The H&R Block Online’s free program guides you through a simple, standardized federal tax return to help ensure your taxes are done correctly. You might need a more premium version if your return is more complicated. Intuit’s TurboTax is intuitive, easy to use and takes you step-by-step through your return, including various types of income, deductions, tax credits and more. TaxSlayer offers free federal and state e-filing for active-duty military personnel, with no income limitations.

If you qualify for an extension, your spouse and dependents also qualify. You don’t have to file a joint return; your spouse will qualify even if you file separate returns. If you can’t file by June 15, you can request an additional four-month extension using Form 4868.

As noted above, you can always start with the free version and upgrade if needed. If you don’t qualify for the military discount, you only pay if you upgrade and only when you file your return. And if you are an enlisted member, you must mark a checkbox, on one of the pages after the main W-2 form entries, that indicates that the W-2 was for military service.

Taxes done right

These ranks can file with either the normal Free Edition provided by TurboTax, or the Deluxe version at no additional cost. For service members with a rank between E1 and E5, Federal filing and State filing are free. TurboTax provides free or discounted rates to all members of the military.

The “Armed Forces’ Tax Guide”

If your declared residency is in one state, you can continue that legal residency even if you and your family are transferred to another state. That’s a real benefit for members from a tax-free state such as Texas or Florida. Finding cheaper auto insurance is all about shopping around, asking questions and requesting discounts.

• I’ve been doing my taxes for years with TurboTax until last year I had issues with the fee.
• The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the deduction for moving expenses for most taxpayers, but not for active-duty military members.
• Service members and families are being honored during Military Appreciation Month 2025 with a variety of discounts.
• We are continually expanding and striving to improve the readers’ experience.

If you start with the free edition and find you need to upgrade, continue with your return. The TurboTax online software automatically saves your information as you go. With the military discount, you can file federal and state taxes for free, regardless of your version.

The TurboTax software will help you identify deductions and expenses to maximize your return. You can even consult with tax experts directly through the TurboTax Live Assisted platform. Most service members must contend with multiple types of pay, including tax-exempt combat pay, special duty pay, moving to a new state or country, and other factors. Some military members or their spouses may also have special considerations, such as claiming residency in more than one state during a tax year. Enlisted active duty and reserve military can use TurboTax Online for free in honor of our nation’s military personnel.

What You Need to Know About Getting a Loan or Expanding Your Business

Intuit reserves the right to modify or terminate any offer at any time for any reason in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise stated, each offer is not available in combination with any other TurboTax offers. Certain discount offers may not be valid for mobile in-app purchases and may be available only for a limited period of time. 100% accurate calculations, audit support, and your max refund. To get started, enter your W-2 and verify your military rank when prompted within the TurboTax Online Product (Free Edition, Deluxe, Premium). If you get to a point where you are asked to upgrade, for example to Deluxe because you have moving expenses, go ahead and Upgrade, your tax return will remain 100% free at Check Out.

• Unlike civilians who can no longer deduct moving expenses for a job under tax reform, active duty personnel can deduct moving expenses they incur in connection with a permanent change of station.
• She is passionate about making complex real estate and financial topics accessible for all readers.
• Nothing can make up for the hardship of serving in the armed forces.
• Whether you’re filing individually or jointly with a spouse, being prepared helps you meet deadlines and take advantage of available benefits.
• All origination, servicing, collections, and marketing materials are provided in English only.

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If your tax situation involves freelance work, rental properties or investment income, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a paid version, such as TurboTax Premier or TurboTax Premium. There are several discounts and free filing options available for those who qualify. USAA members can access exclusive savings when purchasing TurboTax through the USAA website. Selecting the right TurboTax option depends on your tax situation. The goal is to get turbotax for military the features you need — without paying for upgrades you don’t. When you save your military W2, your rank will be noted and your military discount will be automatically applied.

Experts help as you do your taxes

TurboTax is one of the most popular tax filing options, known for its user-friendly interface, step-by-step guidance and features designed to help filers maximize refunds while minimizing errors. The Internal Revenue Service offers Free File Fillable Forms for those whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is above $79,000 for the 2024 tax year. This online software is essentially an electronic version of the IRS forms and does not offer assistance like what you’ll find with popular tax software programs, such as Intuit’s TurboTax, H&R Block, etc. Internal Revenue Service Publication 3, “Armed Forces’ Tax Guide,” details special tax situations for those serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard.

The tool will notify you if there are no issues and your return is ready to be filed. This is perhaps the best feature I’ve seen in the new software. You can take a picture of your W-2 with your phone or tablet and upload it to your tax return in TurboTax. The software then scans the information and imports it to your return, removing the need to manually type in your information, making it both faster and more accurate. One of the essential parts of filing your taxes is figuring out all the required forms.

Unlike civilians who can no longer deduct moving expenses for a job under tax reform, active duty personnel can deduct moving expenses they incur in connection with a permanent change of station. Many states offer military families and veterans tax benefits, such as exclusions on military retirement pay or state residency flexibility. Some states do not tax military retirement income, which can significantly reduce a veteran’s taxable income. Liberty Tax offers discounted pricing on tax preparation for active-duty service members and veterans, and it has offices all over the country. Use coupon code MILITARY25 to redeem, and visit Liberty Tax’s website to find a location near you to book an appointment. The military discount is for all enlisted ranks (E-1 through E-9) – active duty and Reserves – with a W-2 from DFAS.

Offer valid for active duty and reservists of an enlisted rank (E-1 through E-9) with a W2 from DFAS. For enlisted members, the exclusion from federal income tax is unlimited. For officers, the exclusion is limited to the maximum amount of enlisted pay. You can also exclude military allowances for housing from your federal taxable income. All features, services, support, prices, offers, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

If you have to move for the military, you might have some questions about your residency status and how it impacts your taxes. When you add all this up, it can make for one fairly complicated tax return. He served over six years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the Tennessee Air National Guard. The former Self-Employed version of TurboTax has now been added to Premium, allowing this version to track business deductions such as your vehicle, phone, supplies, home office, and more. The tool may even help you find deductions you aren’t aware of. Here are the TurboTax versions and a couple of quick facts about them.

Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Student Loan Interest). Free filing of simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the deduction for moving expenses for most taxpayers, but not for active-duty military members. Military members serving in a combat zone or contingency operation can also get more time to deal with IRS notices, including collections and audits.

Additionally, military spouses and dependents are eligible to use the software for free. Whether you’re Active Duty, Reserve or a Veteran, we invite you to visit Navy Federal’s Tax Center to answer your questions about filing your taxes and maximizing your refund. With proper planning, the right resources and support from Navy Federal, you can confidently manage your taxes while serving your country. We’re committed to supporting military members through every aspect of financial life, including tax season. Remember that while filing deadlines can be extended, payment deadlines work differently.