IRS Tax Day: How to file your taxes for free on April 15? Check income limits and eligibility

April 15 tax day is here. Didn't file your returns? Here's how to do it for free

Updated on: Apr 15, 2025, 23:06:08 IST

Edited by Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The IRS Tax Day is here and filing your federal tax returns has just gotten easier. Millions of Americans can now file their tax returns at no cost online using the IRS Free File and IRS Direct File options on the IRS.gov website itself. Yes, certain income requirements are required to be eligible to file it online, but with the Internal Revenue System’s (IRS) website, about 30 million taxpayers – individuals or businesses – in 25 states can now file their tax returns hassle-free!

Tax day is here. You can file your taxes for free using the IRS portal (Unsplash)

Here’s how you can file your tax returns online

IRS Direct File

It is an IRS program for filing federal tax returns online. It is open to eligible taxpayers in 25 states, namely Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

One can use IRS Direct File if:

- Their income exceeds $200,000 or $168,600 if they have more than one employer.

- One files as married filing jointly and their spouse’s income is more than $200,000.

- They file as married filing separately and their income exceeds $125,000 or they file married filing jointly and their combined income exceeds $250,000.

The IRS Direct File can also be used to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

IRS Free File

If one’s state doesn’t have the option of Direct File yet, the IRS Free File is also a free online service that can be used by taxpayers who had an adjusted gross income (AGI) or $84,000 or less in the previous year. This service allows users to choose which company to work with based on the individual’s income, location, and filing needs.

According to Taxpayer Advocate, 70% of Americans qualified for IRS Free File last year, however, less than 5% used it for filing their taxes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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