Free tax help near you

Your free options

• VITA and TCE: someone prepares it with you

  IRS-certified volunteers prepare and e-file your return for free at sites across Arizona. TCE (and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide) focuses on people 60 and older.

  • While the IRS does not set a program-wide income limit, individual VITA sites may establish their own. The program generally focuses on serving taxpayers who meet the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) income guidelines.Source: IRS
  • People who generally make about $70,244 or lessSource: IRS
  • Persons with disabilitiesSource: IRS
  • Limited English-speaking taxpayersSource: IRS
  • IRS-certified volunteers – If you earn $70,244 or less, have a disability, are 60 years or older or need language support.Source: IRS
  • To locate the nearest VITA or TCE site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887.Source: IRS
  • Attention: The locator is updated regularly from February through April.Source: IRS
  • Note: Available services can vary at each site due to the availability of volunteers certified with the tax law expertise required for your return.Source: IRS

  TCE and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

  • In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.Source: IRS
  • To locate the nearest AARP TCE Tax-Aide site between January and April use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call 888-227-7669.Source: IRS
  irs.gov

• IRS Free File: do it yourself online

  Guided tax software from companies that work with the IRS, free if you qualify. Always start from IRS.gov.

  Status on IRS.govIRS Free File has closed. Please check back January 2027.

  • Guided tax software For $95,000 adjusted gross income (AGI) or lessSource: IRS
  • Some free state tax preparation and filingSource: IRS
  • Each partner sets its own eligibility criteria (income, age, state residency). Once you select a partner, IRS sends you directly to the partner’s website to create an account.Source: IRS
  • Fillable Forms For any income level You do the work Enter your information into online forms you select Form instructions guide you Limited calculations used No state tax filingSource: IRS
  • Start at IRS.gov/freefile — always go through the IRS.gov site to access the IRS Free File tax preparation software. You won’t get IRS Free File if you go directly to a partner’s commercial website.Source: IRS
  • Qualifying taxpayers can file for free in Spanish with IRS Free File partner EzTaxReturn.com. Who qualifies You must live in one of these states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, KS, KYSource: IRS
  • Age 17 to 85 with $95,000 or less adjusted gross income (AGI)Source: IRS
  • An IRS Free File Guided Tax provider may charge a fee for (1) state tax return preparation and filing,Source: IRS
  • Please note you can only file your current year tax return using IRS Free File.Source: IRS
  • Free File – If your adjusted gross income is $95,000 or less. If higher, you can use Free File Fillable Forms.Source: IRS

• MyFreeTaxes: United Way

  File your federal and state return yourself with help, or have it prepared for you.

  • MyFreeTaxes helps people file their federal and state taxes for free, and it’s brought to you by United Way.Source: MyFreeTaxes (United Way)
  • File My Own Taxes under $89,000 Our most popular option Self-file and get help when you need itSource: MyFreeTaxes (United Way)
  • Have My Taxes Prepared for Me Under $69,000 (VITA) Have your return prepared for you online or in-personSource: MyFreeTaxes (United Way)
  • For filers who make about $69,000 or lessSource: MyFreeTaxes (United Way)
  • Filing years 2025 2023-2025Source: MyFreeTaxes (United Way)

• Arizona Department of Revenue: free state filing

  Arizona lists its own Free File companies and free in-person help.

  • Free File Alliance Typically for Adjusted Gross Income $89,000 or lessSource: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • Follow the Free File link. Going directly to a company’s website will result in not receiving the benefits offered here.Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • Free File with 1040.com Free File with 1040Now Free File with FreeTaxUSA Free File with OLTSource: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • Because Arizona electronic income tax returns are processed and accepted through the IRS first, Arizona’s electronic filing system for individual income tax returns is dependent upon the IRS' launch date.Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • If you are above the Free File Alliance Adjusted Gross Income threshold, fillable forms are the fastest way to file a paper state individual income tax return.Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • This organization offers tax assistance free of charge with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low-to-moderate income, to file federal and Arizona State returns.Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • The VITA Program offers free tax help to people who generally make $69,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers.Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • Arizona Free File Alliance: Offers a free electronic filing option for Arizona taxpayers who meet specific criteria. Last year, around 67,500 taxpayers used Free File software, which helped them avoid fees, minimize costly errors, and receive their refund faster.Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
  • The only tax credits you can claim are: the family income tax credit, the property tax credit, the credit for increased excise taxes, or the dependent tax credit.Source: Arizona Department of Revenue

Deadline: The tax deadline for 2026 tax returns is April 15, 2027. Source: IRS

IRS Direct File ended after the 2025 filing season. Official text: “This program will end for the 2026 filing season.” Source: Taxpayer Advocate Service (IRS)

Income limits, side by side

Each source words its limit its own way. These are their exact words; the site you visit has the final say.

Why filing matters for students

Even with a small paycheck, filing can be worth it. In the official words:

• Your FAFSA uses your federal tax information

  • You (and your parent or spouse, if applicable) must provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into your FAFSA form.Source: Federal Student Aid
  • Consent and approval are required, even if you didn’t file a U.S. federal tax return or any tax return at all.Source: Federal Student Aid
  • If you (or your parent or spouse) don’t provide consent and approval to have federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA® form, you won’t be eligible for federal student aid.Source: Federal Student Aid
  • The student and all contributors must provide consent and approval for their tax information to be transferred to the FAFSA form in order for the student’s eligibility for federal student aid to be calculated.Source: Federal Student Aid

• The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

  • The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund.Source: IRS
  • Beginning with tax year 2026, you must complete Schedule 3-A, Federal Public Benefit, if you are claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit.Source: IRS
  • By law, we must wait until mid-February to issue refunds to taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.Source: IRS
  • Meet the age requirements. You must be at least age 25 but under age 65 at the end of the year. If married and filing a joint return, at least one spouse must meet the age rule.Source: IRS
  • Have a valid Social Security number by the due date of your return (including extensions)Source: IRS
  • Find the maximum AGI, investment income and credit amounts for tax year 2025.Source: IRS
  • The maximum amount of credit: No qualifying children: $649 1 qualifying child: $4,328 2 qualifying children: $7,152 3 or more qualifying children: $8,046Source: IRS
  • Investment income limit: $11,950 or lessSource: IRS

• The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)

  • It’s a tax credit of up to $2,500 of the cost of tuition, certain required fees and course materials needed for attendance and paid during the tax year. Also, 40 percent of the credit for which you qualify that is more than the tax you owe (up to $1,000) can be refunded to you.Source: IRS
  • To claim the full credit, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI; see Q&A 13) must be $80,000 or less ($160,000 or less for married taxpayers filing jointly).Source: IRS
  • If your MAGI is over $90,000 ($180,000 for married taxpayers filing joint), you can't claim AOTC.Source: IRS
  • To be eligible to claim AOTC or LLC, the law requires a taxpayer or dependent to have received Form 1098-T from an eligible educational institution (exceptions apply; see Q&A 18).Source: IRS
  • If you paid qualified education expenses for an eligible college student, you may be able to claim the American Opportunity Credit up to $2,500 per year. Up to $1,000 of the American Opportunity Tax Credit is refundable.Source: IRS

Find free tax help in your county

Pick your county to see the sites we could verify on their own pages. Many sites post next season’s dates in January or February.