IRS Free File program: How to file your taxes for free in 2025

New York’s Staten Island — The 2025 tax season will officially begin on Monday when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance begin processing income tax returns.

It is anticipated that over 140 million individual tax returns would be filed nationwide, with the great majority of those being done prior to the April 15 deadline.

According to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, the IRS has undergone a historic period of improvement and will be introducing new tools and features to assist taxpayers this tax season. While the adjustments we have made thus far that are focused on the taxpayer are significant, the IRS still has more work to do. By continuing to invest in the country’s tax system, more can be accomplished.

The Tax Department and IRS websites provide Free submit, which enables qualified taxpayers to submit their state and federal income taxes for free. Residents are encouraged to investigate this option.

With the help of branded software offered by commercial tax filing organizations, taxpayers who made less than a specific amount in 2024 can electronically file their taxes for free using Free File. Free File Fillable forms are accessible to people of all income levels and offer free electronic forms that they may complete and submit for free.

Residents must have earned $84,000 or less in 2024 in Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to be eligible for the full Free File experience.

Higher-income residents may also be eligible for free tax filing through IRS Direct submit, which enables qualified taxpayers in 25 states—including New York—to submit their taxes directly with the IRS.

This data import tool, which was piloted in 12 states last year, lets taxpayers choose whether to automatically import data from their IRS account, much like commercial tax software. A new chatbot will assist users in navigating the process this year.

According to the state Tax Department, residents who made less than $200,000, or $250,000 if filing jointly, would be eligible for Direct File.

New income tax brackets

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revealed new brackets with altered thresholds for the tax year 2024, but the tax rates will stay the same, ranging from 10% to 37% based on an individual’s total taxable income.

Along with the new tax brackets, the standard deduction—the amount you can deduct to change the amount of income you’re taxed on—will also rise. For single filers, it will go from $13,850 to $14,600, and for married couples filing jointly, it will go from $27,700 to $29,200.

The new tax brackets that will apply to 2025 filings are shown here.

Tax brackets for individuals who file alone

• 
  $11,600 or less in taxable income 10% of taxable income
  
• 
  $11,600 to $47,150 in taxable income – $1,160 plus 12% of the excess over $11,600
  
• 
  $47,150 to $100,525 in taxable income – $5,426 plus 22% of the excess over $47,150
  
• 
  $100,525 to $191,950 in taxable income – $17,168.50 plus 24% of the excess over $100,525
  
• 
  $191,950 to $243,725 in taxable income – $39,110.50 plus 32% of the excess over $191,150
  
• 
  $243,725 to $609,350 in taxable income – $55,678.50 plus 35% of the excess over $243,725
  
• 
  $609,350 or more in taxable income – $183,647.25 plus 37% of the excess over $609,350
  

Married couples filing jointly and their tax brackets

• 
  $23,200 or less in taxable income – 10% of taxable income
  
• 
  $23,200 but not over $94,300 – $2,320 plus 12% of the excess over $23,200
  
• 
  $94,300 but not over $201,050 – $10,852 plus 22% of the excess over $94,300
  
• 
  $201,050 but not over $383,900 – $34,337 plus 24% of the excess over $201,050
  
• 
  $383,900 but not over $487,450 – $78,221 plus 32% of the excess over $383,900
  
• 
  $487,450 but not over $731,200 – $111,357 plus 35% of the excess over $487,450
  
• 
  $731,200 or more in taxable income – $196,669.50 plus 37% of the excess over $731,200