Free tax filing lives on at Cash App—the #1 Finance app in the App Store.

• 100% free from start to finish

• Super simple—most people can file in minutes

• Max refunds, guaranteed¹

• Accurate calculations, every time²

• Free audit defense³

Meet Cash App Taxes

Cash App Taxes—is it really free?

Yes, it's the same tax filing service loved by millions, just a new name.

Rated 4.8 / 5 starsBased on Credit Karma Tax surveyOver 1 million reviews

All the good stuff, just like before

• 

  Free from start to finish

  Cash App Taxes is always 100% free. It costs $0 to file your state and federal tax returns, and it won't cost you a penny. Ever.

• 

  Steps so simple you can file in one go

  Most people can finish filing in just a few minutes, and you can file even faster by importing your past returns from Credit Karma Tax.

• 

  Always accurate, every time²

  Cash App Taxes automatically checks its calculations for accuracy. But just in case you ever need it, you also get audit defense free of charge.

• 

  Maximize your refund¹

  Unlock your max refund and know that you’re getting every dollar back you deserve when you file. Guaranteed.

• 

  And get your refund even faster

  Cha-ching! Your refund arrives up to 2 days faster if you deposit it into Cash App. It’s 100% yours to save, spend, or stash away in that piggy bank.

Tax filing made fast, easy, and 100% free

Common Questions

¹ If you receive a larger federal tax refund amount or owe less in federal taxes using the same Tax Return Information when filing an amended return through another online tax preparation service, then you may be eligible to receive the difference in the refund or tax amount owed up to $100 (minimum $25) in the form of a gift card from Cash App Taxes. For details and eligibility, click here.

² If the IRS and/or applicable state tax authority imposes penalties and/or interest on you due to a Cash App Taxes calculation error, Cash App Taxes will reimburse you up to a maximum of $1,000 in the form of gift card(s). For details and eligibility, click here.

³ For details and eligibility, click here. Exclusions apply.

The IRS has announced important tax dates for 2022, which means it’s time to decide where to file.

If your financial life is uncomplicated, and you have a simple tax return, you may be able to file your taxes without paying a penny. But some companies advertise free tax-filing services that actually end up being totally free for very few people.

In this article, I’ll take a close look at seven of the most well-known tax filing options that claim to offer free filing services. I’ve checked out each of the services listed below to find out what’s included for free, who’s eligible for free tax filing and what you need to know before deciding which service to use.

Filing Taxes Online for Free

If you have a simple tax return with just W-2s and/or unemployment income, you’ll likely be eligible to file your taxes for free. Still, it’s important to do your research before you choose which tax filing software to use. Not all tax filing services are created the same, and not all of them allow you to file both state and federal returns for free. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know about the most popular free tax filing services available this year:

You’ll find more information on each service below to help you decide which software is best for you. 

IRS Free File

Best for comparing free tax filing offers

The IRS has partnered with a variety of tax filing software companies, including several of those listed below, to createIRS Free File. 

If your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $73,000 or less, you can click “Choose an IRS Free File Offer” and browse all available free tax filing offers. You can also use the tool on the site to answer a few questions about your tax return and get matched with the best free filing software for you. You’ll definitely be able to file your federal taxes for free, but know that only some of the offers on the IRS website include free state filing. 

If your 2021 adjusted gross income was over $73,000, you can still use IRS Free File. You’ll just have to fill out your own Free File Fillable Forms, which will require you to do a little math on your own. For more information on IRS Free File,check out our guide. 

H&R Block Free

Best for filing from your phone

H&R Block offers a free online tax filing service that includes free state tax prep, Earned Income Credit (EITC) and deductions for student tuition, payments and loan interest. That makes it a great option for low-to-moderate-income filers as well as students. In addition to filling online, you can download the app for an even easier experience. This way, you can take pictures of your W-2 instead of entering the information box by box.

