Kerbs Enterprises

02/08/2026

IRS provides

eight software

options for 2025 federal income

tax returns

The IRS Free File program is up and running for the 2026 tax season. Individuals who qualify do not have to pay a dime for the tax software offered through this program, if they go through IRS.gov/freefile and pick one of eight tax software companies that have agreed to provide free software to someone in their situation.

Free File is not Direct File, which the IRS has discontinued for the 2026 tax season. Direct File, which was a pilot program, was never available nationwide. It started being offered in 12 states in 2024 and then was expanded to 25 states last year.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced the end of Direct File in November 2025. The Direct File program had a special feature that made doing taxes easier because returns could be pre-populated with tax information that the IRS already had on file, including information from W-2 forms. Free File doesn’t do that.

Given that the end of Direct File triggered big news, some taxpayers might wrongly believe that no way exists to prepare your 2025 federal income tax return online for free at IRS.gov.

Yet, do-it-yourself tax filers who are eager to save money shouldn’t overlook the Free File program, which began in 2003 and remains in place for taxpayers who had an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less in 2025.

IRS Free File software is allowing taxpayers to prepare and submit returns and hold them for electronic filing now that the season officially began Jan. 26.

The IRS Free File program began accepting individual tax returns Jan. 9 for qualified taxpayers. Taxpayers who prepare their own taxes can use IRS Free File Fillable Forms starting Jan. 26, regardless of income.

Free e-file options are often overlooked

Not everyone can use Free File, but far more people are eligible for the program than those who actually take advantage of it. The service has been promoted as a way that can help 70% of American taxpayers prepare and e-file their federal tax returns.

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Yet, only 3.1 million individual returns – or around 1.93% – used Free File in fiscal year 2024 out of 161 million individual income tax returns that were filed, according to IRS data. In Michigan, according to the IRS, Free File was used to prepare and submit 100,209 individual income tax returns that year.

For a fun comparison, some 10.8 million individual returns were filed by paper in fiscal year 2024, and 141,000 returns were filed using Direct File, which was available then in 12 states, according to IRS data.

Free File is one of those underused freebies that can benefit do-it-yourself tax filers.

This tax season, according to the IRS, eight private-sector partners are offering guided tax software products through IRS Free File. A long list of details is provided at IRS.gov/freefile.

You only get access to the Free File site by going directly through the IRS website.

The IRS notes that the term 'free' means that eligible taxpayers can prepare and e-file their federal tax returns at no cost using tax preparation software provided by the members of what’s called the Free File Alliance.

If you’re looking for free software here, you need to understand that many people will not be eligible to work with any of the eight programs being offered now. In some cases, you might be eligible to work with three or so providers.

Each partner providing tax software sets its own requirements for who can use free software on that platform. Maybe the provider has an age or income limit.

The IRS site gives you a fairly easy set of questions to answer that will help direct you to the software companies that will offer free services to you, based on your income, age, the state you live in and other factors.

Or you can browse a list of requirements listed by each provider on the IRS site.

Use IRS.gov to avoid ‘free’ programs that aren’t

Online Taxes at OLT.com, for example, will provide services for those who have an AGI maximum limit of $51,000 unless you’re active military and have an AGI of $89,000 or less.

TaxSlayer has an age limit of 67 or younger with an AGI between $19,000 and $89,000. If you’re active duty military with an AGI of $89,000 or less, then no age requirement applies. TaxSlayer will handle returns for those who are eligible for the earned income tax credit and has no age limit for those tax filers who use the Free File system.

Again, you want to browse the offers directly at IRS.gov so that you’re not somehow directed to a program that appears to be free online but really isn’t.

Admittedly, the Free File program has its limitations and restrictions. TaxAct has an age limit of 20 through 60 unless you are active duty military when you use the Free File program.

Some partners offer free state tax return prep and filing; some, like ezTaxReturn, do not. And you can only file your current year tax return using IRS Free File; you cannot process a prior year’s return.

The list of participants has grown increasingly smaller over the years. In 2014, for example, the IRS listed 14 tax software companies that were participating in Free File. H&R Block and Intuit dropped out of the Free File Alliance several years ago.

Some of the fallout came after much controversy and criticism, including some allegations of deceptive practices by some participants to direct consumers to other programs that charged a fee and weren’t free.

For the 2026 tax season, the IRS lists the following partners in Free File: 1040Now; Drake (1040.com); ezTaxReturn.com (offers English and Spanish); FileYourTaxes.com; On-Line Taxes; TaxAct; TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA); and TaxSlayer. The program had the same eight partners in 2025.

