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Last year, I spent hours filing taxes on two platforms, TurboTax and Taxslayer. The experience was similar. I drowned in tax forms, then the tax software helped me breathe long enough to fill them out. In the middle of it all, while I hit peak exhaustion, I was upsold on premium products.
Kind of icky, if I do say so myself.
I filed with TurboTax anyway because taxes are too complicated. According to Pew Research, 53% of Americans say the complexity of tax filing bothers them a lot. I concur. The modern tax code is over 4,000 pages and counting. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
There’s hope: one little-known way to file taxes for free. We’re talking both state and federal taxes, employed and self-employed. If you can qualify for IRS Free File Online, you can file taxes fast (and for free) through programs vetted by the U.S. government.
How IRS Free File works
If your income is low enough to qualify, you can submit free Federal taxes through IRS Free File. Depending on your location and income, you may be eligible for free state filing, too.
The IRS partners with tax-filing companies to give you their services for free. Program members can’t upsell you or charge you weird fees. The only caveat is some of them charge you for filing state taxes. (Not much, though — I checked.)
Who qualifies for IRS Free File?
You qualify if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $80,000. At the very least, you can file your federal tax return for free.
You qualify for free state returns as well if your AGI is less than $45,000. If your income is between $45,000 and $80,000, then whether you qualify depends on your location. For example, some partner platforms don’t let Californians file state taxes for free.
Some platforms give you more choice. For example, some are eligible for earned income tax credits, and some let you file as a self-employed person. It wouldn’t hurt to double-check a platform offers what you need, ideally before you fill out half your application.
How to use IRS Free File
It’s easy to see if you can use IRS Free File.
Here’s how:
- Navigate to the IRS Free File Trusted Partners webpage
- Check partner requirements (it’s all upfront)
- Choose your favorite
- Click “View Trusted Partner” and file
On the list are trusted brands, including two of the best tax-filing platforms available. FreeTax USA graces our free tax software best of list, and it offers self-employed filing for free. Normally, it charges $0 for federal and $15 for state taxes, but it’s all free through IRS Free File.
TaxSlayer is another platform on our best of lists. It’s one of the best tax software platforms in general. It’s cheaper than TurboTax and works fine. (I’ve used both).
You banking app may offer free tax filing
There’s another way to file taxes for free: through banking apps. Right now, you can file all your taxes free through Cash App, a free app that lets you exchange money, bank, and invest in one place. It’s the first of its kind, and super convenient for Cash App users.
Chime, the mobile banking app, is also rolling out free tax filing. According to the company, it should be ready for all Chime members by the 2024 tax year. As a Chime user, I’m super excited this will make my life easier. And, yeah, waaay more affordable.
As banking app competition heats up, I’d keep an eye out for more free ways to file. It could be that tax filing soon becomes a free, common add-on companies offer to get your business. I’m here for it — anything to make my taxes simpler and cheaper is a win in my book.
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