The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →You can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) and other credits without paying a tax preparer. Start at IRS.gov/freefile, select an IRS Free File partner whose rules fit your 2025 adjusted gross income (AGI), and complete the guided interview. For 2025 returns filed in 2026, Guided Tax is available through participating partners to taxpayers with 2025 AGI of $89,000 or less. If your AGI is higher and you can prepare your own return, IRS Free File Fillable Forms remain available regardless of income.
This guide explains which option to choose, how the software applies credits, what records to gather, what to do when your income is above the software limit, and when to expect a refund.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What IRS Free File is and who can use it
IRS Free File is the Internal Revenue Service’s no-cost electronic filing pathway. In the 2026 filing season, the IRS lists eight guided-software partners. You enter your information through a partner’s site after starting from the IRS Free File page; the IRS does not charge for an eligible federal return submitted through that pathway.
Guided Tax uses an interview format. It asks about income, dependents, filing status, residence, military status and other eligibility facts, then adds the forms and credit calculations your answers support. The IRS states that Free File can be used to claim the EITC, CTC and other refundable credits. A state return may or may not be included, so check the specific partner’s offer before creating an account.
#1 Best Overall
The $89,000 AGI rule
For the 2026 season, the IRS identifies $89,000 of 2025 AGI as the income ceiling for Guided Tax. Each partner can impose additional limits involving age, state, military status or other facts. AGI is the amount on your federal return before the standard or itemized deduction, not simply your salary. Use the eligibility filters on the IRS page rather than assuming that a partner is available because your wages are below the threshold.
Free File Fillable Forms
Free File Fillable Forms are electronic versions of federal tax forms. The IRS describes them as available regardless of income, but they do not conduct an interview or decide which credits you qualify for. You must select the forms, perform the calculations and check that your entries flow correctly to Form 1040. They are suitable for someone comfortable preparing a federal return, not for someone who wants step-by-step guidance.
Prepare before opening a Free File account
Gather the information below before you begin. Having complete records prevents a credit from being omitted and reduces the chance that an incorrect Social Security number or date causes an e-file rejection.
Recommended Free Tools
- Social Security numbers and dates of birth for you, your spouse and every dependent.
- Forms W-2, 1099 and other income statements, including records of self-employment income and expenses if applicable.
- Federal withholding amounts from each income statement.
- Dates and addresses showing where each qualifying child lived during 2025.
- Documents supporting dependency, such as school, child-care or medical records, if the IRS later requests substantiation.
- Prior-year adjusted gross income or the prior-year self-select PIN information that your chosen service requests for identity verification.
- Bank routing and account numbers if you want direct deposit.
Keep the source documents after filing. Do not send them with an e-filed return unless the IRS specifically asks. Records should substantiate earned income, a child’s residency, your dependency claim and the Social Security numbers used for credits.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Step-by-step: claim credits with Guided Tax
- Open the IRS Free File page. Go to IRS.gov/freefile and choose “Find a Trusted Partner” or “Browse All Trusted Partners.” Enter your estimated 2025 AGI and answer the questions about age, state and military status. The page will show offers for which you appear eligible.
- Read the offer details. Confirm that the offer covers your federal return at no cost and determine whether a state return is included or carries a separate charge. Verify that the product supports your filing status and the types of income you received.
- Follow the IRS link to the partner. Starting from the IRS page helps you reach the intended Free File offer. Create an account or sign in to an existing account. Use a unique password and save the account’s recovery information.
- Enter personal and household information. Provide your filing status, address, spouse information and each dependent’s legal name, Social Security number, relationship and months lived with you. Answer residency and support questions exactly as they applied in 2025.
- Enter every income statement. Transcribe W-2 and 1099 amounts and federal withholding. Include income from work, self-employment, investments and other sources the interview asks about. Omitting a 1099 can create an IRS notice even if the omission was accidental.
