Free File 2025 is open with 8 familiar software options

IRS Direct File customer service could take a hit in 2025, says GAO report

2025 tax season, including expanded Direct File in 25 states, starts Jan. 27

Free File 2025 is open with 8 familiar software options

Friday, January 10, 2025

If you used Free File last year to complete your federal taxes, then the 2025 version, which opened today, is mostly déjà vu.

The same eight tax software companies are participating. One of them will offer software for Spanish speakers.

The main difference this year is that the Internal Revenue Service/Free File Alliance partnership can be used by taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is $84,000. That’s five grand more than last year’s AGI threshold, but it still applies to all filers, regardless of filing status.

Same 8 software options: The eight returning private-sector tax software companies that are part of this 23rd Free File season are —

1040Now
Drake (1040.com)
ezTaxReturn.com
FileYourTaxes.com
On-Line Taxes
TaxAct
TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA)
TaxSlayer

While the Free File program establishes general parameters, each participating provider is allowed to set its own eligibility rules for products based on age, income, and state residency.

This filing season, ezTaxReturn.com will provide an IRS Free File product in Spanish. Some providers also offer free state return preparation. Others focus on filings by military personnel.

The photo strips in this post, captured from the IRS Free File official online access page, give you a brief look at each of the companies' offerings and some of their requirements.

Note that these images are screen captures. The blue buttons at the bottom of each Free File provider blurb that instructs interested taxpayers to “View this trusted partner” are not interactive here. You need to go to the IRS’ Free File browsing page for that accessibility.

Go to the source: Speaking of the IRS Free File page, that is the only source for these eight tax software providers who are part of the program this year.

If you use a search engine to find free tax filing, you'll likely discover other offerings. If you've ever searched for tax filing, you'll also probably will get similar no-cost filing offers in your email box.

But be careful. As we all know, all too well, tax filing season is prime tax scam season.

Your best, and safest, option is to go directly to the only official, legitimate way to do your taxes for free, the Free File website at IRS.gov.

To ensure that you’re going to the IRS site and not a crook’s replica, start at the main IRS.gov. There you can look for Free File on the home page, or type Free File in the search box at the top right.

That search result will give you a link to the agency's recommended link, Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes for Free. This page is full of additional links, as well as frequently asked questions.

You can compare the various Free File possibilities by using IRS.gov's Browse All Trusted Partners interactive page. There you can set parameters to help narrow your search.

Or you can use the Free File lookup tool. This online search option asks you a series of questions about your tax situation and then provides you with Free File matches.

Also note that you must use the links at IRS Free File on IRS.gov to get the no-cost offers.

If you find a program you like, but go directly to that company’s commercial website, won’t get the free tax preparation service advertised as part of Free File.

Be a careful tax shopper: Tax software shopping is just like any other retail endeavor. Be a careful, and smart, Free File consumer.

Unless you've used one of this year's Free File programs before and are happy with it, shop around. And even if you do find your prior Free File company, make sure it hasn't changed this year. An option that was available last year may not be there in 2025, or may require more work.

Such examination is particularly important for taxpayers who also must file a state tax return.

As noted earlier, some, but not all, this year's Free File providers offer free state tax prep and e-filing. Some offer it, but unlike the federal portion, the state portion is not free. And some companies that do offer free state filing only do so for certain states.

So double check the state details if this feature is important to you.

You also should check with your state tax department about any free tax preparation and filing options it provides. Most offer at least some form of free e-filing for their residents. This would mean going to different sites to fulfill all your tax responsibilities, but if you can complete your state returns for free, the added work is likely worth it.

Early, but held, filings: Although you can start (or complete) your 2024 tax year return today using Free File (if you’re eligible), the IRS is not going to look at your filing until the full 2025 tax season officially starts.

That’s expected to be on Monday, Jan. 27.

The Free File companies will hold the returns it gets in advance of the tax season’s start, and hold them until they can be filed electronically in a couple of weeks.

But the taxpayers who use Free File now and any time before Jan. 27 will be done with this year's tax task. The box below has more on how you can use Free File to take "file your taxes" off your to-do list.

What you need to use Free File

Tax filing is always easier if you're ready. So that your Free File experience will be a successful one with as little stress as possible, the IRS suggests you gather the following information and materials before you start.

Personal Information:

A copy of last year's tax return in order to access your adjusted gross income (AGI)
Valid Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse, and any dependent, if applicable
A valid email address so the Free File software company you use can notify you that your return was accepted by IRS

Income and Receipts:

Social Security benefits
Unemployment Compensation
All receipts pertaining to your small business, if applicable
Income receipts from rental, real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporation, trusts

Other income:

W-2s, showing your annual wages from all of your employers
Form 1099-INT, showing interest paid to you throughout the year
Form 1099-G, showing any refund, credit or offset of state and local taxes
Forms 1099-DIV and 1099-R, showing dividends and distributions from retirement and other plans paid to you during the year

Healthcare/Affordable Care Act data:

Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement.
Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit

You can read more about Free File, what you need to get started, related filing tools, and more in the drop-down sections of IRS.gov's main IRS Free File page.

