How to file your taxes for free in Rhode Island in 2023

Wheeler Cowperthwaite, The Providence Journal
Updated ·7 min read

This story is about filing taxes in 2023. See our guide on how to file for free in 2024 here.

The tax filing season officially started on Jan. 23, 2023, ending on April 18, which means employers, banks, brokerages and financial technology companies are sending out tax forms, and advertisements for tax preparation software are flooding the internet and airwaves.

There are three free ways to file your taxes this year. Most people can file state and federal returns for free online, as long as the adjusted gross income is below $73,000, through the IRS's "free file" program.

While eight companies are participating in the program this year, just four offer free preparation of federal and Rhode Island tax returns for Rhode Island residents.

For very low-income people and families, the United Way of Rhode Island is spearheading the IRS's volunteer tax preparer program, where IRS-trained volunteers prepare taxes for free, including in languages other than English, including Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Korean, Mandarin and Russian. More on that below.

Finally, the IRS offers free fillable forms with the caveat that there is no step-by-step guidance, it offers limited basic calculations and does not support any state tax filings.

How do I know if I qualify for the free file programs?

Depending on the provider, the IRS Free File tops out at an adjusted gross income of $73,000 a year. Since it is adjusted gross income, that means it's your income for the year minus contributions to pre-tax retirement accounts like 401(k)s and 403(b)s.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is available to those with an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less in 2022.

Filing your taxes for free via IRS Free File

For most people, the easiest way to file federal and state tax returns for free is to use one of the programs offered by the "Free File Alliance," an agreement that started in 2002 between the IRS and a group of for-profit tax preparation companies.

IRS Free File: Browse all the free tax filing options offered through the IRS Free File program

While the IRS says the "Free File" programs are open to people with an adjusted gross income of $73,000 or less, only one program, TaxAct, offers free tax preparation for people making that much in Rhode Island.

The IRS defines adjusted gross income as wages, dividends, capital gains and business and other income, but minus things like contributions to pre-tax retirement plans, like 401(k)s, 403(b)s and Individual Retirement Accounts, known as IRAs.

Tax backlog: IRS tax backlog smaller leading into 2023 tax season than it was in 2022

Three other companies offer free filing of both Rhode Island and federal tax returns, but all have greater income and age restrictions. Two of the programs cap adjusted gross income at $41,000 a year.

For those who live in Rhode Island but work in a surrounding state other than New Hampshire, that means filing three tax returns — one federal, one for Rhode Island and one for the state where they work. The states in which someone is allowed to file a free tax return vary by program.

TaxAct

TaxAct allows those age 20 to 58 with an adjusted gross income of less than $73,000 to file both their federal and Rhode Island tax returns for free. For active-duty military, the only restriction is the $73,000 income limit.

For those who work in neighboring states but live in Rhode Island, it also allows free state returns for Connecticut, Maine and Vermont but not Massachusetts. State returns for other states cost "no more than $54.95."

TaxSlayer

TaxSlayer offers free federal filing for those who are 57 or younger with an adjusted gross income limit of $60,000; for active military, the income limit is $73,000.

TaxSlayer also offers free state returns for Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont, but not Connecticut or Maine. Other state returns cost $39.95.

FreeTaxUSA

FreeTaxUSA allows anyone with an adjusted gross income under $41,000 to file free federal and state tax returns. For active-duty military, the limit is $73,000.

OnLine Taxes

OnLine Taxes, which also goes by the name OLT, allows anyone with an adjusted gross income under $41,000 to file free federal and state tax returns. For those 67 and older, the income limit is $73,000.

What is the Free File Alliance?

The Free File Alliance is an agreement that started in 2002 between the IRS and a group of for-profit tax preparation companies. Until 2019, the IRS agreed to not create a government-run system for people to easily prepare their taxes, and in exchange, the companies promised to provide free online filing to low- and middle-class taxpayers.

When the IRS signed the latest Free File Alliance agreement in 2019, it dropped its commitment to not create a competing tax filing system, as ProPublica reported.

For the 2023 tax filing season, eight companies are participating in the free file program. Each company offers different income and age limits, as well as different availability of free state returns.

Free tax help is available to lower-income residents through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program

Lower income people can receive free tax preparation services from trained volunteers throughout the state, part of the national Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

United Way of Rhode Island spearheads the program for the state. Zoya Tseytlin, who runs the United Way's efforts, said it saves people money and helps them get their refunds quickly. The program's volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS.

Tax assistance is offered in multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Korean, Mandarin and Russian.

According to the United Way website, there are 25 locations in Rhode Island offering free tax preparation.

People can also call 211 to receive information about their nearest volunteer tax preparation location.

To receive the volunteer tax preparation services, individuals and families must not exceed $60,000 in adjusted gross income.

Where to get free tax assistance if you qualify

  • Open Doors, Providence, 401-214-1807

  • CAPP Hartford Ave, Providence, 401-273-2000

  • Federal Hill House, Providence, 401-421-4722

  • Capital City/Lillian Feinstein Senior Center, Providence, 401-207-0223

  • The Genesis Center, Providence, 401-781-6110

  • Providence Spanish SDA Church, Providence, 401-270-9996

  • Center for Southeast Asians, Providence, 401-274-8811

  • Amos House, Providence, 401-272-0220

  • CAPP Elmwood Community Center, Providence, 401-273-2000

  • Indigenous Empowerment VITA, Providence

  • Tri-County CAA North, North Providence, 401-519-1915

  • Comprehensive Community Action, Cranston, 401-467-7013

  • Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Providence, 401-521-8830 x102

  • BVCAP Woodlawn Community Center, Pawtucket, 401-475-5051

  • Westbay Community Action, Warwick, 401-384-7779

  • EBCAP/East Providence Senior Center, Riverrside, 401-435-7876

  • Progreso Latino, Central Falls, 401-728-5920

  • Bristol EBCAP/Benjamin Church Center, Bristol, 401-435-7876

  • Connecting for Children and Families, Woonsocket, 401-766-3384

  • Community Care Alliance, Woonsocket, 401-235-7187

  • Tri-County CAA South, Wakefield, 401-515-2490

  • JonnyCake Center for Hope, South Kingstown, 401-789-1559

  • Westerly Education Center, Westerly

  • Westerly Area Rest Meals, WARM Center, Westerly, 401-596-9276

  • East Bay/East Providence Senior Center, East Providence

Getting the earned income tax credit

For the earned income tax credit, the income thresholds range from $16,480 for a single person to $59,187 for a married couple, filing jointly, with three or more qualifying children.

Single or head of household earning less than:

• $16,480 – no qualifying children

• $43,492 – one qualifying child

• $49,399 – two qualifying children

• $53,057 – three or more qualifying children

Married, filing jointly, earning less than:

• $22,610 – no qualifying children

• $49,622 – one qualifying child

• $55,529 – two qualifying children

• $59,187 – three or more qualifying children

Correction: The income limits for free in-person tax preparation and the definition of adjusted gross income have been corrected.

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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: How to file federal and Rhode Island tax returns for free in 2023