Choose a filing path
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The idea in everyday life
Select an official free option, commercial software, volunteer assistance, or qualified professional based on facts and complexity.
The best filing method is the least complicated path that accurately handles your actual return.
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
Check current IRS free-filing and volunteer-assistance eligibility directly on official pages.
- 2
Compare software by supported forms, state-return cost, data practices, audit support, and total checkout price.
- 3
Vet preparers by credentials, availability after filing season, fee structure, signature requirements, and professional history.
- 4
Choose a method before entering sensitive information and access it through a verified domain.
See how it works.
Alex’s freelance schedule is outside one volunteer program’s scope, so Alex compares two products and a credentialed preparer using the same checklist.
Did you cover these?
- Your work includes a short filing-method choice with eligibility, full cost, supported forms, security checks, and any reason to seek qualified help.
- Check this common mistake: Following a sponsored search result that advertises “free” but charges for forms your situation requires.
- Your chosen method supports every item on the tax-year fact sheet at a known total cost.
What to finish
A short filing-method choice with eligibility, full cost, supported forms, security checks, and any reason to seek qualified help.
Watch for this
Following a sponsored search result that advertises “free” but charges for forms your situation requires.
How can I tell I understand it?
Your chosen method supports every item on the tax-year fact sheet at a known total cost.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
First Time Filing a Tax Return?
From Internal Revenue Service. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Watch for an idea you can use in the practice below. You can pause or skip this optional overview.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
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Sources and further reading
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