If you qualified for a federal stimulus check but never received it, you can claim a credit for it using H&R Block’s free software. However, it’s important to know that if you’ve made contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), you won’t be eligible for the free version. 

If you need additional help, H&R Block advertises offers a “Basic” package with expert help for $39.99. According to the website, this includes unlimited help, on-demand chat or video and screen sharing.However, there’s an additional fee for filing your state taxes with this package.

Cash App Taxes

Best for completely free filing with audit defense

PreviouslyCredit Karma, Cash App Taxesalso offers free tax filing online. Unless you have a really complicated tax return or you’re filing in more than one state, Cash App Taxes is a great option for filing your taxes for free. Plus, if you’ve previously filed with Credit Karma tax, you can import all of your previous years’ tax returns and information.

This is the only service on the list that doesn’t offer a paid service for any features, including audit defense. According to the website, if you get audited by the IRS, a tax preparation professional from Cash App Taxes can help you respond to inquiries and explore your options.

While H&R Block requires users to upgrade to a paid option for things like HSA contributions, itemized deductions, self-employment income and small business ownership, Cash App Taxes includes them all on state and federal returns. That makes it a great fee-free option. 

TurboTax Free

Best for a free expert review for early filers

At some point during tax season, you’ve probably come across an advertisement forTurboTax Free. If you’re filing a simple tax return including a W-2 and/or unemployment income, this could be a good option. But if you’ve contributed to a traditional IRA or HSA or you plan on deducting student loan interest you’ve paid, you won’t qualify for the free version. 

If you’re eligible for theEarned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or if you have child dependents to claim, TurboTax Free makes it easy. The tech is easy too: You can upload a picture of your W-2 to avoid having to retype all the information. You can also get an expert to review your tax return for free if you file by February 15.

If you end up not qualifying for free filing of your federal and state returns with TurboTax, check out H&R Block as a backup. You can still claim the EITC and the qualifications for free filing are a little broader.

TaxSlayer 

Best for students and military members

TaxSlayer offers a “Simply Free” service that includes federal tax returns and one state tax return. If you have a simple tax return with just a W-2 and/or unemployment income, you’ll be eligible for this service. 

One thing that makes TaxSlayer stand apart from others on the list is the fact that you can deduct student loan interest and educational expenses. That makes it a great choice for both current and former students. Additionally, you can get free phone and email support. 

If you’re a military member, you’ll be eligible tofile free with TaxSlayer Classic, which includes more complicated tax situations, the Child Tax Credit, HSA contributions, itemized deductions, self-employment income and more. 

FreeTaxUSA

Not actually free but best for affordable complex tax returns

Despite its name,FreeTaxUSA is one of the two resources on this list that definitely is not 100% free. Still, at $14.99 per state filing, this service is extremely affordable.

If you have a more complicated tax return including self-employment, itemized deductions, IRA/HSA contributions or something else entirely, you’ll still be able to file your federal tax return for free with FreeTaxUSA. No matter how complicated your federal return is, you’ll get the same flat rate for state returns. 

If you find that you’re not eligible for other free tax filing options, FreeTaxUSA may be the best option for you. If you feel like you need additional support, you can purchase the Deluxe version for $6.99, which includes priority support with live chat, unlimited amended returns and audit assist. You’ll still have to pay an additional fee for each state return. 

TaxAct

Best for simple, free federal returns

TaxAct offers both free and paid tax filing software. The free version includes W-2 income, unemployment income, retirement income, Child Tax Credits, Earned Income Credits and Stimulus Credit. It also allows students and those with dependents to file expenses. 

Still, like many other “free” services, you’ll have to upgrade to a Deluxe package if you’re filing a more complicated return that includes things like student interest payments or HSA contributions. And it isn’t free to file your state return with TaxAct. That will cost you $34.95 per state filed. 

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, you should be eligible to file a free federal tax return online if you’re just entering standard information like a W-2 or unemployment. Some of the resources on this list will also let you file state taxes for free based on your specific information.

