How we research self-filing

How we put this together

• We read the primary text — the statute, the regulation, the published procedure, or the IRS instruction for the form — and we state what it says rather than what a summary of it says.
• Every amount is stated for one tax year. This centre currently states amounts for tax year 2025 and no other.
• We do not work out anyone's tax, refund or balance. We explain what each rule asks for; the arithmetic belongs to you and to whatever you file with.
• We do not rank the ways to file, pick a winner, or say which is cheapest. We list what the official documentation states, in a fixed order, and leave the choice with you.
• We describe pricing models rather than printing prices. A stale price shown to someone mid-decision is worse than no price, so exact amounts are deliberately withheld and you should check the operator's own page.
• For any state we have not read, we say nothing at all rather than guessing from a neighbouring state.
• Where a question turns on law another centre on this site certifies, we name that centre and stop, rather than half-answering it here.

What is still open

Every source on this page shows the body that issued it and the date we read it. Amounts are stated for tax year 2025, and the text behind this centre was last read on 2026-08-16.

Educational information only. This is not tax advice, we are not your tax preparer, and nothing here is a determination about your own return. Check the linked official sources, and consider a professional for anything that turns on your specific facts.

Where to go next

Educational information only. This is not tax advice, we are not your tax preparer, and nothing here is a determination about your own return. Check the linked official sources, and consider a professional for anything that turns on your specific facts.