Good day my fellow Americans,

I have seen, time after time, people trying to find how to do their taxes for free. I've also seen people have a huge interest on this site for it, I've also seen that most "deals" on tax software offering free service charges additional costs, that are usually MORE than the software itself to file a state claim.

Let me start by telling you some good news. Many states are "MANDATED" which means, REQUIRED, to offer state e-files online for FREE. All you need to do is file your federal taxes and use the same information & w-2's to do it for your state. In California, where I reside it's very simple, and most have a similar system.

Now that you have the scoop, let me start by offering you many different sites to file your federal tax return for free. After you e-file your Federal return for free, print it out, or save it; you will need this information to do your free state return (DO NOT PAY FEE FOR STATE :: JUST e-FILE & PRINT YOUR FEDERAL TAXES)

STEP ONE: FEDERAL TAXES

TURBOTAX (https://turbotaxweb.turbotaxonline.intuit.com/open/registration/Start.htm?productid=512&customerSource=4516000000)

H&R BLOCK (http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/products/product.jsp?productId=201)

TaxACT (https://www.taxact.com/online/introduction/free_taxact_reg.asp?sc=0842625250001&l=1&v=0&kw=free%20taxes&ad=18564405)

MORE TAX PREPARATION COMPANIES (http://www.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/index.jsp?ck)

STEP TWO: STATE TAXES

Once you have done your federal taxes using the free services in step one:

a) Find your state on the following links below:
States Participating in Federal/State e-file (http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=130678,00.html)
Mandated e-File States (http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=130685,00.html)

To save some of you time Here are the states that do not provide state income tax services: Alaska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Florida, South Dakota, Washington, Nevada, Texas, and Wyoming.

STEP THREE: FIND THE E-FILE

Each state site is different, most of the state sites you are directed to with the "LEAVE IRS" button are a link away from e-file.

Quicklink for California Residents
California E-File (http://www.ftb.ca.gov/online/calFile/index.asp)

Enjoy. I know this needed to be done!

This post can be edited by most users to provide up-to-date information about developments of this thread based on user responses, and user findings. Feel free to add, change or remove information shown here as it becomes available. This includes new coupons, rebates, ideas, thread summary, and similar items.

Thanks to OP for starting this, it always amazes me that people would pay to file state taxes in the state that offer it for free!

Here are a few state links, please update if you know your state's links. :

CA http://www.ftb.ca.gov/online/calfile/index.asp
CT https://drsindtax.ct.gov/AUT/welcomeindividual.aspx
DC https://www.taxpayerservicecenter.com/individual/Ind_Logon.jsp?type=100
DE https://dorweb.revenue.delaware.gov/filepit
IL http://www.revenue.state.il.us
IN https://secure.in.gov/apps/dor/ifile/2008/
MA https://wfb.dor.state.ma.us/income/Default.aspx
MD https://interactive.marylandtaxes.com/Individuals/iFile_ChooseForm/default.asp
VA https://www.individual.tax.virginia.gov/VTOL/IndLogin.seam

Added quick california e-file link

I didn't see this link above. FreeFile page from the IRS: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
This site links you to places to prepare your taxes FREE online if your AGI is less than $56k (you can still use them if you make more money, but you may pay the service to do so.)

I used these links a few years back and have continued to use esmarttax.com each year because I liked it so much. Their pricing structures have changed, but I like the interface. I pay about $10 each year to file in a way that imports my previous year's info.

As mentioned above, some free federal efile companies will then charge you to efile for state. For my state (Indiana), I can just efile for free directly from the state site as long as I have already done my federal taxes. The IN free filing site is https://secure.in.gov/apps/dor/ifile/2008/

Thanks OP!!! I used your CA link to efile my state tax return!!! Thanks!!!! Rep++

so how can you file your state tax return online for states that don't have e-file?

For some reason, Virginia is calling theirs "iFile". Why, VA, why? You already suck so hard for taxing us...

Kentucky isn't mandated. I had to pay to have my state taxes filed.

Can anyone find anything better than the qualification requirements for efiling in Michigan?
MI: http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/0,1607,7-238-44070-176278--,00.html#Fed

Also, there are free federal forms to fill out and file electronically here:
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=201897,00.html

I have used freetaxusa.com for quite a few years and have been pleased with it. If your income is 56,000 or less the following states qualify to file federal for free. It will also transfer your info to your next years taxes, which is awesome!

Alabama Mississippi Arizona Missouri California Nebraska Colorado New Jersey Connecticut New Mexico Delaware New York Georgia North Carolina Idaho Ohio Illinois Oklahoma Indiana Oregon Iowa Pennsylvania Kansas South Carolina Kentucky Utah Louisiana Virginia Maryland West Virginia Michigan

It will take you thru state as well, but at the end you can just e-file your federal for free. I then just google...where can i file my state taxes for free in (the state you live in) If you have to pay school taxes, it will usually ask you this at the end of filing your state, and will then take you directly to it.

I hope this helps out!

Subscribed.

Kentucky isn't mandated. I had to pay to have my state taxes filed.

Not sure what the qualifications are, but here is a site you may want to check out. Just ran across it, and thought it may help ya out in the future! :)

http://revenue.ky.gov/freefile.htm

anyone who can spare a keycode for taxcut, i will be in debt to you. I downloaded the free taxcut premium weeks ago ( as listed on sd ) but i misplaced the keycode the email you, and i need one badly.
I complete a really big return but now i cant efile it cuz i dont have a keycode. i've tried all the ones listed on sd, but none work. PLEASE somebody pm me with a key

( remember, each key is good for 5 returns, so even if you've used it, it can be used up to FIVE times ).

Good updates guys, great!

thanks

Thanks!

I followed the Free Taxcut link, did my taxes and now it says I owe $29.99 so..
Like a lot of others, I am looking for a Taxcut code. Anyone have one to share? TIA