Free File Alliance


The Free File Alliance is a group of tax preparation companies which operate a public-private partnership with the Internal Revenue Service to provide free electronic tax filing services to United States tax payers meeting certain guidelines. The Free File Alliance claims that the program benefits American taxpayers by providing services that would cost the IRS money to provide if online tax filing were administered directly by the IRS. The IRS stipulates filers must have an adjusted gross income of $69,000 or less for tax year 2019, but participating companies have their own requirements and restrictions.
Free File Alliance is a 501 organization registered as Free File, Inc., and based in Clifton, Virginia. Its executive director is Tim Hugo.
While many of the Free File Companies offer free state income tax returns, some companies do charge additional fees of $10 to $30 to electronically file state returns.
In 2007, Alliance members agreed to remove controversial ancillary offerings such as refund anticipation loans from the program.
In order to receive a free federal tax return the taxpayer must first go to https://www.irs.gov/freefile.