Tax Tips

Free File for Simple Form 1040 Returns – 37%Qualify

Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam
Published Jan 8, 2024 - [Updated Jan 3, 2025]
4 min read
Reviewed by Lisa Greene-Lewis, CPA and tax expert for TurboTax

What could be better than paying $0 to do your taxes? Over the past ten years, Americans filed approximately 124 million tax returns completely free of charge using TurboTax, more than all other tax prep software companies combined.

Find out all the ways you may be eligible for free tax filing with TurboTax!

TurboTax has several options for free tax filing: TurboTax Free Edition and the TurboTax Mobile App Offer, and free TurboTax for Enlisted Active Duty and Reserve Military. TurboTax Free Edition is designed for people with simple 1040 tax returns only. Simple tax returns include W-2 income, limited interest and dividend income, IRS standard deduction, Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Student Loan interest, and taxable qualified retirement plan distributions.

Click here for more details about eligible situations.

New TurboTax Mobile App Offer

New for tax year 2024, everyone new to TurboTax or that did not file with TurboTax last year can file their taxes completely free in the mobile app regardless of their tax complexity before Feb 18.

TurboTax Free Edition – Free for Simple 1040 Tax Returns

For the eleventh year in a row, we are offering free federal and state tax filing with TurboTax Free Edition, helping millions of Americans file for free. TurboTax Free Edition is for taxpayers filing a Form 1040 only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest, and taxable qualified retirement plan distributions) without having to attach additional forms or schedules. Roughly 37% of tax filers are eligible. You can see if you qualify here.

What qualifies as a simple Form 1040 only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest)?

A simple Form 1040 return only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest, and taxable qualified retirement plan distributions) without having to attach additional forms or schedules is one that’s filed using IRS Form 1040 only (with the exception of the specific covered situations described below). Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible.

If you have a simple Form 1040 return only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest, and taxable qualified retirement plan distribution) without having to attach additional forms or schedules, you can file for free yourself with TurboTax Free Edition, or you can file with TurboTax Full Service Basic at the listed price.

Situations covered (assuming no added tax complexity):

W-2 income
Interest or dividends (1099-INT/1099-DIV) that don’t require filing a Schedule B
IRS standard deduction
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Child Tax Credit (CTC)
Student loan interest deduction
Taxable qualified retirement plan distributions

Situations not covered:

Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A
Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
Business or 1099-NEC income
Stock sales (including crypto investments)
Rental property income
Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules

How does TurboTax make any money?
We want our customers to love our products and services. Because we have customers who pay for our premium products and services, we can offer free tax filing. We offer additional paid benefits that go beyond filing your simple Form 1040 return for free, but they’re optional.

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TurboTax Mobile App Offer – Free for Everyone New to TurboTax or That Did Not File with TurboTax Last Year Regardless of Complexity

For tax year 2024, TurboTax is providing access to premium tax filing experiences at exceptional prices. Everyone new to TurboTax or returning after filing elsewhere last year, regardless of their tax complexity, can file their own taxes for free through the TurboTax mobile app offer through Feb. 18, 2025.

Free TurboTax for Enlisted Active Duty and Reserve Military

Intuit is a proud supporter of US military members, veterans, and their families in their communities and overseas. As a part of this commitment, we’re proud to provide free federal and state tax preparation to active duty and reservists of an enlisted rank (E-1 through E-9) with a W2 from DFAS.

Military members can file through any TurboTax Online (not CD/desktop or TurboTax Live) product, including Free Edition, Deluxe, and Premium. You just need to enter your W-2 and verify your military rank when prompted within TurboTax Online, and your discount will be applied when you are ready to file.

Free Tax Assistance and Filing through the IRS VITA Program

Intuit TurboTax is a proud supporter of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program which provides free tax preparation assistance for lower – and moderate-income taxpayers. At VITAs, IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to people who generally make $67,000 or less, have a disability or have limited English-speaking skills.