How to file your taxes for free

For your 2026 taxes, due April 15, 2027. Free ways to file, the credits that put the most money back in your pocket, and the fees to avoid.

Checked against irs.gov and each program's own website on October 24, 2026. Some 2027 details won't be announced until January, so we'll update this page then. Bill Help Now is an independent guide, not the IRS or a tax preparer.

The short version

Earn about $70,000 or less? Get free help from a trained volunteer (VITA).
Want to do it yourself online? Use IRS Free File if your income qualifies, or a low-cost filing site.
Don't miss the Earned Income Tax Credit. It's worth up to $8,231 for 2026.
Never pay a preparer a percentage of your refund, and skip "refund advance" fees if you can.

1. Free help from IRS-trained volunteers (VITA and TCE)

VITA offers free tax prep for people who generally make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities, and people who need help in another language. Some sites set their own limits.
TCE focuses on people 60 and older, especially pension and retirement questions. AARP Tax-Aide also offers free help from January to April: 888-227-7669.
Find a site: IRS free tax site locator or call 800-906-9887.

2. File online for free

IRS Free File: free guided tax software from IRS partner companies if your income is under the limit. Last season the limit was $89,000. The IRS page now shows $95,000 but hasn't confirmed which year that applies to. Free File reopens in January 2027. Start at irs.gov/freefile, since going to a company's site directly may not get you the free version.
Free File Fillable Forms: free for any income, but no step-by-step help. Best if you're comfortable with tax forms.
Military families: MilTax from the Department of Defense is free for service members, spouses and survivors. Military OneSource: 800-342-9647.
Low-cost filing sites: for example, FreeTaxUSA lists federal returns as always free and state returns at $15.99 (its posted price for 2025 returns). Paying by card is free; paying out of your refund costs $24.99.

Direct File, the IRS's own free filing tool, wasn't offered in the 2026 filing season, and the IRS hasn't announced it for 2027.

3. Credits people miss

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), tax year 2026:

Children	Credit up to	Income limit (single or head of household)	Income limit (married filing jointly)
None	$664	$19,540	$26,820
1	$4,427	$51,593	$58,863
2	$7,316	$58,629	$65,899
3 or more	$8,231	$62,974	$70,244

Investment income must be $12,200 or less. Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Child Tax Credit (2026): up to $2,200 per child, and up to $1,700 of it can come back to you as a refund even if you owe no tax. You need at least $2,500 in earned income for the refundable part.
Child and Dependent Care Credit: starting with 2026 taxes, the top rate rises to 50% of qualifying child care costs.
State credits: many states and some cities have their own EITC. If you qualify for the federal one, check yours. IRS list of state EITCs

4. Fees and scams to avoid

Never use a preparer who charges a percentage of your refund or offers to split it with you. The IRS warns against both.
Your refund should go straight to you, not into the preparer's bank account.
Never sign a blank or unfinished return. Paid preparers must sign it and include their PTIN.
"Refund advances" are loans. If your refund comes in lower, you still owe the full amount back.
"Refund transfers" usually cost $30 to $50 on top of the prep fee, just to take the fee out of your refund.
E-file with direct deposit and most refunds arrive within 21 days.

Key dates

January 2027: IRS Free File reopens (exact date not announced yet).
April 15, 2027: deadline to file 2026 taxes. An extension (Form 4868) gives you until October 15 to file, but any tax owed is still due April 15.

Sources

IRS Free File · IRS: VITA and TCE · IRS: how to file · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · IRS: Child Tax Credit · IRS FS-2026-06 · CFPB tax guide · MilTax · FreeTaxUSA pricing. All checked October 24, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.