53% of Americans Think Taxes Are Too Complicated. Here’s How to File Your Tax Return Fast (and for Free)

Last year, I spent hours filing my taxes on two platforms, TurboTax and Taxslayer. The experience was similar. I drowned in tax forms, and then the tax software helped me breathe long enough to file them. In the middle of it all, as I reached the peak of exhaustion, I was sold on premium products.

A bit disgusting, if I may say so.

Anyway, I filed my taxes with TurboTax because taxes are too complicated. According to Pew Research, 53% of Americans say the complexity of filing taxes is a big concern for them. I agree. The modern tax code is over 4,000 pages long and counting. Nobody has time for that.

There’s hope: One little-known way to file your taxes for free. We’re talking state and federal taxes, employment and self-employment. If you qualify for IRS Free File Online, you can file your taxes quickly (and for free) through programs vetted by the U.S. government.

How IRS Free File Works

If your income is low enough to qualify, you can file free federal taxes through IRS Free File. Depending on your location and income, you may also qualify for free state filing.

The IRS partners with tax preparation companies to offer their services free of charge. Members can’t buy you in or charge you weird fees. The only caveat is that some charge a fee to file your tax return. (Not much, but I checked.)

Who qualifies for the IRS Free File program?

You qualify if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $80,000. At least you can file your federal tax return for free.

You also qualify for free tax filing if your AGI is less than $45,000. If your income is between $45,000 and $80,000, whether you qualify depends on your location. For example, some partner platforms do not allow California residents to file their state taxes for free.

Some platforms give you more choice. For example, some qualify for earned income tax credits, and some let you file as self-employed. It doesn’t hurt to double-check that the platform offers what you need, preferably before you fill out half of your application.

How to Use IRS Free File

It’s easy to check if you qualify for IRS Free File.

Here’s how:

Go to the IRS Free File Trusted Partners website
Check your partner’s requirements (everything is set in advance)
Choose your favorite
Click “View Trusted Partner” and submit your application

The list includes trusted names, including two of the best tax filing platforms available. FreeTax USA graces our list of the best free tax software and offers free filing for self-employed individuals. It typically charges $0 for federal taxes and $15 for state taxes, but everything is free through IRS Free File.

TaxSlayer is another platform on our list of the best. It is one of the best tax software platforms out there. It is cheaper than TurboTax and works well. (I have used both).

Your banking app may offer free tax preparation

There is another way to file your taxes for free: through banking apps. Now you can file all your taxes for free through Cash App, a free app that lets you exchange money, bank and invest in one place. It is the first of its kind and is very convenient for Cash App users.

Chime, the mobile banking app, is also rolling out free tax preparation. The company says it should be ready for all Chime members by tax year 2024. As a Chime user, I’m super excited about how much easier this will make my life. And yes, it’s a lot more affordable.

As competition heats up for banking apps, I’ll be on the lookout for new, free ways to file. It may soon be that tax filing becomes a free, common perk that companies offer to attract customers. I’m all for it—anything that simplifies my taxes and makes them cheaper is a win for me.