I think you’re confusing the IRS free file offerings with the free tier offered by these programs commercially (it’s a common issue and why we even created this article). There’s pros and cons to starting on free file (specifically, if you start on free file and need to upgrade to a paid tier later, you can’t – you need to move tax software and start again).

With that said, IRS free file bases your ability on income (and age and state). You can see the income cut-off of the various providers here: IRS Free File Software Comparison.

The comparison in our list is the “free” tier that’s commercially available going direct. These tiers don’t base your situation on income, but rather what IRS forms or tax situations you have. You could theoretically make $1,000,000 per year, and if it’s all W2 income and you don’t have anything else (investments, real estate, etc.), you could file for free at most of these companies.

And then you have Cash App Taxes, that offers free Fed and State filing for everyone. Their only drawback is it doesn’t support all tax situations (like multi-state).

I left out the IRS Free File Fillable Forms (supported by On-Line Taxes) and MyFreeTaxes from the list for any income level free Federal e-filing.

These are the latest cumulative filing figures from each of the services.

Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) – less than four million
TaxHawk/FreeTaxUSA/Express1040 – over 50 million
On-Line Taxes – over two million
Free File Fillable Forms – over 50 million
MyFreeTaxes – over 1 million

I got further information about the Free File Fillable Forms service. It is now managed by one of the Free File providers on the IRS website (specifically OnlineTaxes – OLT.COM)

The OLT.COM website also offers free Federal e-file service regardless of income. So the companies offering totally free Federal e-filing services that I am aware of are:

Cash App Taxes (note that you must scan a QR code in order to register for the service)

TaxHawk/FreeTaxUSA/Express1040 (all the same company)

OnLineTaxes (OLT.COM)

FreeTaxUSA and OnLineTaxes are among the original participants of the Free File Alliance group from the time when it started in 2003.

If you want to earn money preparing tax returns, you would need training for that. This could be accomplished by enrolling in accounting classes in your local college or some of the private e-file companies may hire and train you to do the tax preparation work (such as H & R Block and Jackson Hewitt). The Government has a VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) service that offers training to be able to file tax returns, but you do not get paid.

Note that if getting “paid” means to get a refund, then you can use any of the e-file providers on the IRS Free File site (as long as your income level qualifies).
If you make more than $73K last year, the following will offer free e-filing regardless of income.

Cash App Taxes (note that you must scan a QR code in order to register for the service)

TaxHawk/FreeTaxUSA/Express1040 (all the same company)

OnLineTaxes (OLT.COM)