What's the cheapest or free online tax filing option for 2025?

Hey everyone, tax season is approaching and I'm looking to save some money this year. I've always used TurboTax in the past but the fees keep going up every year! I don't have anything complicated - just a W-2 from my job, some interest from my savings account, and I rent my apartment (no mortgage or property stuff). I remember hearing something about free filing options but when I started looking online I got overwhelmed with all the different choices. Has anyone found a genuinely free or super cheap option that doesn't try to upsell you halfway through? I make about $58k a year if that matters for eligibility. Also wondering if the free options are actually good quality or if there's a reason they're free (like missing important deductions or something). Any recommendations would be super appreciated!

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18 comments

Isaiah Sanders

•8M

The IRS Free File program is probably your best bet. It's a partnership between the IRS and tax software companies that allows people with income below $73,000 to file federal taxes for free. Since you make $58k, you'd qualify! You can access it through the official IRS website (irs.gov/freefile). From there, you'll see a list of participating companies - each might have slightly different income limits or state filing options, so check the details. FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) are also solid options with free federal filing and low-cost state filing. The software through Free File is the same as the paid versions, just with eligibility restrictions. They're required to include all tax forms you might need, so you won't miss deductions unless you would have missed them anyway.

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Isaiah Sanders

•8M

The best option depends on your specific situation, but I've personally had good experiences with TaxAct through the Free File program. Many people also like H&R Block's Free File version. Most Free File options only include free federal filing, with state filing costing extra (usually $15-25 per state). However, some do offer free state filing too - Cash App Taxes offers both federal and state for free regardless of income, though they don't participate in the official Free File program.

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Fiona Gallagher

•8M

I had the exact same struggle last year trying to find actually free tax filing. After a lot of research, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped analyze my tax documents and show me which free filing options I qualified for based on my specific situation. It saved me from the "free until halfway through" problem I kept running into with other services. The tool scanned my documents, spotted some deductions I was missing, and directed me to the right free filing option for my situation. It was a game-changer since it finds the truly free options you qualify for rather than wasting time with services that will eventually charge you.

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Fiona Gallagher

•8M

It doesn't file your taxes for you - it analyzes your documents to recommend the best free or low-cost filing option based on your specific situation. It's like having a tax expert look over your documents first to point you in the right direction. The security is actually really good - they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. The benefit over just checking the IRS site is that it helps identify deductions you might miss and matches you with the specific free service that works best for your tax situation. Some "free" services exclude certain forms or situations, and taxr.ai helps you avoid those surprises.

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Nalani Liu

•8M

I wanted to follow up about taxr.ai since I was skeptical in my earlier comment. I actually tried it last weekend and was pretty impressed. It analyzed my W-2, pointed out that I qualified for the Saver's Credit (which I had no idea about), and directed me to a completely free filing option that included my state return too! The whole process took like 10 minutes and saved me $89 compared to what I paid last year for TurboTax. Definitely worth the extra step since it found me a completely free option when I was about to pay for filing again. Just wanted to share since it actually worked out well.

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Axel Bourke

•8M

If you run into any issues with the IRS after filing (like missing refund, identity verification, etc.), I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). Last year I had a problem with my refund not arriving for months, and I just couldn't get through to the IRS phone lines - kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Claimyr got me connected with an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. They have a cool demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Honestly didn't think it would work, but it saved me so much frustration. Just something to keep in your back pocket if you run into problems after filing.

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Axel Bourke

•8M

They use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they reach a live agent, you get a call connecting you directly. It's not a secret phone number - just smart technology that handles the frustrating part. The reason it's better than doing it yourself is that their system can make hundreds of call attempts simultaneously, which is why they can get through when individual callers can't. You don't have to tie up your phone or waste your day trying to get through. It's basically like having a computer wait on hold instead of doing it yourself.

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Fernanda Marquez

•8M

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I actually ended up needing to contact the IRS about an identity verification letter that was holding up my refund. After three days of trying to call them myself (and never getting through), I gave in and tried Claimyr. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The agent resolved my identity verification issue right there on the call, and my refund was processed within a week. Considering I had already wasted hours trying to call myself, it was definitely worth it. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!

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Norman Fraser

•8M

Don't forget to check if your state has its own free filing portal! I live in California and they have CalFile which is completely free for state taxes. Many states have similar programs. Just google "[your state] free tax filing" to see what's available. Also, if your income is under $60k, you might qualify for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) where IRS-certified volunteers will prepare your taxes for free. They usually operate out of community centers, libraries, and schools during tax season.

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Norman Fraser

•8M

VITA volunteers are actually really well-trained - they're certified by the IRS and many are accounting students or retired tax professionals who volunteer their time. In my experience, they're very thorough about finding deductions and credits. The main limitation with VITA is they can't handle super complicated tax situations like multiple rental properties or complex business returns. For a typical W-2 worker with some basic deductions and credits, they're excellent and often catch things people miss when filing themselves.

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Hattie Carson

•8M

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for the past 3 years and it's been great! Federal filing is completely free regardless of your income or tax situation. State filing costs $14.99, but that's way cheaper than what most places charge. The interface isn't as fancy as TurboTax but it gets the job done. It includes all the forms and schedules I've needed (even when I had a side gig with 1099 income). Just make sure you go directly to their website instead of through a search engine to make sure you're getting the right pricing.

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