Taxes / Plain-English guide

IRS Free File: Start at the Government Door, Not an Ad

Use the current IRS filing page to find official free options and check eligibility before paying a preparer or software company.

The IRS offers official filing pathways and links to current Free File options. Eligibility, forms, and deadlines can change, so begin at IRS.gov each filing season instead of relying on an old advertisement or search result.

What is happening underneath

Paid products can surround the official path in search results. Starting at the agency page reduces the chance of entering a paid funnel first.

Find thisCurrent-year IRS filing page
Then thisIncome and form eligibility rules
Do not missState-return pricing, if any

Your three moves

  1. Begin at IRS.gov.
  2. Confirm the product covers every form you need.
  3. Review the final price before importing or filing.
Use this sentence
“I am looking for the official no-cost federal filing option. What eligibility rule or form requirement would make this return paid?”

What to watch for

A free federal return does not always mean a free state return or free add-on service. Read the final price.

Official starting points

Rules, programs, and deadlines can change. Start with the current official pages below and the documents in front of you.