FreeTaxUSA

What FreeTaxUSA does

FreeTaxUSA lets users prepare and electronically submit federal and state returns online. Supported income and deduction areas cover investments, rental property, self-employment, education, home ownership and dependents.

Users get IRS electronic filing, direct-deposit delivery, a printable copy, prior-year data import and a no-cost extension option. FreeTaxUSA says more than 350 credits and deductions are supported; W-2s, 1099s and a prior-return PDF from several named services can be imported.

Fees and plans

For 2025, the Federal tax return plan charges $0 and includes supported forms. FreeTaxUSA says any tax situation can file federally without charge, an income limit or a required upgrade. A trial period is not offered.

A state return costs $15.99 as a single purchase, and that price includes e-file and direct deposit. Deluxe Support costs $7.99 one time and supplies priority help, live chat and unlimited amended returns.

Audit Defense is priced at $19.99 one time and includes audit assistance with up to $1 million in services. Pro Support is a one-time $64.99 purchase covering Tax Pro calls or chats and a ProCheck final review. No other fees are published in these facts.

Where it runs

FreeTaxUSA runs on the web and has Android and iPhone access. The facts describe mobile access as web and mobile, without listing separate phone-only features or limits.

Protection, as FreeTaxUSA publishes it

FreeTaxUSA says all data is encrypted. Its published description also mentions strict access controls and round-the-clock monitoring for physical servers, along with security that meets or exceeds IRS requirements.

The company says it never sells tax-return information. These are FreeTaxUSA's statements; the facts do not provide a separate licence, regulator, deposit-protection or dispute-handling claim.

Strengths

Across tax situations, federal filing carries no charge, income cap or forced upgrade. Coverage extends to investments, rental property and self-employment, along with common deductions and credits.

Tax forms and prior-return PDFs can be imported, extensions can be filed free, and users can select paid support, audit assistance or a professional review.

Catches

Every state return incurs its own fee. Deluxe Support, Audit Defense and Pro Support are separately priced one-time additions, making the selected extras part of the final cost.

FreeTaxUSA does not handle Form 2555 foreign employment income, nonresident alien returns, or filing by customers or preparers located outside the United States.

Who may want another service

Those requiring a nonresident-alien return, foreign employment reporting on Form 2555, or filing while outside the United States may need a different service.

Verdict

US filers seeking online federal filing without a federal charge may find FreeTaxUSA suitable, provided they budget separately for each state return. Its investment, rental, self-employment and deduction coverage goes beyond a basic wage-only return.

The excluded international and nonresident situations make the service unsuitable for those cases. Buyers should also include the per-state price and consider whether paid support, audit assistance or a professional review is worth adding.

Questions