Table of Contents
TurboTax Free Edition – Free for Simple ReturnsTurboTax Live Assisted Basic Offer – Free for Simple Returns OnlyFree TurboTax for Enlisted Active Duty and Reserve MilitaryFree Tax Assistance and Filing through the IRS VITA Program
What could be better than paying $0 to do your taxes? Over the past ten years, Americans filed approximately 124 million tax returns completely free of charge using TurboTax, more than all other tax prep software companies combined.
Find out all the ways you may be eligible for free tax filing with TurboTax!
TurboTax has a couple of options for free tax filing: TurboTax Free Edition and TurboTax Live Assisted Basic Offer.These offers are designed for people with simple returns only.Simple tax returns include W-2 income, limited interest and dividend income, standard deduction, Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Student Loan interest. Click here for more details about eligible situations.
TurboTax Free Edition – Free for Simple Returns
For the tenth year in a row, we are offering free federal and state tax filing with TurboTax Free Edition, helping millions of Americans file for free. TurboTax Free Edition is for taxpayers filing simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest) and approximately 37% of filers qualify – you can see if you qualify here.
What qualifies as a simple Form 1040 only with limited credits (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest)?
A simple Form 1040 only return with limited credits is one that’s filed using IRS Form 1040 only (with the exception of the specific covered situations described below). Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible.
If you are filing a simple Form 1040 return only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest), you can file for free yourself with TurboTax Free Edition or TurboTax Live Assisted Basic (if available), or you can file with TurboTax Full Service Basic at the listed price.
Situations covered (assuming no added tax complexity):
- W-2 income
- Interest or dividends (1099-INT/1099-DIV) that don’t require filing a Schedule B
- IRS standard deduction
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Student loan interest deduction
Situations not covered:
- Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A
- Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
- Business or 1099-NEC income
- Stock sales (including crypto investments)
- Rental property income
- Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules
If you don’t have a Form 1040 return with limited credits, we have other paid options to file using TurboTax.
How does TurboTax make anymoney?
We want our customers to love our products and services. Because we have customers who pay for our premium products and services, we can offer free tax filing. We offer additional paid benefits that go beyond filing your Form 1040 return with limited credits for free, but they’re optional.
TurboTax Live Assisted Basic Offer – Free for Simple Returns Only
For a limited time, if you file simple Form 1040 only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest), you could file your taxes for free with TurboTax Live Assisted Basic Offer where you can get expert help along the way while you file your taxes, and a final review of your return before you file, giving you confidence that your taxes are done right. TurboTax Live Assisted Basic is $0 through March 31, 2024 and is for taxpayers filing filing simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest) and approximately 37% of filers qualify – you can see if you qualify here.
Free TurboTax for Enlisted Active Duty and Reserve Military
Intuit is a proud supporter of US military members, veterans, and their families in their communities and overseas. As a part of this commitment, we’re proud to provide free federal and state tax preparation to active duty and reservists of an enlisted rank (E-1 through E-9) with a W2 from DFAS.
Military members can file through any TurboTax Online (not CD/desktop or TurboTax Live) product, including Free Edition, Deluxe,and Premium. You just need to enter your W-2 and verify your military rank when prompted within TurboTax Online, and your discount will be applied when you are ready to file.
Free Tax Assistance and Filing through the IRS VITA Program
Intuit TurboTax is a proud supporter of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program which provides free tax preparation assistance for lower – and moderate-income taxpayers. At VITAs, IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to people who generally make $60,000 or less, have a disability or have limited English-speaking skills.
FAQs
If you are filing a simple Form 1040 return only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest), you can file for free yourself with TurboTax Free Edition or TurboTax Live Assisted Basic (if available), or you can file with TurboTax Full Service Basic at the listed price.
Is 1040 free on TurboTax? ›
TURBOTAX ONLINE/MOBILE PRICING:
TurboTax Free Edition: TurboTax Free Edition ($0 Federal + $0 State + $0 To File) is available for those filing Form 1040 and limited credits only, as detailed in the TurboTax Free Edition disclosures.
