First, there’s the Department of Defense’s MilTax. It’s free and there are no income limits. MilTax includes tax preparation and electronic filing software, as well as personalized support from tax consultants. It’s designed to address the realities of military life – including deployments, combat and training pay, housing and rentals, and multi-state filings.
IRS Free File is also a great resource. If you meet the income limitation, you and your spouse can use Free File to file your taxes at no charge. If you’re eligible, you can choose software to use without regard to additional eligibility requirements. Go to IRS.gov/freefile for more information, including a list of companies.
You can also get free tax help from IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers through the volunteer income tax assistance program, also known as VITA. It’s available at many military installations. Visit IRS.gov/vita for more information, including a tool that lets you find the nearest site to you.
Also, remember that you can get more time to file your taxes if you’re stationed overseas or serving in a combat zone.
Find more information in the IRS Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, which you can find at IRS.gov/military.