- Complete the credit interview. The software uses your earned income, filing status, investment income, child information and other answers to determine whether forms and worksheets for the EITC, CTC, ACTC or other credits belong on the return. Read each explanation screen; changing a residency or dependency answer can change the credit.
- Check the generated forms. Open the return review and inspect Form 1040, the earned-income and dependent sections, credit schedules and withholding entries. Confirm that names and Social Security numbers match official documents and that the refund or balance due changes as expected when a credit is added.
- Choose delivery and submit. Select direct deposit if you want electronic payment, review the disclosure and e-file authorization, then transmit the federal return. Save the acceptance email or confirmation number. A submission is not accepted merely because the software displays a refund estimate.
- Retain the complete copy. Download or print the filed return, forms and worksheets, and keep your supporting records. You may need them if the IRS asks you to verify income, a child’s residency or a Social Security number.
Credits you may be able to claim
Eligibility depends on the facts on your return. A guided product can calculate a credit only from the answers and documents you provide; it cannot resolve a dispute over who was entitled to claim a child or whether income was earned.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The EITC is refundable. That means an eligible taxpayer can receive a refund even when no federal income tax is otherwise owed. You generally need earned income, a valid Social Security number and compliance with rules covering filing status, investment income, residency and qualifying children. The IRS EITC Assistant can help when you are unsure whether your facts meet the rules.
For tax year 2025, the maximum investment income allowed is $11,950. The following figures are the IRS’s maximum AGI thresholds and maximum credits for 2025; the threshold depends on filing status and the number of qualifying children.
| Qualifying children | Maximum credit | Maximum AGI, single/head of household and similar statuses | Maximum AGI, married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | $649 | $19,104 | $26,214 |
| One | $4,328 | Higher than the no-child limit; use the IRS 2025 EITC tables for the exact amount | Higher than the no-child limit; use the IRS 2025 EITC tables for the exact amount |
| Two | $7,152 | Higher than the one-child limit; use the IRS 2025 EITC tables for the exact amount | Higher than the one-child limit; use the IRS 2025 EITC tables for the exact amount |
| Three or more | $8,046 | $61,555 | $68,675 |
The IRS figures above establish the endpoints reported for 2025. Your actual credit can be smaller because it phases in and out with earned income, filing status and the number of qualifying children. Entering investment income above the $11,950 limit makes the return ineligible for the EITC.
Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit
For 2025, the Child Tax Credit can be up to $2,200 per qualifying child. The refundable Additional Child Tax Credit can be up to $1,700 per child, depending on income and the other calculations on your return. At least $2,500 of earned income is required for the ACTC.
Full CTC generally applies up to $200,000 of income for most filers and $400,000 for married couples filing jointly; the credit phases out above those levels. A qualifying child must satisfy the age, relationship, residency, support and Social Security number requirements. The interview will ask for the months the child lived with you, so use your records rather than an estimate.
Credit for Other Dependents
The Credit for Other Dependents can be worth up to $500 for an eligible dependent who does not qualify for the CTC. The phaseout generally begins at $200,000 of income for most filers and $400,000 for married couples filing jointly. This credit is nonrefundable, so it can reduce tax to zero but cannot by itself create a refund.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesChoosing among Guided Tax, Fillable Forms and volunteer help
| Option | Income eligibility | How it works | State return | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Tax through an IRS Free File partner | 2025 AGI of $89,000 or less, plus each partner’s age, state and other rules | Interview asks questions and adds forms and credit calculations | Varies by partner; verify before filing | Most taxpayers who want no-cost, step-by-step federal preparation |
| Free File Fillable Forms | Available regardless of income | You select forms and perform the calculations yourself | Federal forms only; state availability is not the point of this product | Experienced filers whose AGI exceeds the Guided Tax limit |
| VITA or TCE | Volunteer-site eligibility varies; programs emphasize low- to moderate-income, older, disabled and limited-English-speaking taxpayers | IRS-certified volunteers prepare or assist with the return | Depends on the site | People who prefer human assistance or need accessibility, language or EITC-focused support |
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) sites provide no-cost preparation when you meet a site’s eligibility rules. VITA has particular emphasis on taxpayers who may qualify for the EITC. A volunteer site can be a better choice than software when disability accommodations, language support, age-related assistance or a complicated dependency situation makes an interview difficult.