Fillable forms opens Jan. 27: As for taxpayers who made more than $84,000 in 2024, Free File's companion program Free File Fillable Forms (FFFF) will be available later this month.

You guessed it. The fillable forms option will open on Jan. 27.

Once FFFF is operational, you select the forms you need, fill them out at your computer and then, like the full Free File setup, electronically submit them to the IRS at no cost.

Remember, though, there is no programmed tax software component in the fillable forms option. You must not only complete the forms themselves, but also have some knowledge of the tax laws so that you can do so correctly.

If you're comfortable doing that and aren't eligible for the full Free File option, then Free Fillable Forms is a good alternative.

You can read more about FFFF in the option's official user's guide IRS Publication 5274.

You also might find these items of interest:

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Today's Tax Tip

Questions to ask, and answer, before you tackle your 1040 — You’ve got all your tax statements, but don’t file just yet. You also need to ask yourself some basic tax questions. Your answers could help you submit a tax return that’s as complete and correct as possible. They also could mean you don’t overlook any tax breaks. (Jan. 21, 2025)
The 2025 Tax Tips offer ways to file your annual return, along with post-filing advice, important tax news and, of course, ways to cut your current tax year bill. You'll find the monthly assemblages on their own respective pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Remember, tax tasks and tips don't stop after you file your annual return!

All About Kay

OK, some about Kay

Kay Bell — Native Texan
(the blog title totally makes sense now, right?). Professional journalist. Tax geek.
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Tax Year 2025 Countdown

Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2024 tax return? I know, too early to ask. But Tax Day 2025 will be here before we realize it. The Internal Revenue Service deadline to file and pay any tax we owe is the regular April 15 date this year. It’s also Tax Day for most of the states that collect income taxes from their residents, which is most of the states! If that seems too far away right now, don’t worry. As is the case every tax season, the ol' blog’s monthly tips and reminders a little farther down this column should help all of us meet our state and federal responsibilities. Procrastinators also will want to keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It tracks how much time we have until April's Tax Day, just in case we put off our annual tax task until the absolutely final hours and decide we need to instead get an extension request into the Internal Revenue Service by that date.
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

🎆 Happy 🎉 New 🥂 Year! 🎆

Hello 2025! Last year was challenging, and I’m sure you’ll find plenty of new ways to test us over the next 12 months, but we’re ready for it. We hope!

via GIPHY

At least we know it will be exciting on the tax front, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s individual tax provisions set to expire on Dec. 31. Congress will have its hands full either extending or revising the tax provisions. But don’t worry. The ol’ tax blog will be here throughout 2025, watching that process and keeping tabs on all the New Year’s tax-saving potential. So, let's get to it now, with the January tax moves below.
Jan. 1: Once more for the official monthly tax moves — Happy New Year! Some people are champing at the bit to get their taxes filed, mainly because they are expecting an Internal Revenue Service refund. But remember, you need to get all your tax documentation before you can accurately complete your Form 1040. And even if you send the form(s) early, the IRS won’t start processing them until later this month. So, take a deep breath. We’ve a ways to go yet.

Jan. 6: It's the first official work week of 2025, with folks who took long holiday breaks finally returning to the office. Once you get settled at your desk, you might want to take some time for a couple of tax-related tasks that could pay off, this year and after you’re done with the 9-to-5.

First, check your paycheck withholding and, if necessary, adjust it. That might be necessary if you’ve experienced a major life change.

Second, if your workplace has a 401(k) plan and you’re not using it, sign up as soon as possible. Then contribute as much as you can. This will give your retirement account more time to grow tax-deferred if it’s a traditional 401(k) or tax-free if it is a Roth version.

Jan. 10: Is your adjusted gross income (AGI) $84,000 or less, regardless of your filing status? Then you qualify to use Free File, which became available today. The same eight software companies that participated last year are back for the 2025 filing season.

If your income is too high, you still can file for free by using Free File's Fillable Forms option. That will be available on Jan. 27 when the full 2025 tax season kicks off and the IRS starts processing all returns that were filed before then and that have been in a holding pattern.

Jan. 10: Do you work as a server at a restaurant or at any other establishment where gratuities from customers are part of your compensation? I hope you get all the tips you deserve for doing your job well. Remember, though, that those tips are taxable income.

Whether you're dining at your favorite eatery or getting food delivered to your home, if a tip isn't included on your restaurant or delivery bill, click the image above to calculate how much to tip the person who brought it to you.