Money expert Clark Howard is a fan of IRS Free File because it allows you to compare free tax filing options and choose the one that makes the most sense for you. Using this free resource, you’ll be able to save a lot of time and money. 

If you’d rather download an app than visit a website, consider H&R Block Free for a great mobile experience. If free audit defense is a bigger priority, consider Cash App Taxes. To claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or a Child Tax Credit, make sure you’re using a free service that includes them like TurboTax Free. Similarly, student loan interest and expenses can be deducted for free with TaxSlayer. 

Finally, if you aren’t eligible for a free tax return (federal or state), you’ll find affordable options ranging from $15-$35 at FreeTaxUSA and TaxAct. 

Do you plan on filing your taxes for free this year? Tell us where in the comments below!

More Clark.com Content To Help You Save:

I know, it’s July, the sun is shining, and the last thing you want to think about for the next eight or nine months is taxes. Well, Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, would love for you to forget too. It most certainly hopes you glossed over the revelations by intrepid reporters from ProPublica who discovered its egregious conduct.

Related:Forbes' Best Tax Software of 2020 Guide

While ProPublica’s article received attention and even led some regulators to open investigations, it deserves amplification as many consumers who may have been short-changed are not aware of what happened, how they were deceived, or what recourse they should take.  Furthermore, Turbo Tax has neither shown remorse nor taken real corrective action (an e-mail to Intuit requesting comment for this article did not receive a reply).

What TurboTax Did

As part of an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), TurboTax and 13 other tax-preparation firms are required to provide assistance with federal tax returns. The agreement requires the consortium, known as the Free File Alliance, to offer free help and electronic filing of federal tax returns for taxpayers who earned less than $66,000. Each company has its own guidelines; TurboTax requires a taxpayer to have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less an $34,000 or meet another condition (see graphic below):

Why would TurboTax and others agree to this? Because in return, the IRS committed not to compete and offer its own free online tax software to consumers.  In other words, TurboTax affirmatively opted in and committed to the IRS that it would offer free tax filing to lower-income Americans.

The usage statistics of the Free File program are absymal. As Nina Olsen, the National Taxpayer Advocate, summed up, “the fact that less than 3% of eligible taxpayers are using Free File suggests the program is failing to achieve its objective.” To contextualize, it is important to note that 70% of American tax payers are eligible to file their taxes for free online using the IRS’ Free File program.

While there are perhaps many reasons for the limited usage—such as confusing and disparate eligibility requirements that depend on the software provider—TurboTax and other tax filing services also use deceptive design tactics, called dark patterns, to confuse and steer people away from truly free versions of their services.

TurboTax’s obfuscation took two forms as ProPublica describes: “buying ads to direct people who searched for the truly free version to products where they would eventually have to pay. Second, it suppressed the landing page of the truly free product so that it would never appear.”

First, TurboTax placed misleading ads that masqueraded as the free file service, but, in reality, steered people towards its paying products. For example, ProPublica ran a test searching on Google for “irs free file taxes.” As you can see from the image below, the search results make it seem as if a user is on the path to filing for free.

ProPublica tried to fill out a tax return, for example, as an independent contractor for Task Rabbit who made $29,000 in 2018. But after entering all the information, TurboTax displayed a page saying that she wasn’t eligible to file for free and would need to pay $119.99 to use Turbo Tax’s “Self-Employed” edition.

Remember, that according to the agreement to which TurboTax consented, an individual making less than $34,000 should be able to prepare and file her taxes for free, regardless of income source and other deductions. Despite this agreement and obviously knowing that the individual is eligible to file for free, TurboTax never mentioned the free version. “It turns out that if you start the process from TurboTax.com, it’s impossible to find the truly free version. The company itself admits this.”

