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It isn’t too difficult to find a place to file your federal tax return for free, but finding a service to file your state return for free is another story.

So if you are asking “where can I file my state taxes for free?” – you are in for good news!

I did a little digging and found a few options to consider . . . .

How to File Your State Tax Return for Free!

As you have probably noticed, many places offer a free filing of a Federal return but don’t offer free state filing. But there are a few ways to get your state tax return done for free.

1. TurboTax

Turbotax (for a limited time) has rolled out their Absolute Zero program where you can get your Federal, State, and Efile all done free.

I honestly am not sure why they are doing it that way and giving it away like that, but they are for a limited time.

You can read more about the details of who is eligible on their website, but for now if you want to get started you can just click below.

Other Free State Income Tax Filing Websites

2. Credit Karma – They are a free resource to help you feel confident about your finances, from credit reports and loans to free tax filing. If you file your taxes (both state and federal for free) with them, you’ll have access to 24/7 live chat support, a tax dashboard and easy importing from last year.

3. MyFreeTaxes.com – This is a not-for-profit with funding from the Walmart Foundation, The United Way and H&R block – and they offer free state and federal tax returns if you meet the criteria.

4. On-Line Taxes – This one is pretty simple. You have to have an adjusted gross income within a certain range. If you don’t qualify both returns cost $7.95. They are a little bit different than many of the other places in that they offer free customer service with a toll-free number, e-mail, and live tax help. They also allow you to view the forms before paying.

Do I need to file a State tax return?

Sadly, most of us in the United States do.

So just check the list below to see if your state is listed. If it is, then you probably are going to want to use some of the free state tax filing options above.

(Accurate at the time of the last update: 3-23-18)

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Hampshire*

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee*

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin

(* these are special cases, talk to your accountant)

How to File Your Federal Tax Return for Free!

In the past, I have gone to the IRS free file webpage, because they have links to a bunch of tax preparers that offer free tax return filing (for federal anyway). Some of them offer a state return to be filed for free as well, but most don’t.

If you are interested in this option, you will have to use the links on the IRS page in order to get the free efile deal they are offering. Many of the tax preparation websites listed will not offer you the free efile if you go directly to their website.

Another Option: Go to Your Local State Government Website

Also, you can go directly to your state’s Department of Revenue website to see if they offer a free income tax filing option.

Worst Option: Get the Paper Forms and Mail Them In

Yes, it sounds pretty archaic, but if you really want to file your state return for free and don’t qualify for the options listed above, this might not be a bad option. If you have already completed the federal form online, it should be pretty easy to fill out the state return. You can get the forms from your local library or you can print them off at your state’s Department of Revenue website.

One Last Tip About E-Filing Your Tax Return

Do it before Friday morning. The government processes tax returns in week-long blocks. So Friday morning at 11 am, they process all the returns they received over the previous week.

So if you can sneak it in right before the cutoff (Fridays at 11 am EST) you will just get your refund that much quicker . . . .



