Should I do my own taxes? Find the right way to file
Tell us a little about your 2026 return. We will show whether you can file it yourself, which software scores best for it, whether you qualify for free help, and when paying a professional is worth it.
General information, not tax advice. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere; the answer is worked out in your browser.
How it decides
- Do it yourself is the default. Each ticked situation adds complexity points; a lot of complexity, or wanting a second opinion, suggests filing yourself with a check by an expert.
- Software: the best tier from each company confirmed to cover what you ticked, ranked by our tax software score.
- Free File: free if your AGI is $89,000 or less; each partner has its own rules.
- Volunteers: you qualify by income (about $70,244 or less) or age (60+ for TCE). What they prepare follows IRS Publication 3676-B.
- A paid professional is suggested only for K-1s, foreign income or accounts, several unfiled years, or an audit or IRS dispute, when you are not fully comfortable or the return is complex overall.
Example: with $55,000 of income and freelance income, comfortable doing it yourself, the top-scoring option is FreeTaxUSA Free federal at $16 for federal and one state, and IRS Free File is also open to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can most people file their own taxes?
Yes. Returns with wages, interest, retirement income, the standard deduction and common credits are well within what tax software handles. More forms mean more questions to answer, not necessarily a need for a preparer.
Who qualifies for free tax help?
IRS Free File software is free if your adjusted gross income is $89,000 or less. IRS-certified volunteers at VITA sites help people who generally make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities and limited-English speakers, and TCE sites focus on people 60 and older. Military members and families can use MilTax.
What will volunteers not prepare?
IRS Publication 3676-B lists Schedule C with a net loss, depreciation or business use of home, complex capital gains, a child's investment income (Forms 8615 and 8814), casualty and disaster losses, and a few others. Rentals, K-1s and foreign income are not on the list of what they will prepare, so ask the site first.
When is a paid professional worth it?
When something on your return is unusual and you are not confident, such as K-1s, foreign income or accounts, several unfiled years, or an IRS audit or dispute. Look for an enrolled agent, CPA or tax attorney; all are listed in the IRS directory of preparers with credentials.
How does the calculator pick software?
It ranks the best tier from each company that is confirmed to cover everything you ticked, by our tax software score: mostly the federal plus state price, plus whether expert help and audit support are included.
Official sources
- IRS Free File
- IRS: Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers (VITA/TCE)
- IRS Publication 3676-B: what VITA/TCE volunteers will and will not prepare (Rev. 12-2024)
- IRS VITA/TCE site locator
- Military OneSource: MilTax
- IRS: Choosing a tax professional
- IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials
Related: how to file your own taxes · tax software scores · where to get help · document checklist