Sorbis/Shutterstock
- Eligible taxpayers can file their tax return online for free using many different services.
- Tax season officially began January 29, with a final deadline of April 17 this year.
- The IRS recommends e-filing your taxes and requesting your refund via direct deposit.
- Business Insider decided to try the free file version of several online tax services.
Tax day is just around the corner.
Americans have until April 17 to file their 2017 taxes. You won’t have to worry about changes brought about by the new GOP tax bill, which President Donald Trump signed into law. It won’t affect your tax return this year, and the new tax brackets will only affect income earned starting January 1, 2018.
Still, you should start tackling your taxes as soon as possible. According to Business Insider’s Lauren Lyons Cole, filing early is the best way to protect against tax scams — especially potential identity theft.
Many online tax services offer the option to file for your federal taxes — and sometimes state taxes — for free, as long as you meet certain age and salary requirements. You can check your options using the IRS free file lookup tool — and you can find all of the free online sites here.
The IRS also says the fastest way to get your tax refund is the method already used by most taxpayers: filing electronically and selecting direct deposit as the method for receiving your refund. Your refund should hit your bank account within three weeks of filing online. Often, you’ll get your money even faster.
I previously compared two online filing giants, TurboTax and H&R Block, head to head. Then I checked out a number of sites that provide free — or mostly free — tax-filing services.
Here’s what I thought of all of the sites, which are listed in no particular order:
FreeTaxUSA
Áine Cain/Business Insider
After my comparison of H&R Block and TurboTax came out, a reader reached out to tell me that FreeTaxUSA was another good option for people who want to file their taxes without having their intelligence insulted (his words, not mine).
That’s a pretty good way of describing this site. It’s straightforward and plainspoken, in terms of its layout and content. You can file your federal taxes for free, but filing your state taxes will cost you $ 12.95.
According to the IRS, to file your taxes for free at Free Tax USA you must:
- Have adjusted gross income of $ 51,000 or less
- Be between 17 and 61 years of age
You’re required to sign up for an account right off the bat. The site is streamlined — you go through tabs dedicated to your personal information, income, deductions and credits, and, ultimately, state taxes. At the same time, you’re able to hop between sections.
The formatting is basic, but easy-to-use. That works for me. Overall, I found this to be a good option, especially for experienced tax filers who know what they’re doing and don’t want a lot of hand-holding.
TaxSlayer
Áine Cain/Business Insider
I found TaxSlayer to be a more minimalist experience. It also requires you to start a new profile before embarking on your tax quest. Right off the bat, they try to get you to upgrade, but many taxpayers won’t need to do so.
According to the IRS, to file your taxes for free at TaxSlayer you must:
- Have adjusted gross income of $ 66,000 or less
- Be 52 years old or younger
Apparently, there’s a free state option for folks in Georgia too, according to the IRS.
My one issue with TaxSlayer was the site made it pretty difficult to jump around. It’s definitely a good choice for more linear-minded people who prefer to do things in order.
TaxAct
Áine Cain/Business Insider
Like many of these sites, TaxAct allows you to import your old returns, which is nice. This site takes you through several tabs. One quibble: when you click out of a tab, your info is saved, but it forces you to click through the whole section again when you return.
Despite the limited mobility, TaxAct’s site isn’t confusing to use. It’s just more linear. It also doesn’t try to pressure you to upgrade as much as some of the other sites.
According to the IRS, to file your taxes for free at TaxAct you must:
- Have adjusted gross income of $ 53,000 or less
- Be 56 years old or younger
Anyone eligible for the earned income tax credit can also receive a free federal return.