What does TurboTax consider a simple return? ›
If you have a simple tax return, you can file for free with TurboTax Free Edition or TurboTax Live Assisted Basic. You can also file with TurboTax Live Full Service Basic at the listed price. A simple tax return is one that's filed using IRS Form 1040 only, without having to attach any forms or schedules.
Why is TurboTax no longer free? ›
The FTC said that TurboTax's “file FREE” claims misled people because most people didn't qualify for “$0 to file.” Except they only found that out well after they spent a lot of time putting all their info into the system. As a result, the FTC ordered Intuit to stop making false “free” claims.
What is the best free tax filing program? ›
Best free tax software, compared
| Free tax software | Free state return | Itemized deductions |
|---|
| Cash App Taxes | Yes | Yes |
| FreeTaxUSA | No | Yes |
| H&R Block Free Online | Yes | No |
| TurboTax Free Edition | Yes | No |
2 more rowsApr 15, 2024
If we detect that your tax situation requires expanded coverage, like deductions for owning a home, unemployment income, or self-employment income, we'll prompt you to upgrade to a version that supports the forms you need so that we can maximize your tax deductions and ensure you file an accurate return.
How much does it cost to file a 1040 with TurboTax? ›
TurboTax pricing breakdown
| Product edition | Cost |
|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Basic | $50 |
| Deluxe | $80 |
| Premier | $115 |
1 more rowFeb 13, 2024
Just one simple price. Every feature included for everyone.
We're changing all that with one, flat-rate price of $25 for everyone.
Is Form 1040 free? ›
Taxpayers whose AGI is $79,000 or less qualify for a free federal tax return. Free File Fillable Forms are electronic federal tax forms, equivalent to a paper 1040 form. You should know how to prepare your own tax return using form instructions and IRS publications if needed.
What disqualifies you from a simple tax return? ›
Here are some scenarios where you won't qualify for a simple tax return: You're self-employed or a freelancer (1099 tax forms) You're a small business owner. You earn rental income.
The simplest IRS form is the Form 1040EZ. The 1040A covers several additional items not addressed by the EZ. And finally, the IRS Form 1040 should be used when itemizing deductions and reporting more complex investments and other income.
How much does it cost to do a simple tax return? ›
Preparing simple returns is often free. More complicated returns may require you to pay a fee. Once completed, the forms are sent directly to the IRS. IRS Direct File: This was the IRS's pilot program, which allowed individuals in certain states to file their taxes directly with the IRS for free.
Who qualifies for the free version of TurboTax? ›
TURBOTAX ONLINE/MOBILE PRICING:
TurboTax Free Edition: TurboTax Free Edition ($0 Federal + $0 State + $0 To File) is available for those filing Form 1040 and limited credits only, as detailed in the TurboTax Free Edition disclosures.
What is the controversy with TurboTax? ›
The Federal Trade Commission has issued an Opinion and Final Order that Intuit Inc., the maker of the popular TurboTax tax filing software, engaged in deceptive advertising in violation of the FTC Act and deceived consumers when it ran ads for “free” tax products and services for which many consumers were ineligible.
Why is TurboTax charging me $45? ›
"Premium service" is an EXTRA $45 fee in CA that is added if you choose to pay your other TurboTax fees by having them deducted from your federal refund instead of by paying upfront BEFORE you file by using a credit or debit card to pay.
How do I avoid TurboTax state filing fee? ›
by TurboTax• 9• Updated 7 months ago
Yes, there's a fee to e-file your state return using TurboTax Desktop. You can avoid this charge by printing and filing a paper return. You must sign in to vote.
How to switch to TurboTax for free? ›
You can use Free Edition by selecting Tax Tools in the left menu, then Switch to Free Edition. Selecting this option keeps all the data you've entered so far. Note: TurboTax Free Edition is for customers who are filing Form 1040 and limited credits only. Roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify.
What are some reasons you would not be eligible to pay for TurboTax with your refund? ›
by TurboTax• 21811• Updated 2 months ago
- Your federal refund must be enough to cover your TurboTax fees.
- You must have a US address.
- You have to e-file.
- The name on the bank account needs to match the name on the tax return.
- You'll need to direct deposit your refund into a single account.
If you have a state tax return included there is an additional charge of $39 for the state program.