The 2026 tax season has some brand new deductions – such as a tax break on tips and another tax break on overtime pay – that could make preparing taxes more complicated for those who qualify.

In some cases, it could pay to wait to file until we see more IRS guidance further into the tax season, especially regarding tip income and overtime pay, said Tom O’Saben, enrolled agent and director of tax content and government relations for the National Association of Tax Professionals.

After all, do-it-yourselfers looking for a deal still want to make sure they’ve done things right!

01/05/2026

This is another reminder that the PATH Act is still in effect.
I don’t care when the IRS opens or when returns can be submitted, you need to know that if your tax return includes EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) or ACTC (Additional Child Tax Credit), by law your tax return cannot be processed until after February 15. That rule hasn’t changed.
Also, let me make sure you understand this, just because you’re claiming kids does NOT automatically mean your return has EITC or ACTC on it. A great majority of people do qualify, but some don’t.
If you make a certain income—usually over $50,000—many of you won’t qualify for EITC or ACTC. Whether or not you qualify depends on your withholdings and how many dependents you’re claiming.
In that case, you might only qualify for the CTC (Child Tax Credit). And if that’s all you’re getting, your return is NOT affected by the PATH Act. That means your refund (if you're owed one) will be processed on the normal timeline of 8 to 21 days, as long as it’s not flagged by the IRS once they officially begin accepting returns.
So don’t get confused—know which credits are on your return, and don’t expect your refund early if EITC or ACTC is included. The law is still the law.

01/11/2025

JUST FYI:

The 2025 tax filing season will begin on Jan. 27, which marks the first day the IRS will accept and process individual tax returns for 2024.
Most taxpayers must file federal returns and pay taxes owed by April 15 this year to avoid penalties and interest.

10/19/2024

Notice to all business owners. You need to complete the “Beneficial Ownership Information” report on your business. It’s a new requirement and it’s free to register. It’s a $500 fine if not completed by the end of this year. Here’s the link - https://boiefiling.fincen.gov. It requires you uploading a copy of your drivers license. Holler if you have any questions. Thanks Janice

01/04/2023

The IRS tax deadline for 2023 is going to be Tuesday, April 18. Filing will open long before then, though, most likely on January 23, 2023. If your return includes the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or the Child care tax credits - your refunds WILL NOT be issued until the middle of February 2023.

02/11/2022

as a quick reminder to those that have the EIC (earned income credit) or the CTC (child tax credit) on your income taxes:

According to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits.
Check Where's My Refund in mid- to late February for your personalized refund status. It's updated once a day and remains the best way to check the status of your refund.

02/06/2022

JUST A HEAD'S UP - SEVERAL OF MY CLIENTS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEY'RE REFUNDS...CHECK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT - YOU MAY BE RICH! LOL

01/06/2022

Here's the latest - KEEP THESE LETTERS and bring them along with your W2's! This will help ensure that your taxes are complete and accurate!

IRS sending information letters to recipients of advance child tax credit payments and third Economic Impact Payments

The IRS started issuing information letters to advance child tax credit recipients in December. Recipients of the third round of the Economic Impact Payments will begin receiving information letters at the end of January. Using the information in these letters when preparing a tax return can reduce errors and delays in processing.

People receiving these letters should keep them. Do not throw them away. These letters can help taxpayers, or their tax professional prepare their 2021 federal tax return.

Advance child tax credit payments letter can help people get remainder of 2021 credit
To help taxpayers reconcile and receive all the 2021 child tax credits to which they are entitled, the IRS started sending Letter 6419, 2021 advance CTC, in late December 2021 and will continue into January. This letter includes the total amount of advance child tax credit payments taxpayers received in 2021 and the number of qualifying children used to calculate the advance payments. People should keep this and any other IRS letters about advance child tax credit payments with their tax records.

Families who received advance payments need to file a 2021 tax return and compare the advance payments they received in 2021 with the amount of the child tax credit they can properly claim on their 2021 tax return.

The letter contains important information that can make preparing their tax returns easier. People who received the advance payments can also check the amount of their payments by using the CTC Update Portal available on IRS.gov.

Eligible families who did not receive any advance child tax credit payments can claim the full amount of the child tax credit on their 2021 federal tax return. This includes families who don't normally need to file a tax return.

Economic Impact Payment letter can help people claim the 2021 recovery rebate credit
The IRS will begin issuing Letter 6475, Your Third Economic Impact Payment, to EIP recipients in late January. This letter will help Economic Impact Payment recipients determine if they are entitled to and should claim the recovery rebate credit on their 2021 tax returns when they file in 2022.

