Looking for free tax filing options in 2026? This tax season, you have one fewer opportunity since the IRS has killed off Direct File. Fortunately, there are still ways to file your taxes for free.
What Free Tax Filing Options Are Still Available?
Even though Direct File is gone, there are still ways to file for free. (Not all options are available for all taxpayers).
Free File
Despite the IRS axing Direct File, the Free File program remains in place. Free File is a program offered through a public-private partnership between the IRS and Free File Inc., formerly the Free File Alliance. It helps eligible taxpayers file federal tax returns for free using private tax software companies that partner with the IRS. To qualify, your household adjusted gross income (AGI) must be under $84,000. State tax filing may cost extra, depending on the provider.
Free File debuted in 2003, but not without controversy. It was developed to provide free e-filing services to most taxpayers, with the goal of helping the IRS meet the 80% e-file target established by the Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.
You’d assume taxpayers would flock to e-file for free. The e-file market exploded, but not necessarily for free services, prompting allegations that some providers were directing taxpayers to paid services. In 2019—the last year the Free File agreement was signed—up to 100 million taxpayers, or 70% of filers, were eligible to use Free File. The actual use was closer to 3%
In 2016, then-Forbes staffer Sam Sharf wrote an account of how, despite qualifying to file for free, it cost her $118.64 to file her 2014 tax return with TurboTax. A few years later, ProPublica wrote a series of articles focusing on the lengths to which it claims tax software companies went—such as extensive lobbying and hiding free options—to get taxpayers to pay for services. The allegations created quite a stir—and resulted in litigation.
Today, tax preparation software companies are prohibited from hiding free filing services from Google or other search results pages. Additionally, if you can’t file for free after visiting a company’s Free File website, you must be able to return to the Free File website to find another offer. Each IRS Free File company must provide information when you don’t qualify, with a link to the IRS.gov Free File site.
Following those changes, two traditional Free File participants, Intuit and H&R Block, opted out of the program. Last year, eight private-sector Free File partners provided online guided tax software products in 2025: 1040.com, 1040Now, EzTaxReturn, FileYourTaxes.com, FreeTaxUSA, OnLine Taxes, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer.
The IRS website currently notes that Free File is closed, and advises taxpayers to check back in January 2026. I advise checking in mid-to-late January, closer to the start of the tax filing season.
Free Options From Private Companies
Some private tax prep companies still offer free filing outside of Free File—mostly for simple returns. Be thoughtful before you click and read through to understand what’s covered for free and what’s not. (Many software programs, for example, may allow you to file your federal return for free but charge for state returns.)
Free File Fillable Forms
If you earn more than the income limit for Free File, you can use Free File Fillable Forms, which are essentially digital versions of paper tax forms. The catch? You’re on your own. It doesn’t include the step-by-step help or guided interviews that commercial tax software provides. You must choose the right forms, enter your information manually, and do the math yourself. The IRS warns that if you wouldn’t feel comfortable filing on paper, this option probably isn’t for you.
(It also only covers federal taxes, not state returns.)
Free File Fillable Forms are available to all taxpayers, regardless of income or age. However, to use Free File Fillable Forms, you must create an account on the IRS Free File site. This includes verifying with both your email address and your mobile phone number (your phone must be able to receive SMS text messages).
You can’t file your taxes just yet. As with Free File, Free File Fillable Forms services are typically available starting in mid to late January.
(You must file and submit your return before mid-October. After that, you won’t be able to log in, review, print, or e-file your return for that tax year.)
Free In-person Help
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax-filing assistance to underserved communities. While eligibility requirements at VITA sites can vary, sites typically serve taxpayers earning roughly $67,000 or less, individuals with disabilities, and limited-English taxpayers. VITA’s sister program, TCE (short for Tax Counseling for the Elderly), is focused on taxpayers aged 60 and older. Sometimes, TCE and VITA are simply referred to together as VITA.
Not all types of returns can be prepared at VITA sites. Taxpayers who need to report simple interest, dividends, and capital gains or losses can also have their returns prepared at VITA sites. However, Schedule C returns—meaning Forms 1040 for taxpayers who own their businesses—may be out of scope for some sites, especially if the business had a significant net loss (over $10,000) or involves depreciation. Returns with a Schedule D (Capital Gains and Losses) may also be out of scope if they are particularly complex, as well as most Schedule E (Rental Income) and Schedule F (Farm Income) returns.
VITA sites typically do not prepare corporate, partnership, or fiduciary income tax returns, such as Forms 1120, 1120-S, 1041, or 1065.
VITA and TCE sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other public locations. To find the nearest VITA or TCE site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool or call 1.800.906.9887.
