
FreeTaxUSA | Totally free federal tax filing for self-employed individuals |
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Best ways to file your taxes for free
H&R Block
Known for its brick-and-mortar locations, H&R Block offers free online tax filing using its easy, intuitive software. The biggest perk of using H&R Block’s free version is that it supports a wide array of forms, including 1040s and Schedule 1, Schedule 2, and Schedule 3. As such, it covers the needs of many taxpayers.
H&R Block’s software uses a series of prompts to gather information about your income and any other relevant tax situations. Questions range from whether or not you own your home to if you had a child in the last year or donated to charity. These questions help you quickly file your taxes since only relevant documents are asked for based on your answers.
If it’s your first year using H&R Block, you can import a .pdf of last year’s return to jumpstart your taxes. You can even share TurboTax data with H&R Block, making it seamless to start using H&R Block if you haven’t before. Auto-import functionality also exists for W2s and some 1099s.
While H&R Block’s free option is right for many customers, they also offer paid additions, should you be interested. This defeats the purpose of filing your taxes for free; however, if you’re looking for advice from a pro, need self-employment support, or are looking to itemize or claim more deductions, you’ll need to pay more. The Deluxe offering starts at $55, with the Self-Employed edition running for $115 and an additional $49 per state tax filing.
- Costs: Free to $115 (not including state filing fees)
- Where to download/enroll/find: www.hrblock.com
Intuit TurboTax
TurboTax has long been a leader in the tax preparation software space and comes with a bevy of robust features — if you’re willing to pay for the Deluxe or Premium versions. Read on for what you get if you’re selecting the “free” tier of TurboTax, as well as more info on what you’re missing out on by going with the free version.
When it comes to the free version of TurboTax, you’ll need to have a pretty straightforward tax situation, or else you won’t qualify. TurboTax lets you file Form 1040 and the child tax credit and earned income credit and deduct your student loan interest. However, that’s pretty much where the benefits of the free version stop.
With TurboTax’s free version, you can file a Schedule 1; however, it’s only limited to a simple hobby. The full Schedule 1, 2, or 3 requires a paid tier of TurboTax. Additionally, using the free version, you can’t itemize your deductions or deduct your mortgage interest.
If you decide to pay for TurboTax, you’ll reap many benefits. For $99 + $54 per state, you can gain access to additional live assistance from a tax pro, including a final review of your taxes to deliver on TurboTax’s promise of a “maximum refund guarantee.” The deluxe version (which runs $69 + $59 per state) lets you itemize more deductions and credits, which can be great for multiple income streams with limited expenses. Finally, for $129 + $59 per state, you can report expenses on a Schedule C, claim home office deductions, and handle investment reporting.
- Costs: Free to $219 (Premium + live assistance for federal taxes)
- Where to download/enroll/find: www.turbotax.com
TaxAct
TaxAct is less well-known than TurboTax or H&R Block, but it functions much similarly. Through a simple input process using prompts, TaxAct helps you file your Form 1040 for free. It’s also generally less expensive than competitors if you need to pay for filing your taxes — although that’s less relevant when filing your taxes for free.
TaxAct keeps things simple regarding how it phrases questions about your tax situation, making it an accessible tool for filing your federal taxes. You can even import your last year’s return if you filed with TaxAct in a prior year — or import your W2 online or using their mobile app.
If you’re filing your taxes for free, TaxAct is a pretty limited option. You won’t be able to itemize your deductions using the free version. The free option of TaxAct also won’t allow you to file your Schedule 1, 2, or 3, which also impacts your ability to claim deductions on student loan or mortgage interest.
For freelancers, none of the options on this list are really viable for filing your taxes for free, and that fact holds for TaxAct as well. The good news for freelancers is that you can write off last year’s tax preparation software cost as a business expense. In that scenario, fronting the cost of TaxAct ($99.95 + $54.95 per state for the self-employed version) may be cheaper than other alternatives.
- Costs: Free to $99.95 + $54.95
- Where to download/enroll/find: www.taxact.com
FreeTaxUSA
If you really want no-strings-attached tax filing for free, FreeTaxUSA has you covered. Featuring a full feature set, completely free of charge, you can use this software to handle everything from crypto sales and unemployment to rental property income and Schedule Cs.
