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Starting today, taxpayers can go to www.irs.gov/freefile to find the Free File software product that matches their situation. Each partner sets its own eligibility standards, generally based on age, income or state residency. Taxpayers can do their taxes online from IRS.gov or they can use the IRS2Go mobile app to access Free File and do their taxes on their mobile phones, tablets or any app-enabled device.
For taxpayers who earned more than $66,000, there is Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms which will be available when the IRS begins the filing season on Jan. 28.
- Who can use Free File
Any individual or family whose adjusted gross income for 2018 was $66,000 or less can find at least one Free File software product they can use. Often, taxpayers are eligible for multiple products. The income limitation means that 100 million taxpayers – 70 percent – are eligible to use Free File.
Workers, families with children, first-time filers and seniors who meet the income criteria are all eligible for Free File. The software supports all the new tax law changes as well as long-time benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. While most products have a set of eligibility requirements, 10 Free File partners have a special offer for active duty military personnel by making their sole eligibility criteria an income of $66,000 or less.
IRS Free File is all that’s needed for residents of Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming where there is no state income tax. Some Free File partners offer free federal and free state return preparation. Some states have their own Free File program.
Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes for Free
The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, although some require additional time. If you access any software or online product and submit your complete and correct return today, IRS will not start processing these returns until January 28, 2019. This means the 21 day time frame for processing this first batch of federal returns ends on February 18.
Return = Forms, schedules, and math. Taxpayers file a return, on paper or electronically.
Refund = When you overpay your tax, the money you get back is a refund. Taxpayers claim a refund, as a direct deposit, or a paper check, or savings bonds.