The second way Inuit deceived users was by adding “code on its site telling Google and other search engine not to list TurboTax Free File in search results.” Essentially, TurboTax told Google to suppress the site where people could actually file for free, an edition known as “TurboTax Free File,” no matter what they typed into the search bar. (In the wake of ProPublica’s reporting, Intuit relented and changed the code, but that was after the filing deadline for 2018 taxes, meaning that many who searched and filed their taxes by April 15 had already needlessly paid).

The result? Users like an 87-year-old veteran with a gross income of $11,000 from Social Security and a military pension were steered toward paid products. As a thank you for her service, TurboTax allegedly charged her $124 to file even though she should have been eligible for free tax filing.

How TurboTax Failed a Second Time

Companies make mistakes, but the true test of a CEO is how he or she responds to these mistakes. Some CEOs respond with humility and contrition. And then you have Intuit’s CEO, Sasan Goodarzi, who failed his crucible and chose to respond with spin over substance. Instead of accepting responsibility, Mr. Goodarzi obfuscated and denied.

The right thing to do would have been to proactively issue refunds to anyone making less than $34,000 who was eligible to file for free, but paid TurboTax to file. TurboTax has the data and could have easily taken this step.

Goodarzi didn’t do this.

The right thing to do would have been to instruct customer service agents to respond with kindness and empathy to customers calling in and to direct agents to easily provide refunds.

Goodarzi didn’t do this.

Instead, TurboTax representatives were caught dissembling to customers who called asking for a refund; some agents even had the audacity to call the reporting “fake news.” If you read some of the transcripts, you see corporate culture at its worst with agents denying, spinning, and doing anything they can to avoid issuing refunds.

The right thing to do for a CEO would have been to be contrite and speak to employees about how the company would improve.

Goodarzi didn’t do this.

Instead, in an internal video to employees, Goodarzi claimed the deception was in the best interest of taxpayers. “Our choice around search was intended to be [in] the best interest of taxpayers so they were more fully informed about their options and could choose what they felt was best for them.”

Let's be crystal clear.  The best interest of a taxpayer making less than $34,000 a year is being able to easily file her taxes for free and not being presented sub-optimal options with confusing names. The most shameful part of TurboTax's actions is that it ensnared Americans who could least afford to pay. The $119 TurboTax charged could have been used to put food on the table, save for a rainy day, or invest for long-term financial security.

In the internal video, Goodarzi continues, “To avoid confusion between the IRS Free File program and our own free product, we also decided to have the landing page for the IRS product we offer not rank in search results.”  This is Goodarzi admitting to ProPublica's findings.  But here’s another option for Mr. Goodarzi. Why not have the landing page for TurboTax’s free product not rank in search results and have the default result be the IRS product? Given that the IRS Free File product results in lower costs for lower-income Americans, wouldn’t this have been the option if you were concerned about the “best interest” of tax payers?

To offer perspective, just imagine the CEO of Wells Fargo saying that Wells' opening fake accounts was intended in the best interest of customers to fully inform them about their account options. Would you believe him? Well, then you shouldn’t believe Goodarzi’s drivel either.

What Steps You Should Take

1. Read ProPublica’s reporting and educate yourself. Justin Elliott and his fellow reporters did a wonderful job uncovering TurboTax’s nefarious behavior and the resulting articles make an important, educational series.
2. Determine if you qualify for a refund. If you do, call TurboTax (888-777-3066) and, if legal, record your call. If you want to pay it forward, you should fill out the questionnaire and add your results to ProPublica’s database.
3. If TurboTax denies you a refund, I would recommend disputing the payment to TurboTax with your credit card company.
4. Call and complain to your congressperson and ask them to get involved on your behalf.

Does TurboTax owe you a refund? Perhaps. Is that enough? Not really. Intuit also owes the American public a thorough and sincere apology.

All opinions expressed in this article are my own and represent only my personal viewpoint.  

