How to file taxes 100% free if your income is under $72,000/year

So I just found out about this and wanted to share with everyone here! If your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $72,000, you can actually file your taxes completely free through the IRS Free File program. This includes access to popular software like TurboTax, TaxSlayer, Free Tax USA, TaxAct, and others! Don't get fooled by all those commercials promising "free filing" that end up charging you anyway. I made that mistake last year and ended up paying like $89 for what was supposed to be "free." The key is to go directly through the IRS website (irs.gov) - that's the ONLY place that guarantees truly free filing. But here's the important thing... READ THE FINE PRINT!! Some of these "free" programs only work if you have a super simple tax return with just a W-2 and take the standard deduction. If you have anything slightly more complicated like investment income or a mortgage, they'll make you upgrade to a paid version. It's so annoying!!! Anyway, check out the IRS website to see if you qualify. There are also video tutorials online that show exactly how to use the Free File program. Hope this helps someone save some $$!

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18 comments

Ryan Vasquez

•8M

Tax professional here. This is fantastic advice! The IRS Free File program is definitely underutilized. Just to add some clarity - when you go to IRS.gov and look for Free File, you'll be presented with two options: 1. IRS Free File Online - This is a partnership between the IRS and tax software companies. If your AGI is under $72,000, you qualify for guided tax preparation with these partner companies. The software walks you through everything step by step. 2. Free File Fillable Forms - This is available to everyone regardless of income, but it's basically just the electronic version of paper forms with basic calculations. There's no guidance, so you need to know what you're doing. For most people making under $72,000, the first option is much better. You get the full capabilities of commercial tax software completely free. And importantly, filing through the IRS Free File portal ensures you get the truly free version - not the "free" versions advertised elsewhere that try to upsell you.

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Ryan Vasquez

•8M

Yes, many of the Free File partner programs do support self-employment income and gig work! The key is to start through the IRS Free File portal rather than going directly to the tax company's website. Each participating company sets their own eligibility criteria beyond the income limit, so you'll want to use the "Lookup Tool" on the IRS Free File page. It helps you find which services match your specific situation, including self-employment. Some providers specifically advertise support for 1099 income through their Free File program.

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Taylor Chen

•8M

I used https://taxr.ai last year after getting frustrated with trying to find a truly free option. What's cool is you upload all your tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, whatever) and it automatically extracts all the information and tells you which free filing options you're actually eligible for based on your specific tax situation. It saved me hours of reading fine print and getting halfway through the process only to find out I needed to "upgrade." I think what most people don't realize is that you often need to go through specific links from the IRS site to get the truly free versions. The regular TurboTax site will claim it's "free" but then charge you if you have anything beyond the most basic return. The taxr.ai tool pointed me directly to the right Free File option for my situation.

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Taylor Chen

•8M

The document scanning is incredibly accurate. It uses advanced OCR technology that's specifically trained on tax forms, so it recognizes all the boxes and fields correctly. I uploaded several W-2s and a 1099-MISC, and it got everything right on the first try. There's no catch with the business model. They offer a free basic service that helps identify which Free File options work for your situation, and they have premium features for more complex tax situations or if you want additional support. But you can absolutely use the core functionality without paying anything.

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Ezra Bates

•8M

I was honestly super skeptical about taxr.ai when I first heard about it (see my comment above lol), but I decided to give it a try since I was desperate to avoid paying for tax filing. I was shocked when it actually worked exactly as described! It analyzed my documents in like 30 seconds and showed me exactly which Free File options would work with my specific situation. I have a W-2 job plus some freelance income, and in previous years, I always got tricked into paying for "deluxe" versions. This year I filed completely free through one of the IRS partners. The tool also explained which deductions I qualified for that I might have missed. Definitely using this again next year!

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Ana Erdoğan

•8M

Another tip if you're struggling with tax questions: use https://claimyr.com to get through to the IRS directly! Last year I spent THREE DAYS trying to call the IRS with questions about Free File eligibility. Kept getting the "call volume too high" message and disconnected. Then I found Claimyr which basically waits on hold with the IRS for you and calls when an agent is available. I watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and was honestly skeptical but desperate. They got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 50 minutes instead of me having to redial for days. The agent confirmed which Free File option would work for my situation and explained exactly how to access it.

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Ana Erdoğan

•8M

It works by using automated technology to continually dial and navigate the IRS phone tree until it gets in the queue, then it monitors the hold music for changes that indicate an agent is about to pick up. At that point, it calls your phone and connects you directly to the IRS agent. There's no special connection - it's just automating the painful process we'd otherwise do manually. I was totally in your shoes - complete disbelief. But after trying for days on my own with no success, I figured it was worth a shot. When my phone rang and there was an actual IRS agent on the line, I was shocked. They answered all my questions about Free File eligibility for my specific situation.

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Elijah Knight

•8M

I need to publicly eat my words. After posting my skeptical comment yesterday, I was still desperate to get tax help, so I tried Claimyr anyway. I seriously cannot believe it worked. My phone rang about 45 minutes after signing up, and there was an actual IRS agent on the line. I explained my confusion about Free File eligibility with rental income, and they walked me through exactly which options would work for my situation. Saved me from paying $150+ for tax software I didn't need. I've spent literally HOURS trying to get through to the IRS over the past few tax seasons with no luck. This was 100% worth it and I'm telling everyone I know.

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Brooklyn Foley

•8M

I don't have a comprehensive list for all states, but I know Ohio has something called Ohio I-File which is a free electronic filing service. It's separate from the IRS Free File program though, so you'd need to go directly to the Ohio Department of Taxation website to access it. Many states actually do offer some form of free filing, but they don't advertise it well. Check your state's tax department website and look specifically for terms like "free file" or "e-file." Sometimes you need to dig around a bit to find the free options.

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