It isn’t too difficult to find a place to file your federal tax return for free, but finding a service to file your state return for free is another story.
I did a little digging and found a few options to consider. But, let’s first start with getting a free federal return…
File your federal return for free!
If your AGI (adjusted gross income) for 2011 is less than $57,000, it should be very easy for you to get your federal tax return filed for free. In the past I have gone to the IRS free efile webpage, because they have links to a bunch of tax preparers that offer free tax return filing (for Federal anyway). Some of them offer a state return to be filed for free as well, but most don’t.
Watch this video for the specific instruction on how to use the IRS Free File system:
If you are interested in this option, you will have to use the links on the IRS page in order to get the free efile deal they are offering. Many of the tax preparation websites listed will not offer you the free efile if you go directly to their website.
How to file your state return for free!
As you have probably noticed, many places offer a free filing of a Federal return but don’t offer free state filing. But there are a few ways to get your state tax return done for free.
1. Free state tax filing websites
MyFreeTaxes.com - This is a not-for-profit with funding from the Walmart Foundation, The United Way and H&R block – and they offer free state and federal tax returns if you meet the criteria. According to their website, “most Americans can file their taxes for free online or offline (we have a van tour across the country), state and federal, as long as they make under $57,000 per year.”
TurboTax Freedom – The free version of TurboTax is available to filers with adjusted gross income of $30,000 or less. If you live in one of the following states they will also allow you to file your state return for free… AL, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NY, ND, NC, OK, OR, RI, SC, VT, WV. If your state is not listed it will cost you $14.95 to file the state return.
On-line Taxes – This one is pretty simple. You just need to be under 20 years of age and you can get your federal and state return filed for free. If you don’t qualify both returns cost $7.95. They are a little bit different than many of the other places in that they offer free customer service with a toll-free number, E-mail, and Live tax help. They also allow you to view the forms BEFORE paying.
Taxhawk – Prepare, print, and file your federal taxes online for FREE! Your state tax return is FREE if your federal AGI is less than $20,000 and you live in the following states:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
Beehive.org – Filing your own taxes with BeeHive.org is easy. In order to be eligible free federal and state income tax filing, you need:
- Earned income in 2011 of less than $57,000
- A valid email address
- A valid Social Security Number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
TaxSlayer – TaxSlayer.com offers FREE online tax preparation and e-file of federal and state income tax returns if your household income is less than $56,000 AND you can answer “Yes” to any of the following:
- Are age 25 or younger or age 65 or older
- Qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Federal (AGI) Adjusted Gross Income is $10,000 or less
- Serve as active duty military (including Reservists, Coast Guard, and National Guard). Taxpayers must have a Form W-2 from the Military for the tax year in which they are filing.
UPDATE: Tax Slayer no longer offers Free state tax filing.
2. Go to your local state government website
Also, you can go directly to you state’s Department of Revenue website to see if they offer a free filing option. For a shortcut, head over to this page which has links to each states free efile (if they have one).
3. Get the paper forms and mail it in
Yes, it sounds pretty archaic, but if you really want to file your state return for free and don’t qualify for the options listed above, this might not be a bad option. If you have already completed the Federal form online, it should be pretty easy to fill out the state return. You can get the forms from your local library or you can print them off at your state’s Department of Revenue website.
One last tip about e-filing your tax return
Do it before Friday morning. The government process tax returns in week-long blocks. So Friday morning at 11am, they process all the returns they received over the previous week. So if you can sneak it in right before the cutoff (Fridays at 11am EST) you will just get your refund that much quicker…
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh how I love Nevada – no state income tax!
Sickening to know that WV is one of the poorest state in the country, yet we have taxes on our food and we charge people to file their returns online…..but I guess that is why we are one of the few states that do not have a budget deficit.
Thanks for the links, my brother would qualify for a lot of these services.
I used TaxAct this year…I filed on a Friday and Tuesday my state return was deposited into my account. Can’t beat filing early!
Oh, thank you for compiling this– it’s on my “week to do list” and the week is drawing to a close quickly!
Taxslayer is great! I’ve used them for years. Glad to see them in the list!
One note on your last comment. Make sure they get submitted and accepted by Thursday at noon. If you wait until Friday you will be on the next week’s cycle. This applies only to the IRS as many states have a different refund cycle. You can also look up the refund cycle on the IRS website as well to understand when you can expect your refund to post to your account.
Also if things have changed from year to year it can pay to have an expert look at your return to make sure you have captured all the deductions and credits. Many times the price is well worth it.
Thanks for the clarification on that Scott!
Just used your Free EFile http://www.TaxSlayer.com for my daughter. What a breeze. Will have her refund within 10 days direct deposit. Thanks for the recommend. Jim
I’m just not sure why more taxing agencies don’t promote free e-filing, it has to save them money in processing all of the paper forms.