Federal: $0 + $0 per state filed. For simple tax returns only; it allows you to file a 1040 and a state return for free, but you can’t itemize or file schedules 1, 2 or 3 of the 1040.

Live Basic Federal: $79 (state included). This is essentially the free version but with access to a tax pro, advice and a final review. Deluxe Federal: $39 (with Live: $119) + $39 per state filed (with Live: $49). Lets you itemize and claim several tax deductions and credits. Works well for business income but no expenses. Premier Federal: $69 (with Live: $169) + $39 per state filed (with Live: $49). Deluxe version plus the ability to where to find your routing number online investments and rental income (Schedules D and E, and K-1s). Self-Employed Federal: $89 (with Live: $199) + $39 per state filed (with Live: $49). Premier version plus business income, expenses on a Schedule C and home office deductions. Special features for freelancers.

TurboTax's prices

What you get from TurboTax's free version

TurboTax's ease of use

What it looks like

Handy features

TurboTax's support options

Ways to get help

If you're audited

If you're getting a refund

How TurboTax compares

The bottom line

I know, it’s July, the sun is shining, and the last thing you want to think about for the next eight or nine months is taxes. Well, Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, would love for you to forget too. It most certainly hopes you glossed over the revelations by intrepid reporters from ProPublica who discovered its egregious conduct.

Related:Forbes' Best Tax Software of 2020 Guide

While ProPublica’s article received attention and even led some regulators to open investigations, it deserves amplification as many consumers who may have been short-changed are not aware of what happened, how they were deceived, or what recourse they should take.  Furthermore, Turbo Tax has neither shown remorse nor taken real corrective action (an e-mail to Intuit requesting comment for this article did not receive a reply).

What TurboTax Did

As part of an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), TurboTax and 13 other tax-preparation firms are required to provide assistance with federal tax returns. The agreement requires the consortium, known as the Free File Alliance, to offer free help and electronic filing of federal tax returns for taxpayers who earned less than $66,000. Each company has its own guidelines; TurboTax requires a taxpayer to have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less an $34,000 or meet another condition (see graphic below):

Why would TurboTax and others agree to this? Because in return, the IRS committed not to compete and offer its own free online tax software to consumers.  In other words, TurboTax affirmatively opted in and committed to the IRS that it would offer free tax filing to lower-income Americans.

The usage statistics of the Free File program are absymal. As Nina Olsen, the National Taxpayer Advocate, summed up, “the fact that less than 3% of eligible taxpayers are using Free File suggests the program is failing to achieve its objective.” To contextualize, it is important to note that 70% of American tax payers are eligible to file their taxes for free online using the IRS’ Free File program.

While there are perhaps many reasons for the limited usage—such as confusing and disparate eligibility requirements that depend on the software provider—TurboTax and other tax filing services also use deceptive design tactics, called dark patterns, to confuse and steer people away from truly free versions of their services.

TurboTax’s obfuscation took two forms as ProPublica describes: “buying ads to direct people who searched for the truly free version to products where they would eventually have to pay. Second, it suppressed the landing page of the truly free product so that it would never appear.”

First, TurboTax placed misleading ads that masqueraded as the free file service, but, in reality, steered people towards its paying products. For example, ProPublica ran a test searching on Google for “irs free file taxes.” As you can see from the image below, the search results make it seem as if a user is on the path to filing for free.

ProPublica tried to fill out a tax return, for example, as an independent contractor for Task Rabbit who made $29,000 in 2018. But after entering all the information, TurboTax displayed a page saying that she wasn’t eligible to file for free and would need to pay $119.99 to use Turbo Tax’s “Self-Employed” edition.

Remember, that according to the agreement to which TurboTax consented, an individual making less than $34,000 should be able to prepare and file her taxes for free, regardless of income source and other deductions. Despite this agreement and obviously knowing that the individual is eligible to file for free, TurboTax never mentioned the free version. “It turns out that if you start the process from TurboTax.com, it’s impossible to find the truly free version. The company itself admits this.”

The second way Inuit deceived users was by adding “code on its site telling Google and other search engine not to list TurboTax Free File in search results.” Essentially, TurboTax told Google to suppress the site where people could actually file for free, an edition known as “TurboTax Free File,” no matter what they typed into the search bar. (In the wake of ProPublica’s reporting, Intuit relented and changed the code, but that was after the filing deadline for 2018 taxes, meaning that many who searched and filed their taxes by April 15 had already needlessly paid).

The result? Users like an 87-year-old veteran with a gross income of $11,000 from Social Security and a military pension were steered toward paid products. As a thank you for her service, TurboTax allegedly charged her $124 to file even though she should have been eligible for free tax filing.

How TurboTax Failed a Second Time

Companies make mistakes, but the true test of a CEO is how he or she responds to these mistakes. Some CEOs respond with humility and contrition. And then you have Intuit’s CEO, Sasan Goodarzi, who failed his crucible and chose to respond with spin over substance. Instead of accepting responsibility, Mr. Goodarzi obfuscated and denied.

The right thing to do would have been to proactively issue refunds to anyone making less than $34,000 who was eligible to file for free, but paid TurboTax to file. TurboTax has the data and could have easily taken this step.

Goodarzi didn’t do this.

The right thing to do would have been to instruct customer service agents to respond with kindness and empathy to customers calling www turbotax com 2018 and to direct agents to easily provide refunds.

Goodarzi didn’t do this.

Instead, TurboTax representatives were caught dissembling to customers who called asking for a refund; some agents even had the audacity to call the reporting “fake news.” If you read some of the transcripts, you see corporate culture at its worst with agents denying, spinning, and doing anything they can to avoid issuing refunds.

The right thing to do for a CEO would have been to be contrite and speak to employees about how the company would improve.

Goodarzi didn’t do this.

Instead, in an internal video to employees, Goodarzi claimed the deception was in the best interest of taxpayers. “Our choice around search was intended to be [in] the best interest of taxpayers so they were more fully informed about their options and could choose what they felt was best for them.”

Let's be crystal clear.  The best interest of a taxpayer making less than $34,000 a year is being able to easily file her taxes for free and not being presented sub-optimal options with confusing names. The most shameful part of TurboTax's actions is that it ensnared Americans who could least afford to pay. The $119 TurboTax charged could have been used to put food on the table, save for a rainy day, or invest for long-term financial security.

In the internal video, Goodarzi continues, “To avoid confusion between the IRS Free File program and our own free product, we also decided to have the landing page for the IRS product we offer not rank in search results.”  This is Goodarzi admitting to ProPublica's findings.  But here’s another option for Mr. Goodarzi. Why not have the landing page for TurboTax’s free product not rank in search results and have the default result be the IRS product? Given that the IRS Free File product results in lower costs for lower-income Americans, wouldn’t this have been the option if you were concerned about the “best interest” of tax payers?

To offer perspective, just imagine the CEO of Wells Fargo saying that Wells' opening fake accounts was intended in the best interest of customers to fully inform them about their account options. Would you believe him? Well, then you www turbotax com 2018 believe Goodarzi’s drivel either.

What Steps You Should Take

1. Read ProPublica’s reporting and educate yourself. Justin Elliott and his fellow reporters did a wonderful job uncovering TurboTax’s nefarious behavior and the resulting articles make an important, educational series.
2. Determine if you qualify for a refund. If you do, call TurboTax (888-777-3066) and, if legal, record your call. If you want to pay it forward, you should fill out the questionnaire and add your results to ProPublica’s database.
3. If TurboTax denies you a refund, I would recommend disputing the payment to TurboTax with your credit card company.
4. Call and complain to your congressperson and ask them to get involved on your behalf.

Does TurboTax owe you a refund? Perhaps. Is that enough? Not really. Intuit also owes the American public a thorough and sincere apology.

