What MyFreeTaxes does

MyFreeTaxes is a free tax filing service operated by United Way Worldwide, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Launched in 2009, the platform serves U.S. residents earning under $89,000 annually (for self-filing) or under $69,000 (for VITA-assisted filing), with a focus on low-to-moderate income individuals and families who may otherwise face high commercial preparation costs or miss out on refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. The service has facilitated more than 1.5 million returns since inception, saving users an estimated $260 million in tax preparation fees, and supports federal and state filing across all 50 states plus Washington D.C., with additional IRS form support for Puerto Rico residents.

The platform is built around two core products: "File My Own Taxes," a self-preparation option powered by TaxSlayer's tax preparation software and accessible via MyFreeTaxes.com, and "Have My Taxes Prepared for Me," which connects eligible filers to IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)-certified volunteers for free in-person or virtual preparation. Supporting services include a dedicated helpline staffed by IRS VITA-certified specialists (available in English and Spanish), self-employed tax guides for gig economy filers, and an ecosystem of financial wellness integrations including Change Machine and Bank On certified banking accounts. Distribution is driven primarily through United Way's national network of 1,200+ local chapters, the 211 referral hotline, and a dedicated community partner portal.

MyFreeTaxes operates as a charitable initiative of United Way Worldwide rather than as a commercial enterprise — there are no user fees, no premium tiers, and no disclosed revenue. The underlying technology is licensed from TaxSlayer under a partnership arrangement that prevents users from being upsold to paid products. The strategic role of the service is to lower barriers to accurate tax filing and maximize refundable credits for working families, with operational scaling dependent on United Way's nonprofit funding, VITA volunteer capacity, and community partner network rather than conventional venture or growth capital.

Name

MyFreeTaxes

Legal name

MyFreeTaxes

Website

https://myfreetaxes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

MyFreeTaxes is a free tax filing service operated by United Way Worldwide for U.S. residents earning under $89,000. It offers self-filing via TaxSlayer-powered software and IRS VITA volunteer-assisted preparation, serving low-to-moderate income individuals nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Youngstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Free Tax Preparation Service: MyFreeTaxes is a completely free tax preparation service operated by United Way Worldwide as a nonprofit initiative. There are no charges or fees for any of the tax filing options. The service is funded through United Way's nonprofit operations and partnerships rather than user fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MyFreeTaxes is a free tax filing service operated by United Way Worldwide that helps low-to-moderate income individuals prepare and e-file their federal and state tax returns at no cost. The service offers two pathways: a self-preparation software option (powered by TaxSlayer) for filers earning under $89,000, and a VITA-assisted option that connects users to IRS-certified volunteer preparers for free in-person or virtual filing for filers earning under $69,000.