I’m not sure why more taxing agencies do not promote e-filing. Especially in time of government debts and crisis, why should the government not want everyone to e-file for free?
why does no one else support free e-filings?
Last year I did my nc state for free. I tried all your suggestions with no luck. I have owed back taxes and can’t get caught up before I get laid off again:(. Will be mailing:)
I just found out about through the NY State Tax information website:
http://www.icanefile.org
It does free Federal e-file plus one of the following state e-files: California, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania or Montana.
It doesn’t have any income requirements, so more people should be able to use it.
My version of Turbo tax is suppose to come with one free state filing. In my case Illinois. When I choose Illinois the program wants to charge me another $39.00. I don’t get it. This has never happened in the past. Anyone else have this problem?
Yes, I have a similar problem, except they want to charge me $29.95. I have used Turbotax for several years and always had free state filing.
I tried to do the turbo tax free nc state tax form, but it does not allow you to complete the form without paying the fee. Many bloggers on their comment sidebar remark on the same. Have you found a way around this?
Anne, I haven’t heard of a work-around for it yet, but if I do, I will post it in these comments…
I did my federal taxes for free on Turbo Tax but they too wanted to charge me about $30 to do my state. I’ve heard that if you choose the free “basic” package instead of the free “Freedom Edition”, this will happen so try to find their “Freedom Edition” first and see if that helps. Unfortunately I didn’t know any better and went with the Basic, which won’t let you switch to the “Freedom” Edition. That may not work but I suggest at least trying the Freedom Edition first because that’s what others commented on their chat . . . I’ll check out Tax Slayer (also from NC!).
As of 4/6/10, eSmart Tax is offering free state e-filing with their Premium product for ALL taxpayers – no restrictions on age or income! Plus, with the Premium product, you get free tax-related support from Liberty Tax professionals. That’s an awesome deal!
thank you so much for this page of info!! I have paid for State in the past when doing my kids taxes and since I have always waited till the last minute to file I never had time to research. OH, it’s free.
It seems that TaxSlayer is NOT FREE. New York State lists it and the requirements online under companies that support Free File. I meet the requirements, yet when I complete the return, it says the fee is $9.95 to e-file.
Can anyone tell me if i can just file my south carolina state taxes for free i have already filed my federal taxes. when i go to the free sites they want to start my federal return and all i want to pay is mt state taxes.
Excellent article. I could file my returns within minutes.
Thanks a ton !!!!!
nline state tax filing is one of the most excellent options for filing your state tax return. Electronically state tax filing is very convenient for US Tax payers. There are lots of tax payers are pay their taxes online because it is also suitable in time period, fees and more.
Im from Maryland Ive done my federal at turbotax for years for free and I go to Md.gov to do my state for free. Check your state webpage to see if they have it where you can file your state for free.
Last year I let turbotax do all the work on the state income tax for me. When it came to the state, I just used the numbers form the federal income tax to efile on the state tax website. It went very smoothly. I didn’t pay a dime.
Do not use TaxSlayer. The last time I checked free was free, not $14.90! When I searched for free tax filing sites theirs came up several times. After you enter all the information they tell you that you cannot e-file until you pay up. There are free sites for real, so just pass this one up!!!!!!
Thanks Bob! Your website is a God-send.
Blessings to you and yours! Now off to file my free State taxes! There’s joy in the journey!
Thanks for all the info–saved me money on my taxes and my daughters. I am grateful to you.
my SSN was stolen and used to file taxes with taxslayer.com. I reported it to them and they took no responsibility. Do they even have a verification system? AND several months later they sent me a postcard advertising their service. Unbelievable behavior.
Turbo Tax charges much more than $9.95 to file your state return. My son made $10,000 in IL, Turbo Tax wanted to charge him $27.95 to efile.
Julie, according to the Turbo Tax Freedom Project (accessed via the link in the article) they provide free state tax filing for a bunch of states, but illinois is not one of them. This is from the site:
“If you qualify for a Free Federal filing, you may also qualify for FREE STATE filing in the following states:
AL, AR, AZ, GA, IA, ID, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, MS, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV.”
Thank you SO much for this information you have gathered. It was very helpful to me and my taxes are now done!
This site directs users to H&R Block where the federal return is free but NOT the state.
Actually if you create a new account instead of logging into an existing account, it may work.
idk why people pay for turbotax software, when they can get the federal return for free on there? to me, it seems like such a waste of money.
You should try the state website first. You might be surprised how EASY it is. I ignore those “free state filing” taglines as Illinois has a great online filing system that is as straightforward as you can ask for and NOTHING is faster (since other services have to go through an intermediary).
Don’t be afraid, go to the state.
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