TurboTax Free Edition: How It Works and What's Included
TurboTax Free Edition covers simple Form 1040 returns. A simple Form 1040 return is one that’s filed using IRS Form 1040 only (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A). Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible.
Here's how it works, which situations and tax forms it covers, and what to do if your return turns out to need more than a simple 1040.
The One Big Beautiful Bill that passed includes permanently extending tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including increasing the cap on the amount of state and local or sales tax and property tax (SALT) that you can deduct, makes cuts to energy credits passed under the Inflation Reduction Act, makes changes to taxes on tips and overtime for certain workers, reforms Medicaid, increases the Debt ceiling, and reforms Pell Grants and student loans. Updates to this article are in process. Check our One Big Beautiful Bill article for more information.
How does TurboTax Free Edition work?
Getting started with TurboTax Free Edition is easy.
- Tell TurboTax about your life and get guided step by step—returning customers jumpstart with last year's info.
- Import, upload, or snap a photo of your W-2 and your info is auto-filled in the right places.
- Intuit Assist answers any questions you might have with comprehensive, easy-to-understand answers.
- CompleteCheck scans your return from beginning to end before you file.
- E-file—federal e-file is included at no extra charge, and you pay $0 to file.
Your info saves automatically so you can switch devices or file entirely from your phone.
What's included in TurboTax Free Edition?
TurboTax Free Edition includes:
- W-2 income
- Interest, dividends, or original issue discounts (1099-INT/1099-DIV/1099-OID) that don't require a Schedule B
- IRS standard deduction
- Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
- Student loan interest deduction
- Schedule 1-A deductions for qualified tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, and seniors (65+)
- Taxable qualified retirement plan distributions
Not included (these situations need broader coverage): itemized deductions on Schedule A, unemployment income (1099-G), business or 1099-NEC income, stock or crypto sales, and rental property income.
Why should I file with TurboTax Free Edition?
Key benefits of filing with TurboTax Free Edition include:
- Get your maximum refund, guaranteed: With TurboTax, we're committed to getting you every dollar you deserve, and we guarantee it.
- Tax credits for your dependents: We'll show you who qualifies as your dependent. You'll also find tax-saving credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and Child Tax Credit.
- File free taxes on the go: We save your info automatically, so you can switch devices and pick up right where you left off. You can even file your taxes entirely from your phone with our mobile app.
- 50% done in a click: Experience easy and free tax filing as a returning customer. We'll transfer last year's information so you can save time and know that your tax return is accurate.
- File with complete confidence: CompleteCheck scans your return from beginning to end, so you can be confident it's 100% accurate before you file.
- Big life changes? We're ready to help: When you go through big changes, like getting a new job or having a baby, it might affect your taxes. We'll help you understand how and find new deductions for your situation.
How do I know my return is accurate?
Before you file, CompleteCheck reviews your entire return and flags anything missing or inconsistent.
100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee
If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. Limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
Tax Return Lifetime Guarantee
A combination of coverage including 100% accurate calculations, audit support and a maximum refund. All guaranteed for the full 7-year life of your tax return. Excludes TurboTax Expert Assist Business and TurboTax Expert Full Service Business. See Terms of Service for details.
Audit Support Guarantee
If you receive an audit letter based on your 2025 TurboTax individual or business return, we will provide one-on-one question-and-answer support with a tax professional, if requested through our Audit Support Center, for audited returns filed with these products for the current tax year (2025) and, for individual, non-business returns, for the past two tax years (2024, 2023). This guarantee does not apply to TurboTax Business desktop software. Audit support is informational only. We will not represent you before the IRS or state tax authority or provide legal advice.
If we are not able to connect you to one of our tax professionals, we will refund the applicable TurboTax federal and/or state purchase price paid. (TurboTax Free Edition customers are entitled to payment of $30). Additional limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
Maximum Refund Guarantee / Maximum Tax Savings Guarantee - or Your Money Back
If you get a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparation method, we'll refund the applicable TurboTax federal and/or state purchase price paid. (TurboTax Online Free Edition customers are entitled to payment of $30.) Limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
You may use TurboTax Online without charge up to the point you decide to print or electronically file your tax return. Printing or electronically filing your return reflects your satisfaction with TurboTax Online, at which time you will be required to pay or register for the product. See Terms of Service for details.
