More people are filing their taxes using Free File this year, the IRS said.
Use of IRS Free File is up 9.7% from a year earlier to 943,000 through Feb. 24, the IRS said. Free File allows any taxpayer with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $79,000 or less in 2023 to file taxes for free through one of eight IRS partners. To access the service, go online at IRS Free File and use guided software.
If you’re eligible, a free filing can save you a pretty penny. An individual taxpayer is estimated to spend 13 hours and $240 out-of-pocket costs just to prepare and file one annual tax return, according to the Taxpayer Advocate’s 2022 annual report to Congress. Taxpayer Advocate is an independent organization within the IRS that helps protect taxpayers’ rights.
Who are IRS partners for Free File?
For 2024, trusted partners participating in IRS Free File are:
- 1040Now
- Drake (1040.com)
- ezTaxReturn.com
- FileYourTaxes.com
- On-Line Taxes
- TaxAct
- TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA)
- TaxSlayer
Are there other ways to file my taxes free?
Yes, the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.
VITA sites offer free tax help to:
- People who generally make $64,000 or less
- Persons with disabilities; and
- Limited English-speaking taxpayers
TCE offers free tax help, particularly for those who are at least 60 years old. The organization specializes in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to…
