The average American who hires a tax preparer to file even a simple return will spend upwards of $200, according to industry estimates.   

This year, however, taxpayers have more options than ever to avoid that expense.  

Or . . . maybe not. The most noteworthy new program for free tax-prep, IRS Direct File, came under fire this week from Elon Musk, who tweeted Monday that the service had been “deleted.” Democrats and Republicans in Congress are battling over its future. 

You wouldn’t think a free tax-prep service would fall prey to partisan politics. Then again, this is no ordinary presidential transition.  

With that important caveat out of the way, here are five ways to prepare and file a tax return without spending a dime. 

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

IRS Direct File 

Direct File is a new IRS program that allows millions of Americans with uncomplicated taxes to file returns at no cost.  

Piloted in a dozen states last year, Direct File expanded to 25 states in 2025. The full list: 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. 

The IRS says 30 million taxpayers qualify to use the free service this year: pretty much anyone with a relatively straightforward return. The Direct File site will help you decide if you are eligible. 

“Above all, our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily,” said Danny Werfel, the now-former IRS commissioner, in a statement.  

Direct File works on mobile phones, tablets and regular computers, guiding taxpayers through a step-by-step process for completing their returns. The program is designed to help you maximize your refund. 

Though Direct File sounds innocuous enough, the program has seeded controversy. Private tax-preparation companies lobbied against it. Republican lawmakers have urged President Trump to kill the program, citing concerns over the IRS acting “as both tax collector and tax preparer.” 

Democratic lawmakers have lined up behind the program, which launched under the Biden administration.  

"Direct File is one of the most efficient ways for Americans to file their taxes, saving them time and money instead of forcing them to fork over their hard-earned dollars to tax prep middlemen," said Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Treasury Secretary Bessent promised to keep Direct File around for the rest of this season − he should make it permanent.”

Scott Bessent, the new Treasury secretary, committed to keeping Direct File open through the current tax season.

However, in a post Monday on X, Elon Musk suggested Direct File had been “deleted” as part of his campaign against government overspending.  

The program’s website was still up at close of business Tuesday. The IRS offered no official comment. The big question now is whether taxpayers will still entrust their returns to the embattled service. 

IRS Free File 

Free File, not to be confused with Direct File, is a much older IRS program that allows taxpayers with modest incomes to file taxes at no charge with help from tax-preparer partners. 

To qualify for Free File, you must have an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less. That means 70% of taxpayers are eligible, according to federal estimates.  

But only a tiny share of taxpayers actually use Free File: about 4%, according to a 2022 Government Accountability Office report.  

Private tax preparers deserve some blame. A 2019 investigation by the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica found that two IRS partners, TurboTax and H&R Block, undermined Free File by hiding the service on their websites and steering taxpayers into pricier tax-preparation products.  

Some taxpayers may be wary of asking the IRS for help preparing their taxes. That could be another reason Free File hasn’t taken off. 

“There may be some skepticism around filing with the IRS directly,” said Elizabeth Ayoola, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet. But, she said, “there really are no strings attached.” 

TurboTax and H&R Block have ended their partnerships with Free File. The current partners: 1040Now, 1040.com, ezTaxReturn.com, FileYourTaxes.com, OnLine Taxes, TaxAct, FreeTaxUSA and TaxSlayer.  

To use Free File, visit its website. You choose a partner tax-prep company and answer a series of guided questions to begin preparing your return. In effect, Free File allows you to use the tax-preparer’s software at no cost. 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide 

Tax-Aide, launched in 1968, is billed as the nation’s largest free, volunteer-staffed program to help people prepare and file taxes, with more than 80 million taxpayers served. 

In 2024, nearly 28,000 volunteers helped almost 1.7 million taxpayers file returns. Volunteers are IRS-certified and up to date on the tax code. 

“Anyone is eligible, but we really focus on individuals who have low to moderate income, and our training is focused there as well,” said Mioshi Moses, vice president of volunteer programs at AARP Foundation.  

There are no hidden fees, and volunteers are trained to help lower-income taxpayers find deductions and credits they might otherwise miss. 

For example, many taxpayers qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a tax break for low- to moderate-income workers.  

“It’s one of the most effective anti-poverty tools that’s out there,” Moses said. “What we find is that many eligible adults don’t claim it.” 

Volunteers take appointments at more than 3,600 locations nationwide, housed in libraries, malls, banks and community centers in every state. You can have the volunteer prepare your return or get coaching so you can complete it yourself. You do not have to be an AARP member. 

The service runs from now through mid-April. To find a Tax-Aide center, you can use AARP’s Tax-Aide Locator.  

H&R Block Online Free Edition 

While H&R Block no longer participates in Free File, the tax-preparation giant offers its own free service. 

According to the website, 55% of taxpayers qualify for Online Free Edition. You must have a relatively straightforward return. The service includes a free state return. 

TurboTax Free Edition 

TurboTax, too, offers free tax preparation to taxpayers with relatively simple returns. Roughly 37% of filers qualify. 

Contributing: Medora Lee and Susan Tompor. This story has been updated to add new information.