Note that most TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide program. To locate the nearest AARP TCE Tax-Aide site between January and April, use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call 1.888.227.7669. The website doesn’t offer site location information right now but notes that it “is expected to be up and running by mid-January 2026.”
VITA also helps taxpayers overseas, especially U.S. troops. (You can contact Military OneSource at 800.342.9647 to find a military VITA site near you.)
MilTax (for military families)
In addition to VITA sites, military families can also use MilTax, a free e-filing service. The service is available to service members, eligible family members, survivors, and recent veterans up to 365 days from their separation or retirement date. All active-duty and reserve Coast Guardsmen and families are also now eligible for Military OneSource services.
The website notes that eligibility is verified through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and warns that, “Due to high volume, DEERS may be intermittently unavailable.”
Military OneSource and the DOD offer the services through MilTax, which allows you to file federal and up to three state returns for free. If you have questions, you can also get one-on-one help from tax pros with special training in military-specific tax situations by phone or chat.
State Filing Programs For Free
While the emphasis is typically on federal income tax filing options, some states offer free filing options.
For example, the California Franchise Board notes that taxpayers can use the CalFile service to file their California state tax return online for free directly with FTB. Similarly, Utah maintains TAP (Taxpayer Access Point), which allows registered taxpayers to file returns for free (some restrictions apply).
Of course, residents in some states, including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming, may not need to file a state income tax return.
What Was Direct File?
The Direct File program allowed eligible taxpayers to file taxes directly with the IRS online for free. The program first rolled out as a pilot in 2024. It was designed to allow taxpayers to file their taxes directly with the IRS online, without paying a third party or navigating third-party software.
Supporters said Direct File was simple, fast, and free. In a GSA Touchpoints survey of more than 11,000 Direct File users, 90% of respondents ranked their experience with Direct File as “Excellent” or “Above Average.” When asked what they particularly liked, respondents most commonly cited Direct File’s ease of use, trustworthiness, and that it was free. According to the IRS, taxpayers filed—for free—to obtain more than $90 million in refunds and saved an estimated $5.6 million in filing costs.
(You can read what some taxpayers had to say to Forbes about their experiences here.)
After an initial test in a handful of states, the Biden administration announced plans to make it permanent and expand it to 25 states for the 2025 filing season. The IRS also expanded the program to include more states and the ability to handle a wider range of income, credits, and deductions.
It wasn’t enough. The program quickly ran into political and industry pushback. Republican lawmakers argued the program was unnecessary and a misuse of taxpayer dollars, noting that free filing options already existed (though critics note those options can be hard to find and use). Commercial tax preparation companies also opposed the program.
That opposition was clearly noted in May, when the House version of what is now the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) included a provision to eliminate IRS Direct File. The original language directed Treasury to ensure that the IRS Direct File program was “terminated” no later than 30 days after the bill became law. That bit didn’t survive.
But the final version of OBBBA did include a provision creating a task force to deliver a report on the “cost of enhancing and establishing public-private partnerships which provide for free tax filing for up to 70 percent of all taxpayers calculated by adjusted gross income, and to replace any direct e-file programs run by the Internal Revenue Service.” The task force is also tasked with taking the pulse of the public on “opinions and preferences regarding a taxpayer-funded, government-run service or a free service provided by the private sector.” The amount of money earmarked is $15,000,000.
(If you’re feeling a bit of deja vu, you’re not wrong. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2021—the law that led to the creation of Direct File—also established a task force to design a direct file tax return system. The cost? Also $15,000,000.)
In addition to the language in the OBBBA draft, former IRS Commissioner Billy Long had indicated that the program’s days were numbers. “You’ve heard of Direct File,” Long told the National Association of Enrolled Agents. “That’s gone. Big beautiful Billy wiped that out. I don’t care about Direct File. I care about direct audit.”
(A month later, big beautiful Billy was also gone.)
The opposition ultimately won out. In November 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was also serving as acting IRS commissioner, said the program would be shut down. He told reporters that Direct File “wasn’t used very much” and that “the private sector can do a better job.”
As a result, IRS Direct File is not available for the 2026 tax filing season. The website now points you to an error page:
Former Direct File users can’t log on to retrieve information from the site. A notice on the IRS’ website used to direct anyone who needs a transcript to log into their IRS online accounts. The IRS also previously advised, “If you used Direct File to submit your return, you can retrieve a copy by submitting Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return…If you used a different tool to submit your tax return, find out how to access your tax records.”
What’s Next In Free Tax Filing?
With IRS Direct File gone, free tax filing in the U.S. is once again a patchwork of programs with fine print, eligibility rules, and tradeoffs. Options like IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms, and MilTax can still save you money, but they may require more effort to use—assuming that you qualify. Your best bet? Do your homework and make sure that you understand what you’re signing up for before you click onto a free filing option.f
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