I'm a student on a budget. Is there any way to get free tax filing in 2023 for a simple return?

Yes. If you’re a student with a simple 2023 tax return, you may be able to file for free. A few options:

• IRS Free File: If your 2023 adjusted gross income (AGI) was $79,000 or less, you could use IRS Free File partner software at no cost for federal filing (eligibility rules can vary by provider).
• IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): Many students and lower-income taxpayers can get free in-person tax preparation from IRS-certified volunteers if they meet eligibility guidelines.
• Your school may offer free help: Many colleges host VITA sites or partner with tax-prep programs during filing season.
• Free File Fillable Forms: If you’re comfortable doing your own taxes, the IRS provides free electronic forms for federal returns.

For a typical student “simple return” (for example: a W-2 from a part-time job, maybe a 1098-T for tuition, no business income), these options are usually a good fit.

You’ll likely need:

• W-2(s) from jobs
• Social Security number or tax ID
• Information about whether a parent can claim you as a dependent
• 1098-T tuition form if applicable
• Prior-year AGI or another identity verification method for e-filing

If you tell me your state, whether you had a W-2 only or also 1099 income, and whether your parents claim you as a dependent, I can point you to the best free option.

Yes, absolutely! Even though you are looking to file for the 2023 tax year, you have several reliable, completely free options if your return is simple (like a W-2 from a campus job or minimal investment income).

The best options available for a student on a budget include:

1. IRS Free File Program : If your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for the 2023 tax year was $79,000 or less, you can use brand-name software through the official IRS Free File portal. Each partner provider has specific rules regarding age or state residency, so use the IRS Find Your Trusted Partner Tool to match with a software that fits your exact 2023 financial situation.
2. IRS Free File Fillable Forms : If your income happened to be higher than the threshold or you just want electronic blank forms, you can use IRS Free File Fillable Forms . This is the electronic version of IRS paper forms, best suited if you are comfortable doing your own math without software guidance.
3. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) : If your income is low (generally $64,000 or less), you may qualify for free in-person or virtual tax prep help from IRS-certified volunteers. You can search for a nearby site using the IRS VITA Locator Tool.
4. Commercial Free Editions : Many commercial tax software providers (like TurboTax Free Edition, Cash App Taxes, or FreeTaxUSA) offer free federal filing for simple W-2 returns. Just double-check their definitions of a "simple return" and whether they charge extra for state returns before you submit. (Note: Cash App Taxes offers completely free federal and state filing regardless of complexity).

To help narrow down the best platform for your situation, tell me:

• What type of income did you have in 2023 (W-2 job, 1099 freelance, scholarship/fellowship)?
• Do you need to file a state tax return as well as a federal one?

Yes, you can file your 2023 tax return for free if you have a simple student return, as long as your income falls below program limits (typically under $73,000 to $89,000 depending on the platform) . Even though the official filing deadlines for 2023 taxes have passed, you can still file a prior-year return by mail or through commercial software if you are claiming a refund or catching up on past filings.

Free Filing Options for Students

• IRS Free File / Direct File Partners: Major commercial software providers offer completely free federal (and often free state) filing for individuals who meet specific income requirements. You can check available options or historical resources on the IRS Free File Program.
• MyFreeTaxes: Provided by the United Way, MyFreeTaxes allows anyone meeting their income threshold (frequently up to $79,000–$89,000) to file both federal and state returns completely free of charge. It is specifically designed to handle simple W-2 income, 1098-T student loan interest, and basic credits.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance): If you prefer in-person or assisted help and your income is below the program limit (generally $69,000 or less), you can look for local community volunteers through the IRS VITA Locator.
• Commercial Free Editions: Major providers like H&R Block Free Online or TurboTax Free Edition offer $0 federal and state filing, but make sure your exact tax forms (such as Form 1098-T for tuition or student loan interest deductions) are covered under their specific "free simple return" tier before you finish.

If you tell me your approximate income for 2023 and whether you need to file a state return as well as federal , I can point you directly to the best zero-cost software option.

Yes. If you mean filing a 2023 federal tax return, there were free options for a simple return, and some may still be useful for filing a late return.

• IRS Free File: For tax year 2023, taxpayers with 2023 AGI of $79,000 or less could use IRS Free File. Provider eligibility could vary by age and state.
• VITA: If you're a student with relatively low income, you may qualify for free in-person tax preparation through IRS-certified volunteers. VITA generally serves people with income around $69,000 or less, as well as people with disabilities and limited English proficiency.
• Simple return: A typical student return involving a W-2, perhaps a 1099, standard deduction, and education-related information is generally the sort of return these programs can handle.

One important wrinkle: 2023 returns are now late (the normal deadline was in 2024), so some of the original 2023 online Free File offers are no longer available. You can still file a late return, though, and you may be able to do so electronically through a current tax provider or get free assistance through VITA.

If you tell me roughly how much you made in 2023, whether you had a W-2 or 1099, and what state you lived in, I can tell you the cheapest/free way to file that specific return.

Yes, you can still file a prior-year (2023) simple tax return for free, especially if your student income falls below specific thresholds.

Here are the best, budget-friendly ways to file your 2023 return:

• IRS Free File Programs: If your adjusted gross income (AGI) was below the annual threshold (typically around $73,000–$79,000 depending on the exact tax year guidelines), you can use guided commercial software via the IRS Free File portal. Make sure to start directly on IRS.gov so you aren't funneled into a paid commercial upgrade. Alternatively, if you are comfortable filling out tax forms yourself without hand-holding, you can use IRS Free File Fillable Forms regardless of your income level.
• FreeTaxUSA: Known for offering 100% free federal filing even for prior years like 2023. While state returns usually carry a small fee, their federal tier handles basic W-2 income and student loan interest cleanly without forcing a costly upgrade.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance): If you prefer in-person or virtual help from IRS-certified volunteers, look for a local campus or community program via the IRS VITA Locator . It is specifically designed for students, low-income individuals, and taxpayers making $64,000 or less.
• Commercial Free Editions: Major providers like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxSlayer often feature free tiers for simple W-2 1040 returns, though double-check if they charge an additional prior-year archive fee for 2023 data.

