As of 2026-10-15
Not tax advice. Prices are what each company's page showed on 2026-10-15 for 2025 returns. Companies change prices during the season, so check the price before you file. VaultRubric has no affiliate deal with any of these companies.
| Your situation | Start here |
|---|---|
| Income $89,000 or less, simple return | IRS Free File Guided Tax (start at IRS.gov/freefile) |
| Age 60 or older, or want a person to help | TCE or AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (free, in person) |
| Income about $70,244 or less, disability, or limited English | VITA (free, IRS-certified volunteers) |
| W-2 only, standard deduction, any income | TurboTax Free Edition or H&R Block Free Online ($0 federal and state if you qualify), or Cash App Taxes |
| Side gig, 1099 income, stocks or crypto, one state | Cash App Taxes ($0) or FreeTaxUSA ($0 federal + $15.99 state) |
| Lived in two states this year | FreeTaxUSA ($15.99 per state). Cash App Taxes does not do multi-state. |
| Confident with IRS forms, high income | Free File Fillable Forms ($0 federal, no state) |
| Complicated return (rental, business, K-1) and you want help | A paid product or a paid preparer; compare the price shown at checkout |
| Option | Who it fits | Federal | State | Watch out for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRS Free File (Guided Tax) | Adjusted gross income (AGI) of $89,000 or less in 2025 | $0 | Free with some partners | Each of the 8 partner companies sets its own extra rules (age, state, military). Start at IRS.gov/freefile, not the company site. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| IRS Free File Fillable Forms | Any income, if you can fill in IRS forms yourself | $0 | Not included | No step-by-step help. It is the paper forms on a screen. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| VITA (IRS volunteers) | People who generally make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities, limited English speakers | $0 | $0 (basic returns) | Basic returns only. A trained volunteer prepares it with you; every return gets a quality check. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| TCE (IRS volunteers) | Age 60 or older | $0 | $0 (basic returns) | Specializes in pensions and retirement questions. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| AARP Foundation Tax-Aide | Focus on people 50+ with low to moderate income; AARP membership not required | $0 | $0 | Appointments at libraries and senior centers in tax season. Complex returns may be sent to a paid preparer. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| Cash App Taxes | Most people with one state | $0 | $0 (one state) | No multi-state or part-year state returns, no prior-year returns. You need a Cash App account. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| FreeTaxUSA | Anyone (no income limit) | $0 | $15.99 per state | Optional Deluxe support $7.99. Paying from your refund costs $24.99. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| TurboTax Free Edition | Simple Form 1040 only (about 37% of filers, per TurboTax) | $0 | $0 | No itemizing, no 1099-NEC/side income, no stock or crypto sales, no unemployment. Paid versions price at checkout; paying from your refund adds a $40 fee. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| H&R Block Free Online | Simple Form 1040 only (about 52% of filers, per H&R Block) | $0 | Included for simple returns | Covers W-2, unemployment, EITC, child credit, retirement payouts. No itemizing, self-employment, investments sales or HSA. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
| TaxAct | Free tier for simple returns; paid tiers for more | $0 Free · $59.99 Deluxe · $99.99 Premier · $109.99 Self Employed | Extra (price shown at checkout) | TaxAct says final prices are set when you pay, print or e-file. | official page (checked 2026-10-15) |
IRS Direct File: not available for the 2026 filing season; the IRS set no future launch date. People who used it can see a summary of past returns in their IRS online account.
Yes, in several ways. IRS Free File Guided Tax is free if your 2025 adjusted gross income was $89,000 or less. Free File Fillable Forms is free at any income. VITA, TCE and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers prepare basic returns free. Cash App Taxes charges $0 for federal and one state return.
No. The IRS told participating states that Direct File would not be available in the 2026 filing season and that no future launch date has been set.
For 2025 returns filed in 2026, IRS Free File Guided Tax is for people with adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less. Each partner company may add its own rules on age, state or military status.
The IRS says VITA sites generally help people who make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities and limited-English speakers. TCE focuses on people 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 to find a site.
Federal returns are $0 at any income. State returns are $15.99 each, per FreeTaxUSA's pricing page.
No. TurboTax says it is for simple Form 1040 returns only, which about 37% of filers have. Itemizing, side income, stock or crypto sales and unemployment income need a paid version.
Not tax advice. Figures are republished from the IRS with dates; confirm with IRS.gov or a tax professional before acting.