How To: File Taxes for Free

Fri Feb 9, 2007 4:34PM EST

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In response to readers' questions about free tax-preparation tools and software, I've pulled together this list. All seem best for taxpayers with straightforward, uncomplicated tax returns. A few have been recommended by readers, but I have yet to try them. If you have worked with any of them, let us know the good and the bad.

The Internal Revenue Service deems that taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $52,000 or less in 2006 can file taxes at no charge. That means 70 percent of taxpayers (95 million) can file their taxes for free. Here's a full list of IRS-approved services you can use for e-filing.

All of the following services are on that list and some basic versions are available for free for others taxpayers, too.

TaxACT Standard - Free for filling out and e-filing federal tax forms, either on web-based forms or by downloading forms onto your computer. The free service says it includes over-the-phone and web technical support, but it does not include state tax forms. You'll pay $12.95 for those.

TaxSlayer - Free for active duty military personnel. And only $9.95 to prepare federal and state tax returns online.

H&R Block TaxCut Free File - For taxpayers age 50 and under with an adjusted gross income of $52,000.

TurboTax Freedom Edition - Free for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $28,500; taxpayers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit and have an and AGI of $38,348; and active duty military members with an AGI of $52,000.

CompleteTax - Free for taxpayers with an AGI of $29,000.

For more info, check out this about.com page, which has reviews on free and for-fee tax-preparation tools and software.

Related:

Tick, Tick, Tick: Tax Time Approaches
A Closer Look at TurboTax 

 

 

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Comments on How To: File Taxes for Free

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  • 46 Posted by swampkitty17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    BY THE WAY: If you visited the IRS site, www.irs.gov, they have a link on their main page to a list FREE places to file.

  • 47 Posted by mattcurtis193 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    H & R block tried to charge me after filling out all of my tax info. I couldnt go any further without paying a 9.95 charge. Even after contacting customer service, they still wanted me to pay. I wouldnt recommend them. I took my business elsewhere.

  • 48 Posted by alabaster_jar83 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sorry the tips came too late for some, but this article is still very useful for those of us who have yet to file. Thanks for the helpful tips!

  • 49 Posted by woodstocktc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    People, you do not have to PAY to file your taxes! Only if you want to e-file for quicker returns, imagine that money being paid as interest on a "loan" and you will want to file by mail. Do it early, we have our check in direct deposit in 2-3 weeks.

  • 50 Posted by amy31882 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have been getting my taxes done for free for years at my public library. the AARP comes and volunteers to do free taxes there. It doesnt matter how much you make or how old you are. you just make an appt and they do them totally free. its great check with your local libraries or the AARP.

  • 51 Posted by jacqdavi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    yeah. too late for me too....oh well, least we'll know for next tax year.

  • 53 Posted by sulkygirlxo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is great and useful. I'm glad I haven't filed yet. Considering the fact that I'll most likely be owing the govt, I can at least save some $$ in filing. Thanks!!!

  • 54 Posted by muddslider_98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow, whine whine whine. It's not Yahoo's job to keep you posted on tax laws. If you'd do your taxes yourself, you wouldn't EVER have to pay anything. You are paying for the convenience of having someone else do it for you, stop complaining.

  • 55 Posted by yudithus79 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    Many of this company help offer free service for simple and plain income tax filing. Once you need to add deduction, credits and other benefits they charge for the service. I used Free Tax USA, to me it was the most comprhensive and simple of all this websites including well known turbotax and H&R Block. They help me file electronically and my refund was deposited in my account in 2 weeks! In some States their service was free. For Fl residents it cost only $9.95

  • 56 Posted by mlmorton79 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    You can also file for free at www.beehivechicago.org/taxes. The site mostly caters to moderate to low-income individuals and families. Anyone has a household income of $40,000 or less. I know several people who have filed using this website, and they thought it was very easy. Apparently, the site gives you a promo code to enter into the Complete Tax website. I suggest everyone check this site out!

  • 57 Posted by ginalachilena on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I used www.thebeehive.org/taxes to file my federal AND state taxes free last year and this year too. They offer the CompleteTax tool free for anyone making under $40K. Super easy to use and automatically calculates everything!

  • 58 Posted by msjaksn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    We tried TurboTax one year and had to mail proof that we actually submitted electronically to get a rebate from TurboTax. We've used H&R Block's Tax Cut for the last 3 years and love it. The first year was free (I don't think there was an AGI maximum at that time). The cost has increased each year, but I don't mind paying $39.95 for state and federal taxes to get filed together, at my own pace, in the comfort of my home where I can find any forms I possibly would have forgotten to take to the tax filer's office. Our online taxes are normally accepted within 12 hours (a whole lot less than the 24-72 hours you're told to expect). We normally get our refund (direct deposit) within 7 days of filing...can't beat that!

  • 59 Posted by psunewget on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    If filing as a household, does it need to be total income or individual income? There is no way that 70% of the country make less than $52,000 annually as a household.

  • 60 Posted by d_m_hill on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    TaxSlayer is great if you have simple tax returns. HR Block is also good, but quite a bit more for the same program. The only advantage is that if you run into problems you can go into a store.

  • 61 Posted by draba_verna on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Bummer, I just filed my taxes too.... Next year...

  • 62 Posted by phleb1979 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    I used the IRS's web page to find out who I should file with. It was all free and the IRS's web page helps you figure out which one of the many tax programs out there help you too. http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html then just click start!!

  • 63 Posted by tyronehoza on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    this would have helped me alot, but I got some W-2's late in the mail now I have to amend them does anybody amend for free.

  • 64 Posted by mamaberry27@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    H&R Block Tax Cut is free to use, but you still have to pay 9.95 to efile. Otherwise you can print the forms and send them in yourself. I tried the TaxAct and it kept freezing up and losing the data I was typing. Finally, I ended up using the TurboTax Freedom and it is great! It is very user friendly and easy to understand.

  • 65 Posted by grittylittlekisses on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    In response to those who are angry that this info wasn't posted earlier: don't blame someone else. It's your responsibility as a citizen to access the information that's available to you. Obviously, you could have found this out somewhere other than this article.

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