Product overview

MyFreeTaxes is a free tax filing platform offered by United Way in partnership with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The platform consists of two main filing options: 'File My Own Taxes' — a self-preparation software powered by TaxSlayer for filers earning under $89,000, and 'Have My Taxes Prepared for Me' — a VITA-assisted option connecting users with certified volunteers for filers earning under $69,000. Additional support services include a dedicated Helpline staffed by IRS-certified specialists, and Self-Employed Tax Guides for gig economy and self-employment tax situations. The platform supports federal and state tax filing, tax amendments, extensions, and various tax credits including EITC and Child Tax Credit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• File My Own Taxes Self-preparation tax filing software for individuals earning under $89,000, enabling users to file federal and state taxes independently with email, chat, and phone support, and access to IRS VITA-certified specialists. Covers current-year returns (2025) and includes forms for W-2 income, self-employment (1099/Schedule C), dependents, rental property, education, and home ownership.
• Have My Taxes Prepared for Me Free in-person or virtual assisted tax preparation option connecting filers earning under $69,000 with IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) certified volunteers who prepare their returns. Supports filing years 2023 through 2025 and typically takes 2-3 weeks to process. Includes credits such as Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.
• MyFreeTaxes Helpline Standalone telephone support service staffed by IRS VITA-certified call specialists who answer questions about MyFreeTaxes, troubleshoot software issues, and provide tax guidance. Available at 301-927-5024 (English) and 866-698-9435 (Spanish/Línea de ayuda) during tax season from February through October.
• MyFreeTaxes Self-Employed Tax Guides Educational guides and resources designed to help self-employed individuals track income, manage tax obligations, and navigate Schedule C and 1099-related tax situations. Targeted at small business owners, gig economy entrepreneurs, and child care business owners using MyFreeTaxes.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1.5 million tax returns filed since 2009, helping filers claim every credit and deduction they deserve.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TaxSlayercoreTechnology or IntegrationTaxSlayer provides the tax preparation software engine that powers MyFreeTaxes. Through a special partnership, MyFreeTaxes connects users to TaxSlayer's free VITA-certified version of their software, ensuring no user can accidentally access paid products. TaxSlayer uses industry-standard security measures to protect user information.
• IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMyFreeTaxes operates in direct partnership with the IRS VITA program, which provides certification standards, training frameworks, and official recognition. United Way provides MyFreeTaxes to help filers prepare their federal and state tax returns on their own or connect them to a certified volunteer who can prepare them for free.
• 211 NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe 211 referral service, available by calling 211 or visiting 211.org, connects Americans seeking financial assistance to local resources including MyFreeTaxes free tax filing services. Millions of Americans contact 211 annually for help with food, housing, healthcare, and financial coaching.
• Change MachineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMyFreeTaxes partners with Change Machine, an organization that builds financial security for low-income communities through people-powered technology. Change Machine provides free financial tools and resources including value identification, tax refund planning, bill prioritization, and IRA savings guidance for MyFreeTaxes users.
• Bank On National PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMyFreeTaxes promotes Bank On certified bank accounts as part of its financial wellness resources, helping users access safe, affordable banking to receive tax refunds via direct deposit. Bank On accounts charge $5 or less per month with no overdraft fees.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GetYourRefund: Nonprofit free tax filing service operated by Code for America in partnership with IRS VITA, offering both DIY online filing and VITA-assisted virtual preparation. Closest direct mission peer to MyFreeTaxes with overlapping VITA integration.
• FreeTaxUSA: Long-standing low-cost online tax preparation service offering a free federal edition with paid state filing. Targets price-sensitive individual filers with broader form coverage than most 'free' tiers, competing directly with MyFreeTaxes on value.
• IRS Direct File: A federally operated free tax filing pilot launched in 2024 that allows eligible taxpayers to file federal returns directly with the IRS at no cost. Targets a similar low-to-moderate income demographic and represents the most direct public-sector competitor to MyFreeTaxes.
• H&R Block Free Online: H&R Block's free online tier offers federal and one state return for filers with simple tax situations (W-2, limited deductions). Competes head-to-head with MyFreeTaxes in the under-$89K income bracket with similar eligibility guardrails.
• Intuit TurboTax Free Edition: Intuit's free tax filing tier covers simple federal and state returns for taxpayers with W-2 income and limited deductions. Directly competes with MyFreeTaxes for the same low-to-moderate income segment but with conditional 'free' eligibility and upsell mechanics.

Others

• TaxSlayer: TaxSlayer is both MyFreeTaxes' underlying technology partner and a standalone tax software competitor. Its free 'Simply Free' tier overlaps with MyFreeTaxes' offering, but the deeper relationship as the powering technology platform makes it an ecosystem participant rather than pure peer.

Broad incumbents

• Jackson Hewitt: Established retail tax preparation chain offering in-person and online filing with paid services plus a free tier for simple returns. Serves the same LMI demographic with a storefront-based distribution model that contrasts with MyFreeTaxes' online/VITA delivery.

Emerging players

• Cash App Taxes: Block's free tax filing product (formerly Credit Karma Tax) supports federal and state returns at no cost with no income caps or eligibility restrictions. A direct free alternative to MyFreeTaxes, particularly for gig and self-employed filers.
• TaxAct Free: TaxAct offers a free edition for simple federal returns with paid state filing, positioning as a lower-cost alternative to TurboTax. Overlaps with MyFreeTaxes on price-sensitive filers but does not match the $0 state offering.
• Code for America (GetCTC): Nonprofit that built a free Child Tax Credit (GetCTC) filing tool for low-income families, later expanded to broader free filing. Mission-aligned peer targeting the same LMI demographic with a similar nonprofit/government-partnership model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/unitedway
• YouTubeyoutube.com/unitedway
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/myfreetaxes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MyFreeTaxes