4 Places Where You Can File your Taxes for Free

A block wall with a sign that says "Pay Taxes Room 108."

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Finding free tax help and filing your taxes doesn’t have to be expensive.

If you’re a lower-income family, just starting out after college, a senior, military or former military family, there are lots of options for getting your taxes filed for free or for almost nothing. We’re hoping that you’ll check out these three options and be able to save a boodle! We’ve personally used two of the three services, and Steve’s dad was a volunteer with the last one.

Filing your income tax return doesn’t have to be a taxing (or expensive) proposition

Filing taxes is an annual ritual that most of us look forward to as much as having a root canal … although, after having one, we think that filing taxes is a little less stressful.

We’ve helped our kids with this and filed our own taxes in a number of different ways.

  • On Paper and Mailed
  • On the internet through Turbo Tax
  • With a friend at H&R Block
  • Using an expensive accountant (because we had to file taxes for our business also).
    With a less expensive investment/tax consultant (still because of the business technicalities)

For most wage earners who have relatively simple returns there are four free tax help options for filing your income taxes:

1. Turbo Tax Online

A couple of years ago we paid a tax professional (a friend of ours) to help us with our taxes. Bill at H&R Block did a great job and got us a maximum refund. It was at that same time that we heard about the TurboTax Federal Free Edition. If you meet certain criteria (lower-income, military service or you qualify for the Earned Income Credit) you can use Turbo Tax for free. We ran our numbers through Turbo Tax and got the same result as the paid professional. For many years after we used Turbo Tax for our own taxes and for our kids too. And the best part is it’s so thorough that we know we’re doing it right . . . and we know we’re getting the best refund possible

This is really important to know. If you earn less than $35,000 (or get the Earned Income Credit) you can use the TurboTax website to file your taxes and pay nothing. The program is called Tax Freedom and provides free tax help

Even if you don’t qualify for the Tax Freedom deal, turbo tax is pretty inexpensive. Normal usage fees are $15 to $30 for Federal Personal Tax Return.


WANT MORE FREE STUFF? Check out our Free Stuff Category


 

2. H&R Block – Free Federal Return Filing

We used H&R Block’s in-office representative when a retired friend of our’s was working there. We were very impressed with the power of their software and its ability to find us the greatest tax savings. The H&R Block Free Federal Return Filing is definitely an option that should be researched and considered

3. IRS – Free File Resource

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a resource page that lists and links to a number of organizations that offer free tax filing. Check out IRS Free File here.

4. Free Tax help = AARP Tax-Aide

People of any age can receive free tax help preparing their taxes through the AARP Tax-Aide Service. Steve’s dad AJ volunteered with this organization for several years helping people file their taxes for free. Here’s what he wrote, “I have been a volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide for a number of years and find it very rewarding.”

Here are some details about AARP Tax-Aide.

AJ continues, “It is a free service supported by more than 30,000 volunteers across the country. It is available to people of all ages with middle and low income, with special attention to those age 60 and older. We prepare tax returns and answer tax questions. To find one of the 10,000 locations near your home, call 1-888-227-7669. AARP Tax-Aide sites are located in places convenient for taxpayers to get to, such as senior centers, libraries, and malls. We can also visit taxpayers in their homes if they are physically unable to visit a site. This program is available from February 1-April 15 each year.”

Free Tax Help - How to File Your Taxes for Free.

For more information visit the website – www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/

Filing taxes can be a trying experience, but with all of these free tax help options, it doesn’t have to tax your bank account too much.

For more info on free tax, help visit our Banking, Taxes & Charitable Giving Money Saving Tips Page.

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