What tax forms does TurboTax Free Edition cover?
| Form | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Form 1040 | U.S. Individual Income Tax Return |
| Form W-2 | Wages and Tax Statement |
| Form W-4 | Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate |
| Form 1095-A | Health Insurance Marketplace Statement |
| Form 1098 | Mortgage Interest Statement |
| Form 1098-C | Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats and Airplanes |
| Form 1098-E | Student Loan Interest Statement |
| Form 1098-T | Tuition Statement |
| Form 1099-INT* | Interest Income (If 1099-DIV/INT/OID combined is <=$1500) |
| Form 1099-DIV* | Dividends and Distributions (If 1099-DIV/INT/OID combined is <=$1500) |
| Form 1099-OID* | Original Issue Discount (If 1099-DIV/INT/OID combined is <=$1500) |
| Form 1099-G* | Unemployment Income and other government payments (State and Local Refund Only) |
| Form 1099-K | Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions |
| Form 1099-Q | Payments From Qualified Education Programs |
| Form 1099-R | Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement, etc. |
| Schedule 1* | Additional Income and Adjustments to Income (Student Loan Interest only) |
| Schedule 1-A | Additional Deductions |
| Schedule 8812 | Additional Child Tax Credit |
| Schedule EIC | Earned Income Credit |
| Schedule LEP | Request for Change in Language Preference |
| Form 1040-ES | Estimated Tax for Individuals |
| Form 1040-V | Payment Vouchers |
| Form 1040-X | Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return |
| Form 1310 | Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer |
| Form 14039 | Identity Theft Affidavit |
| Form 2120 | Multiple Support Declaration |
| Form 2210/2210AI | Underpayment of Tax/Annualized Income |
| Form 4506 | Request for Copy of Tax Form |
| Form 4547 | Trump Account Election(s) |
| Form 4852 | Substitute for Form W-2 or 1099-R |
| Form 4868 | Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File |
| Form 8332 | Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents |
| Form 8379 | Injured Spouse Allocation |
| Form 8453 | U.S. Individual Income Tax Transmittal for an IRS E-File Return |
| Form 8822 | Change of Address |
| Form 8857 | Request for Innocent Spouse Relief |
| Form 8862 | Information to Claim Certain Refundable Credits After Disallowance |
| Form 8888 | Direct Deposit of Refund |
| Form 9465 | Installment Agreement Request |
* Only a portion of the form or schedule may be covered.
Frequently asked questions
What situations are covered by TurboTax Free Edition?
TurboTax Free Edition is for simple Form 1040 returns only. These situations are covered:
- W-2 income
- Interest, dividends or original issue discounts (1099-INT/1099-DIV/1099-OID) that don't require filing a Schedule B
- IRS standard deduction
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Student loan interest deduction
- Schedule 1-A deductions for qualified tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, and seniors (65+)
- Taxable qualified retirement plan distributions
What if I have questions along the way?
With AI-powered guidance from Intuit Assist you'll get explanations and answers to your questions along the way. You also have unlimited access to the TurboTax community and help articles. And you can upgrade to Expert Assist for unlimited help and advice from tax experts, or hand off your taxes to a Full Service expert to do them for you, start to finish.
Do I need a credit card to pay for TurboTax?
All major credit and debit cards are accepted, but you can also choose to pay your TurboTax fees right out of your federal tax refund; there's an additional fee for this service.
Am I covered if I get audited?
- Yes. We offer free one-on-one audit guidance year-round from our experienced and knowledgeable tax staff. We'll let you know what to expect and how to prepare in the unlikely event you receive an audit letter from the IRS.
- If you've already received a letter from the IRS for a return you filed with TurboTax, please review our Audit Support Guarantee for instructions on how to receive free step-by-step audit guidance and the option to connect with an expert.
- We also offer full audit representation for an additional fee with TurboTax Audit Defense.