Rank #4
If your income is above $89,000
An AGI above the Guided Tax ceiling does not eliminate your credits and does not prevent you from filing electronically for free. First, determine whether you can accurately prepare the federal return yourself. If you can, open Free File Fillable Forms and enter the required schedules and worksheets manually.
Fillable Forms require more checking than Guided Tax. You must know which version of Form 1040 applies, calculate items the software would normally interview you about, and verify that refundable and nonrefundable portions of credits flow to the correct lines. If you are uncertain about a qualifying-child test, self-employment calculation or filing status, a VITA/TCE site or another qualified source of assistance may be safer than guessing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Deadlines, acceptance and refund timing
Federal filing deadline
The IRS lists April 15, 2026, as the deadline for 2025 federal income-tax returns. An extension gives additional time to file, not additional time to pay a balance due. If you expect to owe, estimate the amount and arrange payment by the deadline even if you request an extension.
Why EITC and ACTC refunds arrive later
Federal law prevents the IRS from issuing a refund before mid-February when the return claims the EITC or ACTC. The delay applies to the entire refund, including amounts unrelated to those credits. After e-filing, use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” service for the personalized status and projected date; do not treat the software’s initial estimate as a guarantee.
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Common problems and how to correct them
The partner says you are not eligible
Recheck your 2025 AGI, age, state and military-status answers. A partner’s limit can be narrower than the IRS maximum. Return to the IRS Free File page and compare other listed partners. Do not create a paid account simply because the first product rejected your eligibility.
A child’s Social Security number is rejected
Compare the number and spelling with the Social Security card. Make sure the child is not already claimed on another accepted return. If another taxpayer has a legitimate claim, resolve the dependency issue with the IRS rather than entering altered information.
The software does not show the EITC or ACTC
Review earned-income entries, filing status, investment income and the dates each child lived with you. A missing W-2, an investment-income amount over the EITC limit, no qualifying Social Security number or insufficient earned income for the ACTC can remove a credit. Read the explanation screen and inspect the generated forms before submitting.
Your return is rejected after transmission
Open the rejection explanation in the partner account and correct the specific field, such as prior-year AGI, Social Security number or a duplicate dependent. Recalculate the return and retransmit. If the same return was already accepted, do not send a second original return; follow the partner’s amendment or IRS instructions instead.
You receive an IRS notice after filing
Read the notice’s response deadline and requested documents. Send copies of records that support income, residency, dependency or identity, keeping the originals. If the notice changes a credit, compare the IRS calculation with your saved Form 1040 and worksheets and respond through the method listed in the notice.
A practical decision checklist
- Use Guided Tax if your 2025 AGI is no more than $89,000 and you want interview-style help.
- Use Fillable Forms only if you can select forms, calculate credits and review a federal return without guided questions.
- Choose VITA/TCE when you want IRS-certified volunteer assistance, accessibility or language support, or focused help with EITC eligibility.
- Before filing, verify every Social Security number, dependent relationship, residency period, income statement and withholding amount.
- Save the accepted return and supporting records, then monitor refund status through the IRS service if you claimed EITC or ACTC.
Bottom line
For most taxpayers under the 2025 AGI limit, the simplest no-preparer route is to start at IRS.gov/freefile, select an eligible Guided Tax partner, complete every income and dependent question, and inspect the credit forms before e-filing. Taxpayers above $89,000 can still use Fillable Forms if they are comfortable preparing the return themselves, while VITA/TCE offers no-cost human assistance when software or a complicated eligibility question is not a good fit.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
