Free Tax Resources to File Securely

Posted on | by Michelle

Tax season is here, and there are several resources to help families file their taxes for free. Taxpayers can use one of the programs listed below to file their taxes this year at no cost.

File your taxes securely using one of these free resources:

Avoid tax scams by using secure, trusted resources

When filing your taxes, use trusted and secure resources like the links above to avoid tax fraud and scams. Never share your personal information with anyone who calls you unexpectedly. Scammers might pretend to be from the IRS, but they will never call asking for your personal information.

Claim your cash-back tax credits

Families may qualify for cash-back tax credits worth hundreds or thousands of dollars from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) when they file their taxes. Even if you don’t normally file taxes or have low to no income, you may still qualify. Tax credits do not affect your WIC benefits.

See the basic eligibility requirements for each tax credit below. For federal taxes, no additional form is needed to claim these credits. When filing for state taxes, families will need to fill out the California Earned Income Tax Credit Form 3514.

2024 Tax Credits

  • You’re between the ages of 25 and 65, or 18+ with children
  • You have worked and earned income within limits
  • You must have a valid Social Security Number
  • You’re a U.S. citizen or resident all year
  • Child must be under the age of 17 and have a Social Security Number
  • Qualifying child can be a son, daughter, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or their descendent
  • You must claim the child as a dependent when filing taxes
  • You can claim this tax credit even if you earned zero income or don't owe any income taxes
  • You must file your taxes to claim the Child Tax Credit, a tax professional can help
  • You’re at least 18 years old or have a qualifying child
  • You make $31,950 or less
  • You have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a Social Security Number
  • You live in California for more than half the year
  • You’re at least 18 years old or have a qualifying child under the age of six
  • You make $31,950 or less
  • You have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a Social Security Number