Last updated January 2026
Each year, Americans spend an average of $240 to prepare and file their annual tax returns, according to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service. And the process is so complicated that about one million taxpayers who could get money back don’t file returns, allowing the U.S. Treasury to keep more than $1 billion of their money.
Many taxpayers can get free assistance preparing and filing their returns. Below is a rundown of available services, who is eligible, and how to avoid scams.
All these prep-and-filing options require you to track down documents and then enter or verify data. Fortunately, most websites are easy to navigate. Instead of filling out complicated forms and instructions, you answer simple questions, such as “Do you have children living with you?” and “Did you have interest income from a bank, savings, or investment account?”
Warning: Don’t search the internet using terms such as “file my taxes for free”—you could end up on the website of a scammer, or even a well-known tax prep brand that will charge you hefty fees. Instead, use the links provided below, or go to irs.gov.
Trump Administration Ends IRS Direct File Program
The Direct File program was built by the IRS to allow people with relatively simple returns to file them online without using third-party software.
Unfortunately, although Direct File could have provided an efficient way for most Americans to deal with their tax returns—and provided a free way to file them—this past fall the Trump administration announced it had shut down the program.
Checkbook and other consumer advocates are mystified by this decision. After a successful pilot program in 2024, Direct File was available to taxpayers in 25 states for the 2025 tax-filing season. Customer satisfaction with the program was very high: Ninety-four percent of users described their experiences positively. And, most important, Direct File provided a path for dramatically simplifying tax prep work: Because the IRS already collects lots of info about our earnings, Direct File could have imported those data and simply asked users to verify it. It’s a process that already exists in many other countries.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury claims it shut down Direct File because not many taxpayers used it. That’s an astonishingly nonsensical argument: The program had been widely available for only last year, and during that period the Treasury ordered its staff to halt any marketing and outreach efforts for it. Few taxpayers eligible to use the program ever knew about its existence.
Not surprisingly, the for-profit tax prep industry spent millions lobbying against the free-to-use program.
Some Consumers Can Get Free Services from Tax Prep Companies
Several tax-prep companies provide free online resources for those with low- or moderate-low incomes. (Direct File was available to families with incomes below about $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for married couples.)
“Free File” is a partnership between the IRS and eight companies (the IRS calls them “trusted partners”) to provide free tax preparation and filing services for individuals and families with Adjusted Gross Incomes of $89,000 or less.
This year, the participating companies are: 1040.com, 1040NOW.net, ezTaxReturn.com, FileYourTaxes.com, FreeTaxUSA.com, OLT.com, TaxAct.com, and TaxSlayer.com.
In addition to the income threshold requirement, each company sets its own eligibility rules based on age, state residency, and other factors. Some companies charge fees to prepare and/or file state income tax returns. Click here for a list of participating companies and links to their eligibility requirements.
Although H&R Block and TurboTax, the most popular tax prep software companies, do not participate in the IRS’ Free File program, they do offer free online prep-and-filing services to those with relatively simple tax returns. In general, you can use these two companies’ free options if you had wages reported on a W-2, had only one job, take the standard deduction, and are entitled to the most common credits, such as the child tax credit or earned income credit. H&R Block says 55 percent of taxpayers can use its free option; TurboTax estimates 37 percent can use its free online software.
Free Help for Low-Income Taxpayers
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program (irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers) helps community organizations offer free basic tax preparation help, using IRS-certified volunteers, generally to households with adjusted gross incomes of $67,000 or less or to those with disabilities. Some programs specialize in assisting those who speak limited English. Selected help centers also have workstations where taxpayers can input info and electronically file their own tax returns with or without the assistance of an IRS-certified volunteer. Click here for a searchable database of VITA in-person-help sites.
VITA also operates GetYourRefund.org, a website offering free tax prep software. It was built by Code for America, a nonprofit organization, with help from the IRS. To qualify, you must meet income requirements (in general, it’s limited to individuals and families with Adjusted Gross Incomes under $89,000 per year).
Instead of meeting in-person with a tax prep volunteer, with GetYourRefund.org you upload your tax documents to its website and provide basic information. A VITA volunteer completes your return and then a second volunteer reviews it; you likely will be contacted several times with questions. It usually takes two or three weeks to complete the process.
If you don’t need any help, you can also use the website to file your return for free.
Free Help for Older Taxpayers
Similar to VITA, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program helps community nonprofits provide free tax help to older adults. In general, you must be 60 or older, but some sites will help those in their 50s with low-to-moderate incomes. The AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide program staffs most sites, and many advisors specialize in pension and retirement issues unique to seniors. Between now and April 15, use the AARP’s “Tax-Aide Site Locator” web page to find nearby help.
At some TCE locations, you can prepare and file your own return on-site for free using tax-prep software and with help from a volunteer. This option is available only at locations that list “Self-Prep” in the AARP online site finder tool.
Free Help for Military Service Members and Veterans
MilTax is a free resource backed by the Department of Defense for service members, eligible family members, survivors, and recent veterans (up to 365 days from their separation or retirement date).
It includes tax preparation and electronic filing software, as well as personalized support from military tax experts. MilTax assists with issues involving deployments, combat and training pay, housing, and multi-state filings. Eligible service members (and some veterans) can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free. Get free one-on-one tax help from MilTax experts over the phone by calling 800-342-9647, use the live chat feature, or visit a VITA location for in-person help.
Protect Yourself Against Fraud
Hundreds of thousands of Americans become victims of tax-related identity theft each year. Committing the crime has become easier in recent years because so much personal information has been exposed through massive data breaches. The average time to resolve tax-return-theft claims is nearly two years.
Fortunately, you can take steps to protect yourself.
First, don’t answer phone calls or respond to texts or emails that say they’re from the IRS. Its agents send all notices via mail; they won’t ever call you out of the blue.
Also, be on the lookout for warning signs of fraud. Monitor your mail. Most victims don’t realize they’ve been targeted until they send in their tax return and receive a warning letter from the IRS that more than one return was filed with their Social Security number, or that they didn’t declare all their income from a company they didn’t work for. Other IRS notifications that could indicate a problem: an online account that you didn’t open was created in your name, or you were assigned an employee identification number that you didn’t request.
A simple but effective way to prevent tax identity theft is to request an identity protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS. This unique six-digit number prevents anyone else from using your Social Security Number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) to file a return in your name. It’s like freezing your credit files to lock out the bad guys. (Note: The IP PIN is different from the five-digit PIN you may use to sign your return electronically.)
It takes only minutes to create an IP PIN. You will first need to have or create an online IRS account, or visit an IRS Tax Assistance Center in person. And you’ll need to request a new number each year.
Parents may want to get IP PINs for their children. If a thief uses a child’s Social Security number on a bogus return, the IRS will reject the parent’s legitimate one. For minors, parents or guardians will need to apply for that IP PIN, which must be done in person at an IRS Tax Assistance Center.
If you suspect your tax refund was stolen, first file a claim with the IRS. That’s just the start of a process several fraud experts told Checkbook is “tedious, cumbersome, and takes forever.”
Experts at AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) can give you some guidance on how to do this. You do not need to be an AARP member. You can also get help from the Identity Theft Resource Center by calling 888-400-5530.
Opt Out of Data Sharing
Unless they obtain your informed and voluntary consent, IRS Free File providers are prohibited from disclosing or using info you submit with your tax return information for purposes other than preparing and filing your return. Other tax prep companies must get your consent to share data that you provide while preparing your return. To protect your privacy—and to avoid receiving marketing offers from financial services—opt out of this.