Letter 6475 only applies to the third round of Economic Impact Payments, which were issued in March through December of 2021. The third round of Economic Impact Payments, including "plus-up" payments, were advance payments of the 2021 recovery rebate credit that would be claimed on a 2021 tax return. Plus-up payments were additional payments the IRS sent to people who received a third Economic Impact Payment based on a 2019 tax return or information received from the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board or Veterans Affairs. Plus-up payments were also sent to people who were eligible for a larger amount based on their 2020 tax return.

Most eligible people already received the payments. However, people who are missing stimulus payments should review information on IRS.gov to determine their eligibility and whether they need to claim a recovery rebate credit for 2020 or 2021. This includes people who don't normally need to file a tax return.

The Economic Impact Payment letters include important information that can help people quickly and accurately file their tax return.

09/01/2021

The new tax laws being issued by the current administration are listed in this 144 page proposal with most becoming effective 12-31-2021 :(

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/131/General-Explanations-FY2022.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0ll87w7-yNBKaRmz6HXb1fnV7mVnAqjGVQJKyTkSqDqaLB2vzKgHsIHsU

two of the main highlights are:
1) on page 88 - Banks are going to be required to report all transactions $600 or greater (currently $10,000) coming into or going out of your Business, Personal, Trust...etc.. accounts.
2) on page 61 - The capital gains tax on ALL transactions (Business, Personal, Estate settlements...etc..) will be increased to 39% currently 20-23%) .

below is ONE of the petitions being filed - sign it - you should!

https://www.icba.org/bank-locally/consumer-alert-from-icba?fbclid=IwAR0TPfh-gz3sjQhm9qEBQKNnGZJtNkVp5xW1wSS64nDekTeyru9UH3QxhIs

Policymakers in Washington have proposed requiring banks to report virtually all their customers’ bank account information and activity to the IRS regardless of the customers’ consent.

07/10/2021

NO DOOR-TO-DOOR IN OKLAHOMA! Contact: Rep. Jay Steagall
Phone: (405) 557-7352

State's Rights Committee Chair Jay Steagall Responds to Biden Administration’s Door-to-Door Targeting Efforts of Unvaccinated Americans
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, Chair of the House State's Rights Committee, today sent a letter in response to comments made this week by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki concerning the Biden Administration’s plan to get more Americans vaccinated, including through a door-to-door outreach program. The full text of the letter can be seen below.

To the Great People of the State of Oklahoma,

In her July 6, 2021, press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki presented the Biden Administration’s plan to get more Americans vaccinated, which includes a strategic door-to-door outreach program, an effort that is of serious concern to multiple constituents in the district I represent, other fellow Oklahomans, and myself.

Press Secretary Psaki stated, “The President will outline five areas his team is focused on to get more Americans vaccinated.

“One: targeted, community-by-community, door-to-door outreach to get remaining Americans vaccinated by ensuring they have the information they need on how both safe and accessible the vaccine is.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra made the statement, July 8, 20201, that it is “absolutely the government’s business” to know which Americans have not taken the coronavirus vaccine - another extremely invasive and dangerous assertion manufactured by the Biden administration.

I contend that these types of actions and assertions from the federal government are not just overreaching, but violate multiple provisions of the U.S. Constitution. First, the enumerated powers delegated in Article I, Section 8; the right of the People to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects as found in the Fourth Amendment; as well as the vertical separation of powers prescribed in the Tenth Amendment.

James Madison once stated, “The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the state.” Simply put, it is NOT within the federal government’s purview to know the vaccination status of individual Americans, nor is it appropriate for the federal government to enact intrusive measures such as “community-to-community, door-to-door” vaccine “education” efforts.

House Bill 1236, which was introduced and passed overwhelmingly by the Republican majority-led Oklahoma Legislature this spring and signed into law by the governor on May 25, 2021, asserts the reserved state powers mentioned in the Tenth Amendment. This sends a clear message to the federal government of our intention to maintain the balance of powers and to protect the rights of all Oklahomans. One such reserved power of the state is to manage within its own boundaries “pandemics and health emergencies,” as enumerated in HB 1236.

The door-to-door efforts suggested this week by the Biden administration are inappropriate and will not be welcomed in the State of Oklahoma.

Respectfully,

Jay W. Steagall

Chairman, State’s Rights Committee

06/25/2021

If you want to adjust the upcoming Child Tax Credit payments that start in July and continue thru December this is the link: https://www.irs.gov/.../advance-child-tax-credit-payments... PS...you will need a copy of your 2019 or 2020 tax return

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