And if you got at least $20 in gratuities in December for your extraordinary services as a food server or hair stylist or parking valet or whatever job where tipping is common, you must report that amount by today. Use Form 4070 to let your employer know the total tips you took in last month.

Jan. 15: Today is the due date for the final estimated tax tax payment for the 2024 tax year. This payment covers the earnings you got last October, November, and December that weren’t subject to withholding. You can pay your estimated amount electronically, or mail your check payment and voucher 1040-ES to the IRS in an envelope postmarked today.

Jan. 20: Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Every year on this federal holiday, millions of people commit to a day of service.

Click image to find out ways
you can volunteer on MLK Day.
Taking time on the Rev. Dr. King's holiday to volunteer at a nonprofit isn't tax deductible, but some costs associated with volunteering could help reduce your tax bill if you itemize.

Jan. 20: Tonight also is title time. The 2025 NCAA College Football champion will be crowned this evening in Atlanta. It’s taken a while to get here. The championship playoff bowl games system was extended, with qualifying matchups starting on Dec. 21, 2024. It's been a fun run for college football fans and for those who bet on the games thanks to the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that allowed states to accept legal sports wagers, including on college competitions. If you're one of those gamblers and your game picks pay off, remember that you'll owe taxes on your winnings when you file your 2025 return next year.

Jan. 27: Tax Season 2025 officially starts. That includes processing of tax returns filed earlier, whether via commercial software, tax preparers, IRS Free File, or IRS Direct File, the IRS’ own free online tax prep and e-filing program. In addition to more than double the Direct File participating states from last year, the IRS operated site will offer more options that apply to more taxpayers’ situations.

Jan. 31: Wow! The first month of 2025 is over? So soon? Time really does fly when you're having tax fun. We'll keep it going here in this new year with new Tax Moves to Make each month, which you also can find on their monthly tax tips pages. January’s tips page is already is filling up!

Small Business Tax Calendar: Important filing, deposit and record keeping dates throughout the year that your company needs to know. The IRS is updating the online version. Until that link is operational, you can get the full year's important business and individual tax dates in IRS Pub. 509.

State Tax Help

Don't forget your state taxes!
Forty-two states and D.C. collect personal income taxes. But even if you live in of the eight states without any income levy, you still face other state (and local) taxes.

State Tax Departments provides links to your state's Web page. The companion page, Tax Tidbits, is the compilation of blurbs about each state's tax laws. And for more state tax news, check out all our state tax bloggings.

Tax Forms

Thanks to our increased use of tax preparers and computer software, many of us don't see our tax forms until we sign and file them. But knowing what's on these documents, either in paper or digital form, and why the IRS wants it is key to understanding our tax system. And knowledge definitely is power, especially when it comes to tax savings. Find this valuable information in the ol' blog's special Tax Forms 2025 page.

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I gotta tell ya ...

AKA Disclaimer:

I am a professional journalist who has been covering tax issues since 1999. I am not a professional tax preparer.

The content on Don't Mess With Taxes is my personal interpretation and opinion based on my study and understanding of tax laws, policies, and regulations. It is provided for your private, noncommercial, educational, and informational purposes only. While I work to ensure each post's accuracy, the items are not recommendations of any specific tax action(s) you should or should not take. Similarly, mentions of commercial tax products or services are not endorsements.

In other words, my ramblings on the ol' tax blog are free advice, and you know what they say about getting what you pay for. That's why when it is time for you to file your own taxes, I urge you to get additional, professional, paid-for guidance from an accountant, Enrolled Agent, or other reputable, qualified tax preparer who is familiar with your individual tax circumstances.

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COVID-19 & Taxes

Coronavirus has wreaked havoc
on the 2020 and 2021 tax seasons.
These five Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes pages have details:
March-July 2020
August-December 2020
January-December 2021
January-December 2022
…and so it continues into 2023
…and, alas, into 2024
It is 2025 and, yes, it's still an issue
You can find medical coronavirus resource links in the next section.

COVID-19 Resources

Need help finding a coronavirus vaccine in the United States?
Call 1-800-232-0233
or TTY 1-888-720-7489.
More information and resources at:
CDC Vaccines
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HHS Combat COVID
USA.Gov COVID Info

January 2025

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Tell it to the Hill

While it's easy to rail at the IRS, for the most part we can thank — or blame — Congress and the White House for our tax laws. So if you have an issue with tax legislation or want a tax bill passed, you need to let your federal legislators and the White House occupant know of your concerns. You can find out who in Washington, D.C., to contact (and how), as well as get information on your local lawmakers for matters, tax or otherwise, closer to home, at USA Gov.

Don't Mess With Taxes

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