The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not be current. This website may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; we do not recommend or endorse the contents of any third-party sites. Readers of this website should contact their attorney, accountant or credit counselor to obtain advice with respect to their particular situation. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or not act on the basis of information on this site. Always seek personal legal, financial or credit advice for your relevant jurisdiction. Only your individual attorney or advisor can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective employers.
Credit.com receives compensation for the financial products and services advertised on this site if our users apply for and sign up for any of them. Compensation is not a factor in the substantive evaluation of any product.
Filing your taxes probably isn’t at the top of your list of favorite things to do, especially if you have to cough up some extra cash on April 15. But whether you owe Uncle Sam this year or not, there are ways to file for free for the 2021 tax year. And given that the IRS found around 70% of taxpayers can file their taxes via free services, this could be a great option for you, too.
Find out more about who can file taxes for free in 2022—for the 2021 tax year—and what options you might have for doing so. You’ll also find some information on what to do if you can’t use free tax filing options.
The IRS offers a few ways to file your taxes for free via its partner websites. You can also use free tax filing options from a number of commercial tax software vendors. Here’s a look at some of your choices.
If your financial situation isn’t too complicated and you’re claiming the standard deduction, you may be able to use free commercial software. These services often provide a free federal filing option for simple filers, including those who have dependents, retirement income, or college expenses. That option allows filers to report tax information such as W-2 income, dependents, stimulus credit, and the child tax credit.
If your tax situation is more complicated, however, you may need to pay for a more robust service level. For example, child and dependent care expenses, mortgage interest, student loan interest, and other tax deductions may require additional help. You may also need to upgrade if you have special circumstances such as a 1099-C Cancellation of Debt form.
The IRS offers a free tax filing page, and you can typically start accessing the services linked on that page in January of each tax year. This page provides two basic options.
But even if you’re eligible to file your taxes for free, you may not want to. Make sure you take a look at your income, tax bracket, expenses, and other tax matters for the year before deciding how to file your taxes. If you have certain types of deductions, filing for free could leave money on the table.
If you don’t qualify for free tax filing assistance from one of the programs below and don’t want to take on the burden of doing your taxes yourself, you can use a tax preparation service.
If you’re unsure of how to do taxes yourself, you have special questions about issues such as pensions or military status, or you just need help but can’t afford an accountant, you might qualify for free help with your taxes. Here are some free government programs that might be able to assist you.
> Learn how to do your taxes yourself.
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
VITA is a program offered to individuals who make less than $58,000 per year, speak limited English, or have disabilities and need assistance with preparing tax returns. The tax preparation services are offered by volunteers who’ve been vetted by the IRS and passed tax law training courses. You can find VITA service locations via the IRS lookup tool.
The IRS Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program
Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) is a program specifically for elderly tax filers—typically those 60 or older. The volunteers in this program are trained in tax questions around pensions and retirement. You can find a TCE service location using the IRS lookup tool.
MilTax from Military OneSource
The MilTax program is for active-duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, veterans who were discharged in the past year, survivors of service members, and qualifying family members. If you’re eligible, you can use DIY software option provided by the program and have access to CPAs or IRS agents who can consult with you regarding your taxes.
Not everyone can take advantage of all free filing options. The IRS divides many of its options by income. Private tax software companies that provide a free option typically do so for those who only need to file simple returns, or may only provide free options for federal taxes and not state taxes.
That means that if you need to add any schedules because you have income from contracts or sources such as rents or investments, you may not be able to use the free options. Free tax filing services may also not be an ideal choice if you want to itemize deductions to further reduce your tax burden.
Everyone loves free stuff, but it’s important to choose a tax filing method that’s right for your situation and confidence level. If you’re not great with math or have complicated exemptions and deductions, you may be better off with a professional tax preparation service.
A quick note: Credit.com isn’t a professional tax service and doesn’t offer tax advice. If you’re not sure about your taxes, consult with a professional to find out more. Reach out to a tax attorney or CPA, or use one of the free services above if you qualify. Taxes are an important financial consideration, just like budgets and credit scores, so you don’t want to make mistakes by being unaware of important information.