Help from a person, or file yourself.
I want help preparing my return.
Start with an IRS-listed VITA or TCE site. Check eligibility and whether the volunteers can handle your return.
Find preparation help ↗I can prepare my own return.
Compare IRS Free File guided software with Free File Fillable Forms. Their eligibility and level of assistance differ.
Compare free filing options ↗Find a site serving your area.
VITA provides free basic tax preparation through participating local sites, including help for eligible lower-income taxpayers, people with disabilities and taxpayers with limited English. The IRS does not set one program-wide income limit. Confirm the site’s current eligibility rules and supported return types before booking. TCE focuses particularly on people age 60 and older, including pension and retirement questions.
Use the IRS locator linked below and search near your Houston-area address. Confirm the location, opening dates, appointment or walk-in policy, languages, eligibility and document list directly with the provider before travelling. Listings and availability can change during the filing season.
Ask about your return, not just your income.
Volunteer sites differ in the returns they can prepare. Mention self-employment, rental income, investment transactions, prior-year returns or other complexities when asking whether they can help.
Official source: VITA / TCE eligibility and site locator ↗
Enter through the IRS website.
For returns filed in 2026, IRS Free File offers guided federal tax software for 2025 adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less. Each partner can have additional eligibility rules. Begin through IRS.gov rather than a software company’s ordinary commercial homepage.
Free File Fillable Forms are available at any income level, but you select the forms and do more of the work yourself. They provide limited calculations and do not include state returns.
Check the available tax year, supported forms and current season’s criteria before starting. A free federal option does not guarantee a free state return if you need to file one elsewhere.
Official source: IRS Free File options and eligibility ↗
Bring the records for the whole return.
- Photo identification and required taxpayer-identification documents.
- Income statements such as Forms W-2 and 1099.
- The prior-year return, if available.
- Relevant expense, deduction and credit records.
- Health insurance marketplace Form 1095-A, if applicable.
- Bank routing and account details if using direct deposit.
- Any IRS notices and identity-protection PIN letters.
Ask the preparation site for its exact document requirements, including documents for your spouse and dependants and attendance requirements for a joint return. Bring the records to the provider; this resource website does not collect tax documents.
Official source: IRS document checklist ↗
Review, keep a copy, confirm acceptance.
Check names, identification numbers, income and bank details before authorising filing. Ask about anything you do not understand and keep a complete copy of the return.
If you file online, retain the submission and acceptance messages. A rejected return may need correction and resubmission. Preparation, filing acceptance, payment and a refund are separate steps, so keep track of each one that applies.
Official source: Free File filing and confirmation process ↗