The 2025 tax season has officially begun.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) shared in a [news release](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-free-file-opens-friday-free-tax-filing-service-available-to-millions-on-irsgov) that its Free File program will be accessible starting January 10. This initiative enables eligible taxpayers to submit their tax returns using guided software without any charges.

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Free File is available for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or below for 2024. To utilize this service, eligible individuals must initiate their return by opting for a Free File choice on the [IRS website](https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-free-file-do-your-taxes-for-free). It’s crucial to remember that the free service cannot be accessed directly through the websites of the IRS’s partner tax preparers. For 2025, the participating partners consist of TaxHawk, TaxSlayer, 1040Now, and ezTaxReturn.

Although Free File is open to those earning $84,000 or less, each partner establishes its own eligibility criteria, which may take into account factors such as age, state residency, and military status. Some providers might also offer preparation for free state tax returns.

Once the Free File service becomes available, taxpayers can prepare their returns and hold them until the official commencement of the IRS tax season later in January.

For those who are ineligible for Free File, the IRS will release its Free File Fillable Forms starting January 27. These electronic versions of commonly used IRS paper forms are meant for individuals who are confident in preparing their own taxes.

“Throughout the years, Free File has assisted millions of taxpayers, offering a quick and straightforward method to file their returns,” stated IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel in the agency’s announcement.