The IRS will be starting the IRS Free File this Friday to accept individual tax returns ahead of the official beginning of the 2025 tax season. Taxpayers eligible for the IRS Free File can use the service to file their 2024 tax year returns.
Generally, the IRS starts the IRS Free File early before the tax season begins to help certain taxpayers with tax preparation and filing the tax return through the IRS-partnered software tools. Taxpayers looking for the IRS Free File information can check every detail here.
IRS Free File opens Friday
On 7 Jan 2025, the IRS revealed that they will start accepting individual tax returns filed through IRS Free File starting from 10 Jan 2025. The taxpayers should understand it is not the official tax season commencement date, the official tax season will begin later in Jan 2025.
The agency started the IRS Free File services ahead of the tax season to let certain taxpayers have free and secure options to file taxes and prepare for their tax returns through the software tools. The IRS Free File allows taxpayers to use the tax preparation software tool for free and file their tax returns.
This will be the 23rd filing season and the IRS has many online options available for taxpayers to electronically file their tax returns, like IRS Direct file, tax professionals, etc., however, this public-private collaboration offers an easy and reliable way to taxpayers.
Under the IRS Free File program, the taxpayers can prepare their taxes and file the returns now which they can hold to e-file them on the official tax season date.
Who can use the IRS Free File for 2025?
As we have said earlier, IRS allows only certain taxpayers to use the IRS Free File program, so let’s who can access the IRS Free File guided tax software:
- In the 2025 tax season, taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2024 should be $84,000 or below,
- Taxpayers should know the IRS Free File partner has their criteria for eligibility based on income, age, military status, and state residency.
In the IRS Free File, taxpayers who have an AGI above $84,000 can use the Fillable forms available in the IRS Free File, which will start on 27 Jan 2025. The IRS Free File Fillable Forms is available for all income levels, where taxpayers file the tax return without any guidance as they file the taxes on their own through IRS forms and instructions.
IRS Free File partnered software tools for 2025
As the 2025 tax season approaches, the taxpayers eligible to use the IRS-guided tax software can check the following eight IRS-trusted partners participating in the 2025 IRS Free File program:
- TaxSlayer
- 1040Now
- TaxAct
- Drake (1040.com)
- On-Line Taxes
- FileYourTaxes.com
- TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA)
- ezTaxReturn.com
Out of the eight trusted partners, only one partner (ezTaxReturn.com) offers the Free File product in Spanish.
What do you need to get started with the IRS Free File?
Taxpayers should prepare the following documents to get started with the IRS Free File program and file their tax returns:
- Valid Social Security Number of yours, spouse, defendant, (if any)
- Last year’s tax return copy
- Income receipts (social security benefits, small business, unemployment benefits, etc.)
- Other income reporting form W-2 forms, 1099-Div, 1099-INT, and others
- ACA filers
- Email Address
How to find the software tool through IRS Free File?
The taxpayers who plan to use the IRS Free File to file their 2024 year tax return tax returns this tax season can determine the IRS file product in the following steps:
- You should first visit the IRS Free File link at IRS.gov/freefile
- Next, go to the Explore Free Guided Tax Software tab and click it.
- Next, select the Find Trusted Partner tool to find the Free File product that suits you.
- As we said some partners may have their own eligibility criteria, hence, check all the partners, see which suits you the best, and select the product;
- When you click the IRS trusted partner link, you should go to the partner’s website and start tax preparation before filing the tax return.
- You would need to create an account on the partner website if this is your first time using the software.
When you file the tax return through the IRS Guided tax software, you will receive an email when the agency accepts your tax return.
What does the IRS Free File offer?
The IRS thrives to introduce tools and services that make tax filing and the whole tax system accessible and easy for taxpayers to boost tax filing. The IRS Free File program is one of the efforts that offers the following benefits to taxpayers:
- Free File is cost-free for certain taxpayers and lets them access the tax software tools for free and file their taxes without worrying about the complexities and cost.
- With the tax software tools, taxpayers can check the credits they qualify for and claim them easily with their tax returns. For instance, the EITC credits for dependents and individuals.
- The Free File option offers safety to your tax information as the partner companies are subjected to Federal Trade Commission or e-file regulations that do not allow them to disclose the user’s tax information.
- With the IRS Free File program, taxpayers can access multiple tools that can help them file their tax returns, such as calculating the taxes to be paid, credits, deductions, etc., and filing accurate tax returns.
In two days, the IRS will start the IRS Free File option for the 2025 tax season, taxpayers eligible for the IRS Free File guided tax software can check it and file their tax return with the help of trusted partner software tools.