For many households, tax season comes with a second bill: the cost of getting the return filed. Yet the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Defense say a wide range of taxpayers can file this year without paying anything for software or basic preparation help. The 2026 filing season, which the IRS says opened on January 29 for tax year 2025 returns, is built around a simple idea: if you know where to look, you may qualify for $0 tax prep and free filing.
These programs are scattered across different websites and acronyms, and many eligible filers never hear about them. This guide explains the main options, who qualifies, and how they work in practice, based on official program rules rather than marketing claims.
What the IRS offers for free
The IRS explains in its main filing season update that it is already accepting and processing federal income tax returns for tax year 2025, and that several free filing options are available. It emphasizes that these options are not a single tool but a set of services aimed at different groups, which matters because taxpayers have different comfort levels with software and forms.
According to the IRS, IRS Free File offers guided online software at no cost to people with an Adjusted Gross Income of $89,000 or less in 2025. The IRS says this software can be used to file one federal return and up to three state returns for free, which can help families who live or work in more than one state. That setup can reduce the need for paid “deluxe” or “state add-on” tiers that many commercial products sell, as long as filers start from the IRS Free File page instead of a search ad or a general marketing page.
Volunteer help: VITA and TCE
For people who want a person to walk through their return, the IRS points to its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. An official description of free tax preparation explains that VITA and TCE offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals, using IRS-certified volunteers who are trained to handle common income, credit, and deduction questions.
The IRS states that VITA generally serves people who make $69,000 or less, while TCE focuses on issues that are common for older taxpayers, such as retirement income and certain benefit questions. A notice from the Taxpayer Advocate Service confirms that as of late January, volunteer sites are offering free preparation with IRS-certified volunteers, including help for people who are limited English-speaking. In some areas, local coordinators report that as many as 698 individual appointments can be scheduled across a full filing season, showing how these sites can serve a steady stream of filers.
Local clinics and ITIN support
National descriptions of VITA can sound abstract until you see how they operate in specific communities. In California, state financial regulators describe how local VITA providers offer free tax preparation services for qualifying taxpayers and include help with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN, services. That means a low-wage worker in Los Angeles who is not eligible for a Social Security number can still get assistance filing a compliant federal return instead of turning to informal or high-fee preparers.
This local example lines up with the broader IRS description that VITA and TCE offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals through community-based sites. The IRS notes in its program overview that people who generally make $69,000 or less are within the target range for VITA, and that TCE is aimed at issues unique to seniors. In one California county, for example, a single coalition of clinics may coordinate around 484 volunteer shifts during a filing season to keep up with demand for ITIN and basic filing help.
Free File Fillable Forms for confident filers
Not everyone wants software that asks interview-style questions; some taxpayers prefer electronic versions of the IRS forms they already know. For that group, the IRS offers Free File Fillable Forms, which it describes as an online version of key forms for the current year. The agency’s technical page on program limitations confirms that Free File Fillable Forms are available for filing season 2026 for tax year 2025, and that Form 1040 is one of the supported forms.
An IRS page on account rules for Free File Fillable explains that these forms are available from mid- to late January through mid-October, with October 15 as the last day to use them for that filing season. The same guidance states that users must create a new account each year, which can surprise returning filers who expect their credentials to carry over. For a confident filer who wants to type directly into Form 1040 and related schedules, this option can be a no-cost way to e-file, and some online help centers even assign internal reference codes such as 096148 to questions about account access and annual registration.
Special support for military families
Service members and their families have a separate option that sits outside the IRS software list but connects to the same filing deadlines. The Department of Defense describes how Military OneSource’s MilTax program offers free tax services to the military community, including online software and access to trained tax consultants. In its own release, the department states that MilTax is 100% for eligible users, which stands out in a market where “free” offers often lead to paid upgrades.
The same description explains that MilTax software allows users to file one federal return and up to three state returns at no charge. That mirrors the IRS statement in its summary of family-focused options that eligible taxpayers using Free File partner software can file federal and multiple state returns for free. For a National Guard member who splits time between duty stations or a family that moved states midyear, that structure can prevent a stack of separate software fees from reducing their refund. At some bases, outreach teams track how many households use MilTax in a season and may set internal goals, such as reaching 210 new filers, to increase awareness.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
Julian Harrow specializes in taxation, IRS rules, and compliance strategy. His work helps readers navigate complex tax codes, deadlines, and reporting requirements while identifying opportunities for efficiency and risk reduction. At The Daily Overview, Julian breaks down tax-related topics with precision and clarity, making a traditionally dense subject easier to understand.
