The new tax season launched on Monday, andTurboTaxis taking some of the sting out of filing by providing its tax prep services free of charge, regardless of your tax situation.
Many tax-software companies havefree plans (including TurboTax), but most accept onlyfederal returns and a limited number of schedules. Through the end of February, TurboTax will process any state and federal returns at no cost.
The offer applies to all income levels, whether you’re itemizing deductions, declaring income from freelance work or investments or submitting other specialized forms.You cannot have used TurboTax to file last year, however, and TurboTax Expert products with on-demand or dedicated help from tax pros are not eligible.
Customers must file through the TurboTax or Credit Karma mobile app by 11:59 pm ET on Feb. 28, 2026.
TurboTax
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Free version
TurboTax Free Edition. Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A). TurboTax reports that 37% of filers qualify for the free edition.
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Guarantee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
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Live support
Expert Assist plan includes unlimited assistance and final review. Expert Full Service includes a dedicated expert to complete and file your return.
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Tax refund advance loan
Read our review of TurboTax tax software. Free version: TurboTax Free Edition. Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A). TurboTax reports that 37% of filers qualify for the free edition.
If you don’t qualify for TurboTax’s free promotion
If you’re not eligible for this deal, you may still be able e to file through TurboTax’s traditional free tier, which Intuit says approximately 37% of taxpayers qualify for. The no-cost plan accepts simple state and federal returns reporting W-2 income, the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, deductions for student loan interest and some interest and dividends.
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.
Start preparing your taxes with these options
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Xpert Assist is available with any plan for a flat fee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
Other ways to file your taxes for free
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 whichsoftware platform you qualify for, you may get both federal and state filing for free.
DIY tax software programs
Most commercial tax-prep companies have free tiers. H&R Block is one of the most popular and has an easy-to-navigate interface. FreeTaxUSA supports more schedules, including itemized deductions and investment income. (State returns with FreeTaxUsa are $15.99 each.)
H&R Block
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Free version
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Guarantee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
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Live support
Live chat available with all paid plans
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Tax refund advance loan
FreeTaxUSA
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Free version
Free federal filing for nearly all tax situations. Filers can itemize deductions; claim the earned income tax credit, child tax credit and student loan interest; and report income from stocks, crypto and other investments, rental properties, gambling and more.
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Guarantee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
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Live support
The Deluxe plan comes with priority support and live chat, while the Pro Support tier adds access to a tax pro, phone support, live screen share and help on federal and state returns
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Tax refund advance loan
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 Mastercard 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.
The PayPal Debit Card allows you to earn up to 5% cash back in everyday spending categories, which is rarer for a debit card.
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.
Cash App Taxes
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Free version
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Guarantee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
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Live support
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Tax refund advance loan
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.
Owe back taxes? A tax relief company may be able to help
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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.
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