IRS Free File program sees early increase in use; filings up nearly 10%

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service’s Free File Guided Tax Software service has seen a year-over-year increase of nearly 10% so far this filing season, according to new statistics released today.

Through Feb. 24, 943,000 taxpayers had filed tax returns this tax season through IRS Free File, a 9.7% increase from last year’s comparable period when 860,000 tax returns were filed.

The Free File increase occurs as the IRS continues to see a strong start to the 2024 filing season. Through Feb. 24, the IRS had delivered more than 28.9 million refunds to taxpayers worth $92.9 billion. The average refund this year is $3,213, up 4.3% from 2023.

Now in its 22nd filing season, taxpayers across the nation can access free software products provided by IRS Free File trusted partners by visiting IRS.gov. Through this public-private partnership, tax preparation and filing software providers make their online products available to eligible taxpayers. Eight private-sector Free File partners provide online guided tax software products this year to any taxpayer with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $79,000 or less in 2023. Free access to online products is only available by starting from IRS Free File.

Those with an AGI over $79,000 can use the IRS’s Free File Fillable Forms. This product is best for people comfortable using IRS form instructions and publications when preparing their own taxes.

Free File is one of many free options available for taxpayers. The IRS has a special free help page on IRS.gov that provides an easy way of seeing many of the free services and options to features and options to help people with their taxes.

How to use Free File on IRS.gov

To find the right IRS Free File product, taxpayers can:

Go to IRS.gov/freefile,
Click on Explore Free Guided Tax Software button. Then select the Find Your Trusted Partner tool for help in finding the right product, or
Use the Browse All Trusted Partners tool to review each offer,
Select the desired product, and
Follow the links to the trusted partner’s website to begin their tax return.

For 2024, the following trusted partners are participating in IRS Free File: