How to file your taxes for free with IRS Direct File

Millions of taxpayers can file for free this year using the IRS' Direct File system.

Launched by the agency as a pilot program in 12 states, Direct File processed approximately 140,000 returns in 2024, according to the Treasury Department, saving Americans approximately $5.6 million in tax-prep fees for federal returns.

Direct File has expanded to 25 states, with an estimated 30 million taxpayers eligible to use the system.

Developed by the IRS, Direct File is a digital tax-prep program that allows taxpayers meeting income and residency requirements to securely file federal returns through their phone, tablet or computer — free of charge and without having to use a third-party platform.

Available in English or Spanish, the system guides users with prompts and checklists and can even import W-2 wage information directly from your IRS account.

After you complete your federal return with Direct File, you'll be directed to your state's official tax revenue site for state filing.

If you already have an IRS online account, you'll use the same log in for Direct File. Otherwise you'll need to create an account and verify your identity with a photo ID.

Live support is available Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. You can chat live or request a callback from a customer service representative.

While taxes are due April 15, the IRS says Direct File will remain active through October 15, 2025, the deadline for individuals who have received an extension.

You are eligible to file your federal return using Direct File if you lived and worked in one of these 25 participating states for all of 2024.

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington state
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

There are also income limits: The system is available to individual filers who made no more than $200,000 in 2024 (or $168,600 if they had multiple employers.)

Married couples filing jointly have a limit of $250,000, while married filed separately are capped at $125,000.

Currently, the system only accepts federal tax returns and only from filers reporting certain types of income, credits and deductions:

Income

• W-2 income
• Social Security income
• Unemployment insurance
• Income from investments
• Pension and annuity income 
• Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends

Credits

• Earned income tax credit
• Child tax credit
• Child and dependent care credit
• Premium tax credit
• Credit for the elderly or the disabled 
• Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (Saver's credit)

Residents in Washington state can also apply for the Working Families Tax Credit.

Deductions

Direct File can't be used if you intend to itemize deductions. But for 2025, the system will accept: 

• Standard deduction
• Student loan interest
• Educator expenses
• HSA contributions

If you don't live in a state that offers Direct File yet or otherwise don't qualify, there are still several options for filing your return for free.

IRS Free File

Free File is a partnership between the IRS and leading tax prep sites that allows taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less to file online for free. Even if you don't meet the income requirement, you can still use the site's fillable forms.

Online tax software

Most top tax-prep companies have a free tier for simple returns, including H&R Block, which will allow you to file both state and federal returns.

TurboTax's free plan allows you to report child tax credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit, deductions for student loan interest and some investment interest and dividends. According to TurboTax, about 37% of filers qualify to use its basic tier for free.

Other tax services

There are also non-profit organizations that provide no-fee filing, including the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free in-person tax preparation to people with an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less, who have disabilities or with limited English-speaking skills. (You can find a local provider here.)

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) funds free tax preparation for filers 60 and older. You can visit the IRS website or AARP to find a TCE-affiliated location near you

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