The 3 Best Ways To File Taxes For Free

Tax season comes with a lot of stress for many Americans, and that may especially be the case in 2026, thanks to the Trump administration's decision to get rid of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Direct File program. Established in early 2024 under the Biden administration, IRS Direct File enabled Americans to file their taxes online at no cost. Fortunately, it wasn't the only way to do so. While there's always still the option of using a private accountant, there are plenty of free online tools that can help you prepare and submit your return on your own without paying a cent. Sure, it'll mean doing a little more work on your own, but the prospect of not paying a fee to file can make it worthwhile.

That said, not all programs advertising free filing are equal. Some come with hidden fees that won't be clear until you're ready to hit "file," while others are just complicated to use. It's also important to review your income for the year ahead of time to know which forms you'll need, as not all programs will be compatible. Additionally, before you file the return, it's always wise to double-check the information you've input, regardless of the tool you use; even well-established programs have been known to make errors. With all this in mind, Cash App Taxes, H&R Block, and FreeTax USA offer some of the best ways for free tax filing available today.

It may sound surprising that Cash App also offers free tax filing, but the service does come with bona fides. Cash App Taxes is just the newer name of Credit Karma's old free tax program (renamed after Credit Karma sold the service to Square in 2020). It's one of the few programs around that is genuinely 100% free for common tax filing cases (even if they do require multiple forms), covering both state and federal taxes as well as itemized deductions. It's even free to file if you have more complex types of income like freelance work, rental income, retirement funds, and capital gains. And, yes, Cash App will also store your info to make filing in future years easier.

Now, the downside of Cash App is that, because it's fully free even for more complex taxes, there's not a lot of support available compared to other filing programs. There are also still some forms and situations that Cash App Taxes does not cover, such as foreign income and income earned in a state you are not a resident of. And, while some users have found Cash App's more hands-on filing approach to be appealing, others have also reported it to be more complicated and less intuitive than other programs. Still, if you're really hoping to not pay a cent in tax filing fees and don't have an overly unique income situation, Cash App could be a good way to go.

You've probably seen a few brick-and-mortar H&R Block locations over the years. The tax preparation service has been around since 1955, and it's well-established. But you might not ever need to set foot in one — according to H&R Block, 52% of filers qualify to do their taxes for free via the company's online version. This includes both state and federal filings done completely free, with purportedly none of the hidden fees that often plague traditional tax preparation services. The free online version also includes dependents, W2 forms, and several types of 1099 forms. And, as an added plus, all your tax return info is stored in your account to make filing even easier in future years. 

The main advantage of H&R Block may be how well-recognized it is. It does have a few downsides, namely in the form of exceptions that can disqualify you from free filing despite not being apparent upfront. While H&R Block says it has no income restrictions, that doesn't mean you're necessarily in the clear if you have more than one type of income, or even if you have multiple deductions you'd like to add. The free file option does not cover any schedule C income (freelance or self-employment work), rental income, itemized deductions, stocks and bonds, and various other forms of more complex income. Even if you qualify for the platform's free file service, there's a $55 fee if you want one of the company's experts to double-check things.

FreeTax USA has grown in recognition in recent years, thanks to its ease of use and budget-friendly options for small businesses. Users have also noted how fast and easy it is to file with FreeTax USA, with multiple commenters stating on Reddit that they were "in and out in 30 minutes." Another Reddit user said they were a tax professional who utilizes FreeTax USA and likes that the service doesn't "haggle you to purchase their premium options." But regular filers may also find FreeTax USA appealing because it offers free federal tax filing for the majority of income types. Unlike most other tax filing websites, you don't have to pay extra fees or buy a service upgrade to file complex federal returns. There are some forms not supported here (foreign employment income, casualty or theft loss for businesses, and some other less-common items), but the list is pretty short compared to other tax filing programs.

State taxes are unfortunately not free on FreeTax USA, but the fee is set at a very clear $15.99 per state (so, no hidden surprises). Considering nine states don't impose income taxes, FreeTax USA could be the ideal option if you only owe federal taxes this year. Still, you'll always want to consider cross-checking with another free tax service before you actually file, just to make sure you're getting the biggest return possible and aren't making mistakes.