TurboTax offers free filing for any tax situation

Many tax-software companies have free tiers, but most only accept federal returns and a limited number of schedules. Through the end of February, TurboTax will process any state and federal returns for free, not matter how complicated.

The offer applies to all income levels, whether you’re itemizing deductions, declaring income from freelance work or investments or submitting other specialized forms. It's only for DIY filing, though — TurboTax Expert products with on-demand or dedicated help from tax pros are not eligible.

You cannot have used TurboTax to file last year and must file through the TurboTax or Credit Karma mobile app by 11:59 pm ET on Feb. 28, 2026.

You may still be able to file through TurboTax's traditional free tier, which accepts simple state and federal returns with W-2 income, the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, deductions for student loan interest and some interest and dividends. According to Intuit, approximately 37% of taxpayers qualify for its regular no-cost plan.

If you don't qualify for the free tier — or just prefer to hand the job off to a professional — full-service filing is available for a flat fee of $150 through Feb. 28, regardless of your tax situation.

IRS FreeFile

Direct File, which allowed taxpayers in 24 states to file for free directly through the IRS, was terminated in 2025. But a reported 70% of taxpayers still meet income requirements for Free File, a partnership between the IRS and commercial prep sites like TaxSlayer and FreeTaxUSA.

Depending on which software platform you qualify for, you may get both federal and state filing for free.

DIY tax software programs

TurboTax is just one of the many commercial tax-prep companies with a free tier. H&R Block is one of the most popular, thanks to its easy-to-navigate interface. FreeTaxUSA supports more schedules, including itemized deductions and investment income. (State returns with FreeTaxUsa are $15.99 each.)

Banking apps and credit cards

A growing number of lenders and financial platforms are adding tax-filing options to keep customers in their ecosystems.

In 2026, PayPal Debit Card partnered with April to offer cardholders free federal and state tax filing. Users can receive federal tax refunds up to five days early with PayPal Direct Deposit, or put the funds into PayPal Savings, a no-fee, high-yield savings account provided by Synchrony Bank.  

Cash App Taxes processes both federal and state taxes for free. There is no live help, but users aren’t upsold or rerouted to paid tiers. 

Chime* processes simple state and federal returns directly through its app. Members who set up direct deposit with the banking platform can get their federal tax refund up to six days early.

Online banks Varo and Current process federal returns for accountholders. Known for its short-term cash advances, mobile banking app MoneyLion offers free filing to customers with RoarMoney bank accounts.

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*Chime: Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.