How much does it cost to file taxes?
Filing your taxes costs $0 to $145 in 2026 if you do it yourself. What changes your price is below.
If your income was $89,000 or less in 2025, IRS Free File lets you file your federal return for free. IRS Direct File ended and is not available in 2026. Paid software runs about $65 to $139 for the federal return, and a state return adds about $15 to $64 more.
Estimate the cost to file taxes
Pick what you need and add your ZIP. The price updates as you go. Got a price already? Check it in the last step.
Is this price fair?
A fair price is $115 to $145.
Type a price above to check it.
Middle of the range: $130
What you are paying for
How we calculate this
Prices are for the United States in 2026 from published cost guides, checked September 2026. This is an estimate, not a quote.
How much does it cost to file taxes with software?
| IRS Free File | $0 federal if your income was $89,000 or less. |
|---|---|
| Free File Fillable Forms | $0 for anyone, but no guidance. |
| Free editions of paid software | $0 for simple returns only. |
| Mid level software, federal | About $65 to $79 (NerdWallet). |
| Premium software, federal | About $105 to $139. |
| State return | About $15 to $64 each. |
| Paying a preparer | $185 to $280 on average. See our tax prep page. |
What pushes a quote up
| Your income | Under $89,000 opens IRS Free File. |
|---|---|
| Your forms | Itemizing, self employment and investments push you to paid tiers. |
| State return | Often extra. |
| Live help | Expert help costs more. |
| Filing late in the season | Some software raises prices closer to April. |
How much does it cost to file taxes with TurboTax or H&R Block?
These two post their own prices. For the 2026 filing season NerdWallet listed TurboTax Deluxe at $79 federal plus $64 per state, and Premium at $139 plus $64. H&R Block Deluxe was $65 plus $49 per state, and Premium $105. Both have free editions for simple returns: TurboTax says about 37 percent of filers qualify, and H&R Block says about 55 percent.
FeeGuides.com is not linked to either company. Check their sites for the current price before you start.
Direct File is gone
About 300,000 people used IRS Direct File in 2025. It was ended and is not available in 2026. IRS Free File, run with private software partners, is still free for incomes of $89,000 or less.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Check the price before you enter data.
- Check if the state return is extra.
- Watch for upgrade prompts.
- Skip paying fees from your refund; it costs more.
- Compare with Free File if you qualify.
Ways to pay less
- Use IRS Free File under $89,000.
- Use a free edition if your return is simple.
- File early, before price rises.
- Pay for the software up front instead of from your refund.
- Ask about free VITA help if your income is lower.
Before you decide
Free help if you prefer a person
The IRS VITA program has trained volunteers who prepare simple returns for free for people with lower incomes, and TCE helps older taxpayers. Military members can use MilTax. Several states also run their own free state filing, and states with no income tax need no state return at all.
If you do not qualify for Free File, Free File Fillable Forms still lets anyone file a federal return for free, but it gives no step by step help.
Before you pay for software, gather your W-2 and 1099 forms, last year's return and your bank details for direct deposit. Having everything ready keeps you from starting in a free edition and getting pushed into a paid one halfway through.
$0 to about $145 if you do it yourself. Free File is free under $89,000 of income. Free for simple returns. Deluxe was $79 plus $64 per state in 2026, per NerdWallet. Free for simple returns. Deluxe was $65 plus $49 per state. No. It ended and is not available in 2026. Related jobs people check next, with the usual 2026 price.Common questions
How much does it cost to file taxes?
How much does it cost to file taxes with TurboTax?
How much does H&R Block cost to file taxes?
Is IRS Direct File still available?
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