- From the IRS website (see References), you will see a list of websites that offer free efile. You must look at each one to see which one you will qualify to use free of charge for the federal. If you do not qualify for any programs on the site, you can use the website list to see which site will have the lowest cost to file.
- E-filing of the federal tax returns of an individual or married couple will vary for each of the websites listed at the IRS website. The range is between $9.95 and $69. Business taxes will be as much as $99. The type of form that you use will determine the cost to you to efile. Usually the standard 1040 with no itemized deductions will be the cheapest and the 1040 with itemized deductions and other credits and deductions will cost the most.
- Some states have a free file for the state taxes via their own website or they have partnered with an online website. You must check your state to see if they offer free file or if you must pay. Most state returns that are not free to file run anywhere from $9.95 to $24.95. However, some additional forms may cost more.
- With federal and state returns, some forms that are needed by individuals or married couples will cost extra. Two forms that raise the cost of filing a state form in some states is the Schedule U and Schedule WD. It can cost an additional $10 to $20 to use and file these forms.
- How you choose to pay for efiling will determine the overall payment after you complete your tax returns. If you use a debit or credit card, you pay only the charge assessed by the software program you are using. If you pay for the filing with any refunds that you have coming back, it could cost another $24.95 to have the money deducted from your refund.
