You can file your state income tax return for free in most states through one of three routes: an IRS Free File partner that also covers your state return if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $89,000 or less, your state revenue department’s own e-filing portal, or a volunteer preparer through the VITA or TCE programs. Which one fits depends on your income, where you live, and whether you want to sit down with someone or work through it online. Here is how to file state taxes for free, step by step.
First, Confirm Your State Taxes Income
Nine states do not tax personal income at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you lived and earned in one of those, you have no state return to file. New Hampshire taxes only interest and dividend income above a threshold, so most wage earners there also owe no return.
Everyone else has a state filing obligation and at least one free way to meet it.
The Three Free Filing Paths
IRS Free File Partner Software
The IRS partners with several private tax-preparation companies to offer guided software at no cost to taxpayers whose AGI is $89,000 or less.1Internal Revenue Service. File Your Taxes for Free Some partners bundle a free state return with the federal one; others charge for the state. The free state return is not automatic, so open each partner’s offer page and confirm your state is included before you start entering data.2Internal Revenue Service. IRS Free File
Active-duty military members can use any Free File partner for a free federal return provided their AGI is within the $89,000 threshold.1Internal Revenue Service. File Your Taxes for Free
One boundary worth knowing: Free File Fillable Forms, the IRS’s other free option, is federal only. It does not handle state filing at any income level.3Internal Revenue Service. Free File Fillable Forms
Your State Revenue Department’s Portal
Many state revenue departments run their own free e-filing systems, independent of the IRS program. These are built for that state’s forms, credits, and deductions, so they handle state-specific situations that general software can miss. Some states open the portal to all residents; others set their own income limits. Check your state department of revenue website to see what is offered and whether you qualify.
VITA and TCE Volunteer Preparers
If you want a person to prepare the return with you, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free preparation at community sites staffed by IRS-certified volunteers. VITA generally serves taxpayers earning $69,000 or less, people with disabilities, and people with limited English proficiency. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) offers the same free help for people 60 and older, with volunteers who focus on pension and retirement questions.4Internal Revenue Service. Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers
Both programs prepare federal and state returns at no cost. Find a nearby site using the IRS locator tool or by calling 211.
Documents to Have Ready
Pulling everything together before you sit down saves you from stopping halfway through. You will want:
- Social Security numbers or ITINs for you, your spouse, and any dependents.5Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN)
- Income forms: W-2s from employers, and 1099s for freelance work, interest, dividends, or retirement distributions.
- Last year’s federal and state returns. Most e-filing systems verify your identity using your prior-year AGI.6Internal Revenue Service. Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return
- Records for any deductions or credits your state allows, such as property taxes paid, student loan interest, childcare costs, or charitable donations.
- Bank routing and account numbers if you want a direct-deposit refund.
Submitting the Return
Whichever free option you use, the flow is similar: enter your personal information, report your income, claim credits and deductions, and review before you send.
E-filing systems walk you through with questions rather than blank form fields. To sign, you enter your prior-year AGI or a self-selected PIN.6Internal Revenue Service. Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return The software transmits an encrypted return to your state, and you should get a confirmation number or email right away. Save that confirmation as proof the state received the return.
If you would rather file on paper, most state revenue departments post their forms as fillable PDFs. Print, complete, and mail them to the address in the state’s instructions. Certified mail gives you a dated receipt. Paper returns take longer to process than electronic ones.
Deadlines and Extensions
Most states use April 15, matching the federal deadline. A handful set different dates, so verify yours on the state revenue department’s site. If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline shifts to the next business day.
Many states let you request an extension, and some grant one automatically if you have a federal extension. An extension moves the filing deadline, not the payment deadline. If you expect to owe, estimate the amount and send payment by the original due date to avoid interest and late-payment penalties.
Tracking Your Refund
After you submit, your state revenue department’s website will have a “Where’s My Refund?” tool. You typically enter your Social Security number, the filing type, and the exact refund amount. E-filed returns generally take up to three weeks to process; paper returns run four weeks or longer, and processing can lengthen during peak season. If the state needs more information, it will usually contact you by mail.
If You File Late
Filing after the deadline without an extension usually triggers two charges: a late-filing penalty and a late-payment penalty. Late-filing penalties are often set as a percentage of unpaid tax for each month you are overdue, with many states capping the total at 25% to 50% of the tax owed. Interest accrues on top of the penalty from the original due date until the balance is paid.
Late-filing penalties are typically steeper than late-payment penalties, so filing on time matters even if you cannot pay in full. Most states offer installment plans; contact your state’s revenue department to ask what you qualify for. A timely return with a partial payment limits what piles up.
If you are owed a refund, there is generally no penalty for filing late, but you still have to file to collect it. Most states set a deadline, often three to four years, after which an unclaimed refund is forfeited.