All opinions expressed in this article are my own and represent only my personal viewpoint.  

Pros: Turbo tax is simple even when dealing with stocks and deductions Answer all the questions and you're good to go

Cons: I thought the state e-file was free. Feel like they nickle and dime you all the time. Some issues with one of our 1099 R forms. I still feel like Turbo tax wanted to treat it differently than what it actually was (an tropical financial credit union rates Review: I am generally satisfied with TT, but i think it's time they create an online account that wouldn't require me to store all my Turbo tax stuff on my computer. I am definitely getting a new computer this year and will have to either move the files or re-enter all that stuff next year. This online account could store all my tax documents as well and provide one place to store at least electronic copies of all my tax files. I'd also like to see a little more ability to download W-2s and 1099s and mortgage documents electronically. With the exception of Charles Schwab I have to manually enter a lot of my stuff. I just think that in this day and age it should be easier. Still, I like the program and will continue to use it in the future.

Intuit is seeking credentialed tax experts, including CPAs, enrolled agents and practicing attorneys, to work for its TurboTax Live service throughout tax season next year.

Launched last year by Intuit, TurboTax Live is a matching platform for taxpayers and tax preparers. The software company needs to fill 2,000 tax expert slots by December to serve its anticipated needs for next tax season.

TurboTax is also offering a professional development program for qualifying TurboTax specialists to gain the EA credential and be promoted to a TurboTax Live Expert. Designated “Experts” get added visibility and extra opportunities on the platform.

“Joining the TurboTax Live network provides a variety of growth opportunities for any credentialed tax expert, no matter where they are in their career,” said Stacie Herring, vice president of TurboTax consumer services experience, in a statement. “Whether someone is just starting out, has an established practice, or is retired, TurboTax Live allows them to serve tax payers on a flexible basis while growing their expertise.”

TurboTax Live experts are seasonal, hourly employees of Intuit who have access to benefits such as a 401(k) and bonuses paid out at the end of the season based on performance.

If you've been using TurboTax to file your tax returns, you may be paying more than you need to.

Tax Day is April 17, so if you haven't done your taxes and don't plan to file for an extension (which only takes a few minutes), now is the time to figure out if you qualify snell motors in mankato minnesota file for free.

The IRS website lists almost a dozen different tax-filing software programs that may allow you to file your federal and state tax returns for free if your adjusted gross income is at or below a certain level. Big-name participants include TurboTax and H&R Block, as well as several less prominent brands.

Most of the tax programs have an income threshold of around $60,000 to $66,000. Although some have additional restrictions around age or state of residence, in many cases you can file both your federal and state returns for no charge using the tax software services listed.

TurboTax, however, is an outlier. You can still file a free federal tax return with TurboTax through the IRS Free File program, but only if your adjusted gross income is $33,000 or less annually. That's about half the upper fake bank of america account balance limit of most of the other free tax-filing options.

Even the tax software with the second-lowest AGI threshold, FreeTaxUSA, has an upper limit of $51,000—still $18,000 higher than the TurboTax income limit.

TurboTax's parent company, Intuit, did not immediately respond to a request that it explain the wide variance, although it did www turbotax com 2018 out that the free-filing upper limit is $66,000 for active military personnel.

Millions of people could be affected by the gap between the different free-filing thresholds. According to IRS data, roughly 26 million U.S. tax returns showed adjusted gross income between $30,000 and $49,999 for the 2015 tax year. (Another 20 million had AGI of at least $50,000 but less than $75,000; it seems reasonable that many of those could also be affected by the gap.)

There's one other way to file your taxes for free with TurboTax: If you're filing a 1040EZ or 1040A form, you can use the TurboTax Free Edition, even though it's not part of the IRS Free File program. Those forms won't work for any taxpayers who have even slightly complex tax situations, however—those who want to claim deductions for charitable gifts or mortgage interest, or health savings account contributions, for instance.