How does the government decide how much tax you owe?

The government decides how much tax you owe by dividing your taxable income into chunks — also known as tax brackets — and each chunk gets taxed at the corresponding tax rate. The beauty of this is that no matter which bracket you’re in, you won’t pay that tax rate on your entire income. » Need to back up? How tax returns work

Who qualifies for a free tax return?

Taxpayers whose AGI is $79,000 or less qualify for a free federal tax return. Free File Fillable Forms are electronic federal tax forms, equivalent to a paper 1040 form. You should know how to prepare your own tax return using form instructions and IRS publications if needed.

How do I file a tax return online for free?

It provides two ways for taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free: Guided Tax Software provides free online tax preparation and filing at an IRS partner site. Our partners deliver this service at no cost to qualifying taxpayers. Taxpayers whose AGI is $79,000 or less qualify for a free federal tax return.