The big selling point of FreeTaxUSA is that it’s one of the best options for truly free self-employed taxes. It will help you with commonly-deducted costs based on the type of business you run and allows you to generate a Schedule C for your business income and expenses. If you're taking one, it will also help handle your home office deduction.
FreeTaxUSA, like all of the options on this list, features a very similar user interface for asking and gathering information about your taxes. While the experience is streamlined, it doesn’t quite have the polish of some of the bigger-name tax preparation solutions featured in this article.
While FreeTaxUSA’s user interface might be a bit clunkier than other software out there, if you want to get a truly free tax filing experience, that may be a concession you’re willing to take. The only fee you’ll be charged using FreeTaxUSA is an additional optional $8 for live support, plus an additional $15 if you file your state tax return with the software.
- Costs: Free to $8 (for the Deluxe version with live support)
- Where to download/enroll/find: www.freetaxusa.com
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Best tax software by supported forms
Tax Preparation Software | Forms supported in free version |
H&R Block | 1040, earned income tax credit, child tax credit, student loan interest, tuition, lifetime learning credit, unemployment income.
No additional charge for Schedules 1, 2, and 3, though individual forms required to complete a schedule may not be included in all products. |
TurboTax | 1040, earned income tax credit, Schedule 1, student loan interest, child tax credit, and some retirement income. |
TaxAct | 1040, earned income tax credit, unemployment income, American opportunity credit, child tax credit, lifetime learning credit, and some retirement income. |
FreeTaxUSA | All forms |
FAQs
Are these software solutions secure?
All of the tax preparation software tools listed here use the latest in web-based security and encryption to protect your personal information and financial details.
Can you pay for a more expensive tier of software using your tax refund?
Yes, if you have a refund, all the tools on this list will allow you to pay for the cost of a higher software tier using your refund. In some cases, that may incur an additional fee to pay that way.
Should you use the tax assistant with these tools?
It depends. If you’re trying to save money, using a tax pro will cost you, defeating the purpose of filing your taxes for free. However, if you have a complex tax situation or aren’t feeling fully confident in your tax preparation, using a tax expert or pro may be best, even though it comes with a cost.
Why should (or shouldn’t) you use
Generally speaking, the more complicated your tax situation is, the less likely you will get away with using a free version of tax preparation software. Not all of the free options on this list offer the same support for tax forms and tax credits. That means some small business owners looking for certain tax deductions may need to research other filing options.
Remember that many of the options on this list offer paid tiers with more functionality. If you need a more robust way of writing off business expenses, creating a Schedule C, or managing self-employed taxes, H&R Block, TurboTax, and FreeTaxUSA will also give you what you need. Of course, those kinds of features (and add-ons like audit defense) often come with added fees; however, when you consider that most software will let you pay for it using your tax refund, that’s a bit like filing for free.
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- Low fixed mortgage rates
- Check and monitor your credit for free
- Only a few steps to your best mortgage rates
- Great deals on your mortgage
The bottom line
If you’re looking to handle your income tax filing and have simple enough finances, all of the free software solutions on this list are worth exploring. Generally speaking, the more elaborate your tax situation is, the more likely you may need to consult a tax professional. While that doesn’t mean that the accuracy guarantee and audit support from a service on this list is anything to sneeze at, there is value to be found in dealing with a CPA or tax accountant in person when tax laws and your tax liability are considered.
Ultimately, which software solution you choose for your tax filing process is a personal choice that is as dependent on ease of use as it is on the tax services you need. Even though not all of the options on this list may be right for you, for the vast majority of taxpayers who need a straightforward way to handle federal and state filing with the IRS, the above choices will get the job done.
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Writer
Brent Ervin-Eickhoff is a Chicago-based writer, stage director, and filmmaker with a background in digital marketing and content creation. In addition to Joy Wallet, Brent has written for Complex, Volkswagen, HowlRound, Picture this Post, and Third Coast Review, among others. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Marketing for Content Creation at Court Theatre at the University of Chicago. Brent graduated from Ball State University with Academic Honors in Writing.
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