Where to get help with your own tax return
Most questions have a free answer. Work down this list in order; paying someone is the last step, not the first. Not sure whether to file yourself at all? Try the file myself or get help calculator.
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Look it up here and on IRS.gov Free
Our guides and calculators cover the questions most filers get stuck on. The IRS Interactive Tax Assistant answers yes/no questions such as "is this income taxable?" or "can I claim this person?", and every form has line-by-line instructions.
How to file your own taxes · IRS: Interactive Tax Assistant · IRS forms and instructions
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Use your tax software's help Free
Every tax program has a help center and searchable answers, free with any tier. Several sell live help from a credentialed expert as an add-on, which can be cheaper than paying a preparer if you only have one or two questions.
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Get free help from IRS-certified volunteers Free
VITA sites help people who generally make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities and limited-English speakers; TCE sites focus on people 60 and older. Some sites offer "Self-Prep", where you prepare your own return on free software with a volunteer guiding you. Military members and families can use MilTax.
IRS VITA/TCE site locator · IRS: Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers (VITA/TCE) · Military OneSource: MilTax
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Ask the IRS directly Free
Your IRS online account shows your balance, payments and the wage and income data employers and banks reported, which settles most "what did I get?" questions. For account problems, call the IRS or book an appointment at a local office.
IRS online account · IRS telephone assistance · IRS: Contact your local IRS office
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If a problem with the IRS is stuck Free
The Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS, helps for free when an IRS problem is causing hardship or normal channels have not fixed it. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics represent eligible people in disputes with the IRS for free or a small fee.
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Pay for expert help, as a last resort Paid
If none of that answers it, a one-off paid answer or a review of the return you prepared costs far less than handing the whole return to a preparer. Check any paid preparer has a PTIN, and look up credentials (enrolled agent, CPA, attorney) in the IRS directory.
Our expert help · IRS: Choosing a tax professional · IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials
Expert help (last resort)
Tried the free options and still stuck? We offer three flat-price services. We do not prepare or file your return: you stay in charge of it and file it yourself.
Ask a tax question
$39
One specific question your software and the IRS pages did not answer
- A written answer for your situation
- Which form, line or schedule it goes on
- Links to the IRS source
Review my return before I file
$79
You prepared your own return and want a second look before you file
- A line-by-line look at your draft return (PDF from your software)
- Missed deductions and credits flagged
- Written notes on what to fix; you make the changes and file
IRS letter help
$49
You got an IRS or state notice and are not sure how to answer it
- What the notice means and whether it is right
- What to send back, and by when
- A draft response you can mail or upload
A return review is available in every state except California, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Oregon, which require paid preparers to register with the state first. Questions and IRS letter help are available everywhere.
Request expert help
Don’t enter your Social Security number or upload documents here. We reply by email within one business day with next steps and a secure way to share anything we need.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free help for doing my own taxes?
Yes. The IRS Interactive Tax Assistant answers common questions online, VITA and TCE volunteer sites prepare basic returns or guide you through your own for free if you qualify, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service helps for free with IRS problems that are stuck.
When is it worth paying someone?
When you have tried the free options and still have a specific question, want a second look at the return you prepared, or got an IRS letter you do not understand. Paying for one answer or a review costs much less than having a preparer do the whole return.
Do you prepare or file returns?
No. You prepare and file your own return with the software you choose. Our expert help answers questions, reviews a return you prepared and helps with IRS letters; you make any changes and file it yourself.
How do I check a paid preparer?
Anyone paid to prepare or help prepare a federal return must have a PTIN from the IRS. Enrolled agents, CPAs and attorneys are listed in the IRS directory of preparers with credentials. Never sign a blank return or let a preparer send your refund to their account.