If you'd like, let me know:

• What kind of income/forms you have (just a W-2, 1098-T for tuition, or freelance 1099 work?)
• Whether you need a state return filed as well

I can point you to the exact provider that will keep it completely free for you.

Yes—but there’s an important distinction if you mean filing a 2023 tax return now (in 2026).

• IRS Free File: Unfortunately, the current IRS Free File system does not accept prior-year returns. It is for the current tax year.
• Free tax-prep help (VITA): If your income was modest, you may qualify for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), where IRS-certified volunteers prepare returns at no charge.
• 2023 eligibility: During the 2024 filing season, IRS Free File covered 2023 returns for taxpayers with 2023 AGI of $79,000 or less, but those offers are no longer available for filing a 2023 return through Free File.

If your 2023 return is simple—for example, one W-2, you're a student, and you don't have investments or self-employment income—I can help you find the cheapest/free way to file the 2023 return now, including options available in Georgia.

Yes. If by “2023” you mean your 2023 tax-year return (income you earned in 2023), there are still ways to get it prepared for free—but there’s an important catch.

• IRS Free File: It was free for eligible 2023 returns, with a $79,000 AGI limit for tax year 2023.
• But you generally can’t use today’s IRS Free File system to file a prior-year return. The IRS says Free File is for the current tax year, not past-due returns.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is probably your best bet if you're a student on a budget. IRS-certified volunteers provide free tax preparation to qualifying taxpayers, particularly people with lower incomes.
• If your 2023 return is very simple—e.g., one or two W-2s, no self-employment, no complicated investments—you may also be able to prepare it yourself using IRS forms and file it by mail, avoiding software fees.

If you tell me (1) what state you lived in during 2023, (2) roughly how much you earned, and (3) whether you had just W-2 income, I can point you to the cheapest/free way to file that specific 2023 return.

Yes, absolutely. As a student with a simple return, you have several reliable, officially sanctioned ways to file your 2023 federal (and often state) taxes completely for free.

The best options available for a student budget include:

• IRS Free File Program : If your adjusted gross income (AGI) for the 2023 tax year was $79,000 or less, you can use brand-name tax software guided partners through the IRS Free File portal. Each partner software has its own specific rules (such as age limits or state residency), but many are free for simple W-2 or 1098-T student forms.
• IRS Free File Fillable Forms : If you make over the income threshold or are comfortable doing the math yourself without a wizard, you can use IRS Free File Fillable Forms . This is the electronic version of IRS paper forms available to all income levels at zero cost, though it does not provide much guidance.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) : If you prefer in-person help, the IRS VITA program offers free tax preparation to people who generally make $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited-English-speaking taxpayers. Many colleges and universities host VITA sites on campus staffed by trained student and community volunteers. You can locate a site using the IRS VITA Locator Tool.
• Cash App Taxes : Formally known as Credit Karma Tax, this service allows you to file both federal and state tax returns 100% free, regardless of your income level, and handles simple W-2s, 1099s, and basic student reporting seamlessly via mobile or web.

(Note: If you are filing a prior-year return like 2023 late, commercial software options might charge an upgrade fee or require specific legacy access, so checking IRS Free File or using VITA is your safest bet to avoid out-of-pocket costs).

Would you like help finding a local VITA campus site , or do you want to know what specific tax documents (like a 1098-T or W-2) you'll need to pull together first?

Yes, you can file your 2023 taxes for free for a simple return using several official IRS programs and commercial software options if your income is below specific limits. Note that the official filing deadline for the 2023 tax year was April 15, 2024, but you can still file a prior-year return to claim a refund.

Free Filing Options for Simple Returns

• IRS Free File: Available through the IRS Free File Program , this option provides free brand-name guided tax software if your adjusted gross income (AGI) falls below the program threshold for that tax year.
• IRS VITA Program: The IRS VITA Program offers free in-person tax help and preparation for people who generally make $67,000 or less , have disabilities, or have limited English proficiency. Many college campuses host VITA sites. [1]
• Commercial Free Editions: Major tax preparation companies like TurboTax Free Edition and H&R Block Free Online offer $0 federal and $0 state filing, but only for simple W-2 returns that include common student adjustments like student loan interest deduction. [1][2]
• IRS Free Fillable Forms: The IRS Free Fillable Forms portal is available with no income limits, though it offers electronic versions of IRS paper forms with no guided calculation or step-by-step help. [1]

Summary of Free Options

If you tell me your approximate income and what types of income documents you have (like a W-2 or 1099), I can help you pick the best specific platform to use.

Yes — if by “2023” you mean the 2022 tax return filed during the 2023 tax season, there were several free options.

• IRS Free File: If your 2022 AGI was $73,000 or less, you could generally use IRS-approved tax software for free. Some providers also offered free state filing.
• VITA: The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides free basic tax preparation for qualifying taxpayers, including many students and lower-income workers.
• Free File Fillable Forms: Available regardless of income, but intended for people comfortable preparing their own federal return using IRS forms.

Important: If you mean you still need to file an actual 2023 tax-year return now (in 2026), the regular IRS Free File program generally cannot be used for prior-year returns. The IRS says prior-year returns require a provider that supports back-year e-filing, or you can file by paper.

If you tell me whether you mean (1) taxes filed in 2023 for 2022 income or (2) your 2023 income-tax return that you haven't filed yet, I can point you to the cheapest/free way to do it.