Free Tax Software

Its tax season once again here in the United States and with the current state of the economy, people are trying to get the most out of every penny and trying to get more from their tax refund. Most people don’t know that they can save extra money by using one of the IRS Free File websites where they can prepare their taxes and eletronically file their returns for free.

The IRS Free File service offers free tax preparation software to eligible persons to prepare and e-file their 1040. The IRS have worked with different software companies to provide a way to make tax preparation low-cost or free for most Americans.

NOTE: This list is just a guide for you, so you can choose the best website to file your income tax returns with. You MUST begin at the IRS Free File page before going to a certain website. Going directly to the company website won’t qualify you for free service.

Citizen Tax
CitizenTax: Free federal online preparation if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you live in the following states: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TX, VA and WI.

Free TaxACT
Free TaxACT: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you are age 19 through 55 years old. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

Online Tax Pros
OnlineTaxPros.com: Free federal tax preparation if your Adjusted Gross Income is between $5,000 and $56,000, and you live in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV.En Español.

123 Easy Tax Filing
123Easytaxfiling: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you live in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, VA, WI, or WV.

Efile Tax Returns
EfileTaxReturns.net: Free federal preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is between $5,000 and $56,000, and you live in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, UT, VA, VT, WI or WV.

1040 Now
1040NOW.NET: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your AGI is between $5,000 and $56,000 and you live in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI, or WV. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

File Your Taxes
FileYourTaxes.com: Free federal tax preparation if your Adjusted Gross Income is $56,000 or less and you are aged 17 to 60 and you live in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, TX, UT, VA, WA, or WI. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

eSmart Tax
eSmartTax From Liberty Tax Service: Free Federal online tax preparation and e-File if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less, and you are age 50 or younger. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief). En Español.

Online Taxes @ OLT
OnLine Taxes @ OLT.com: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you are age 50 or younger. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

Free Tax USA
FreeTaxUSA.com: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you live in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, UT, VA, or WV. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

Free Tax Return
Free Tax Return: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you live in the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, HI, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, or WY.

I-CAN! Free File
I-CAN!® Free File: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $30,000 or less or you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. En Español.

H&R Block TaxCut Free File
H&R Block’s TaxCut Free File: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you are age 50 or younger. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

Tax Slayer
TaxSlayer.com: Free Federal tax return preparation and e-file if your AGI is $56,000 or less and you are age 25 or younger or 65 or older or you are active Military or if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or if your AGI is $10,000 or less regardless of age. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

EZ Tax Return
ezTaxReturn.com: Free Federal tax preparation and e-file if your Adjusted Gross Income is $56,000 or less and you live in the following states AL, AR, AZ, CA, GA, IL, LA, MA, MI, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, or WI.

TurboTax Freedom Edition
TurboTax® Freedom Edition: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your Adjusted Gross Income is $30,000 or less or you are active military or you qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

Free 1040 Tax Return
Free1040TaxReturn.com: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less and you are age 85 or younger and you live in one of the following states: AR, AZ, CA,CT, CO, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, UT, VA, WI, or WV.

Complete Tax
CompleteTax: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if your Adjusted Gross Income is $31,000 or less.

Tax Simple
TAX$IMPLE Ultimate Version: Free federal tax preparation and e-file if you are age 66 or less and you live in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, or WY. Includes Form 982 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief).

NOTE: This list is just a guide for you, so you can choose the best website to file your income tax returns with. You MUST begin at the IRS Free File page before going to a certain website. Going directly to the company website won’t qualify you for free service or free tax software.

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10 Comments

  1. @elmot – Thats true. However, implementing automated systems like these require a lot of money which is why I think is what keeps most third world countries from doing so. Yes, with automation, most of the tax money will be accounted for not lost on some corrupt agent’s pocket. :P

  2. i agree jayp's. that is why revenue collection for third world and still on a good number of developing countries fall below their targets because of human errors and at most frailties.

    but with automation, everything is programmed and counted.

  3. @Gem – Having these automated process of filing taxes is beneficial not only for the taxpayers but also for the government because they get their money quickly and taxpayers can easily file their taxes and get their refunds fast.

    Dunno about UK and Australia, haven’t been to those parts of the world yet. :D

    Here, those who are self-employed also file their taxes individually like me. Yeah, that’s true about the case in the Philippines. However, I think they can automate some of their services and still keep the employees. The automated process is just an additional service that will help speed up the tax filing process, minimize long lines and backlog in the office and less overtime so the government can actually save more money. :D

  4. US always have all those awesome tax automation sites. I wonder if other countries like Australia and UK, develop helpful websites or software for computing taxes.

    For Philippine-based Filipino earners who are not employed, it would be up to the individual to declare his true income.

    Btw, I’ve worked in the government and things are still done manually because there are already people hired to do those manual stuff for decades. The government here has this “security of tenure” signed by the regular employees so they cannot be easily taken out of their jobs. I guess that’s one of the reason why things here are not yet computerized.

  5. @elmot – Automation not only eliminates human error but it also speeds up the process. No, I’m not using nor have tried any of these software. I have my taxes done by H&R Block, a company that specializes in taxes. :)

  6. @elmot – From what I know, NTC’s resolution is to tax content providers (ringtones, wallpapers, etc) and not bloggers but I could be wrong.

    I think it’s possible but the thing is, the system is different in the Philippines and its not automated like it is here in the US. So even if you have software like this, the process would still take a long time. But it could be a start and maybe the Philippine government can eventually use this in the near future.

  7. @jhay: isn’t it the ntc is filing for a resolution for this tax thing for bloggers? am i right with my info?

    @jayps: hopefully, the philippines would have this kinds of software for people who are going to file their income tax, not suffer the long lines of manually doing this task. good thing in the US also is the IRS man is ready to take away from your account those unpaid tax dues for those who do not do their tax obligations. here in the phil, so many people can just run away from the bagman with clean hands…ouch

  8. @jhay – Thanks! I thought this list would be useful for many people who are getting ready to prepare their taxes. I’m sure they’ll be happy to be able to save as much money as they can especially in this economic crisis.

    Good for you man! All the best to you and your blog. :D

  9. Nice collection of tax services sites. Funny thing is, I haven't filed for income tax yet though I've been earning quite well from my blogging. ;)

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