IRS Free File 2025: File Your Taxes for Free! Start Date, Eligibility & More!

The IRS Free File is available from 10 January 2025 for many states taxpayers to prepare their taxes at no cost and with security. This early approach is beneficial because it allows taxpayers to file early accurately and it also protects you from fraudulent claims. 

The eligibility criteria is specifically based on taxpayers age, residence state, and income and each qualifying trusted IRS Free File participant 2024 can have different eligibility requirements. The primary criteria which allows you to use IRS free files is your AGI limit of $84,000 or less in 2024. 

IRS Free File 2025

The IRS Free File 2025 is the most convenient and free of cost tax software for taxpayers to file their federal tax returns. This program is provided by the IRS and several other private-sector tax software providers which allows taxpayers to use their tax filing software for free. 

Each private-sector tax software provider has its own eligibility criteria based on several factors like age, income, residency, military, etc. IRS Free File is a software which allows taxpayers to file taxes through the tax preparation process and it also ensures that all credits and deductions have been claimed or not. The usage of IRS Free File offers many benefits including security. 

This product also allows you to file taxes in an accurate way and it also reduces the tax returns errors which typically arise in case of paper filing. Free File can also maximise taxpayers’ refunds because it identifies all eligible tax credits and deductions. This program speeds up the processing time of refunds because it supports electronic refunds. 

IRS Free File Preparation of tax returns 2025 Start Date

The IRS Free File program will be available from 10 January to file taxes in 2025. Taxpayers can start preparing to file their taxes from 10 Jan using the Free File software, but the official opening of tax season will start from later January. 

The Free File will remain available until the 2025 deadline of filing federal tax returns which will be 15 April and the extension deadline which will be 15 October. This early filing approach is beneficial because it prevents tax returns from identity theft and provides returns earlier. 

As we are very close to this date, taxpayers are advised to gather all necessary tax documents and information including W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and any other relevant income and deduction record, to ensure a smooth filing process. Taxpayers who have an AGI above $84,000 can use the Free File Fillable Forms (FFFF) which will be available from Jan. 27.

Who is eligible for IRS Free File 2025?

The IRS Free File allows taxpayers to file taxes at no cost and the eligibility criteria is based on many factors including income. Taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $84,000 or less in 2024 are eligible to utilise the free file in 2025. This limit shows that only a significant number of taxpayers can use early filing preparations and services. 

This is the standard AGI eligibility criteria while each participating tax software provider may have additional eligibility requirements and their eligibility criteria is dependent on many factors such as age, state residency, or any other specific tax situations. 

Who are the trusted IRS Free File participants 2025?

These are the trusted IRS Free File participants in 2025 and ezTaxReturn is offering a Spanish version this year. 

  • 1040Now
  • Drake (1040.com)
  • ezTaxReturn.com
  • FileYourTaxes.com
  • On-Line Taxes
  • TaxAct
  • TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA)
  • TaxSlayer

Taxpayers have to directly go through the IRS Free File website from the IRS official website rather than directly accessing it from these companies’ websites. Because if you don’t qualify for the free terms of these participants, you may end up your tax preparations under paid programs. You can check from the IRS official website to know which one is most suitable for you. 

Which participating states can use IRS Free File 2025?

Individuals who lived and worked in the below given participating states for all of 2024 will be eligible to use IRS Free File 2025. This expansion allows more taxpayers to use cost-effective ways of filing tax returns.  

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Washington state
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming