Free Tax Help in Maryland: Who Qualifies and Where to File

Free tax help in Maryland comes in two main flavors: in-person preparation by IRS-trained volunteers at VITA, TCE, AARP Tax-Aide, and CASH Campaign sites, and free online filing through the state’s iFile system, IRS Free File, and IRS Direct File. Most in-person programs cap eligibility somewhere between $64,000 and $69,000 in annual income, while iFile is free for every Maryland resident regardless of what you earn. Your 2025 returns are due April 15, 2026, and filing or paying late can cost you up to 25% of any unpaid balance.1Comptroller of Maryland. Penalty and Interest Charges

Who Qualifies for Each Program

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is open to anyone who generally earns $69,000 or less per year. People with disabilities and taxpayers with limited English proficiency qualify for VITA regardless of income.2Internal Revenue Service. Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) serves anyone 60 or older, with volunteers trained on pension and retirement questions.3Internal Revenue Service. IRS VITA and TCE Grants

The CASH Campaign of Maryland sets a stricter household income cap of $64,000.4CASH Campaign of Maryland. Free Tax Preparation Resources If you earn between $64,000 and $69,000, a CASH site likely won’t take you, but another VITA site in your area still can. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has no hard income cutoff and focuses on taxpayers over 50 with low to moderate income.5AARP Foundation. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Service

For online filing, Maryland’s iFile has no income limit at all for residents filing Form 502.6Comptroller of Maryland. Individual Interactive Services Application Selection IRS Free File covers federal returns for anyone with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less.7Internal Revenue Service. 2026 Tax Filing Season Opens With Several Free Filing Options Available

In-Person Help: Where to Go

VITA and TCE Sites

VITA volunteers prepare both federal and Maryland returns at no cost. Sites operate out of libraries, community centers, and nonprofits across the state, typically from late January through mid-April. TCE sites run the same way but concentrate on retirees handling Social Security, pensions, and required minimum distributions.2Internal Revenue Service. Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers Find the closest location using the IRS VITA Locator Tool or by calling 800-906-9887. For AARP Tax-Aide specifically, use the AARP Site Locator or call 888-227-7669.

Most sites take appointments. Walk-in hours exist at some locations but fill fast in March and early April, so call ahead.

CASH Campaign of Maryland

The CASH Campaign runs its own network of free preparation sites with a particular focus on Baltimore and surrounding communities, pairing residents with IRS-certified volunteers and staff.8Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Offering Free Tax Assistance for Residents in Partnership With CASH Campaign CASH also offers a Facilitated Self-Assistance option: you use free tax software yourself with a staffer nearby to answer questions as they come up.9CASH Campaign of Maryland. Home – CASH Campaign of Maryland That setup suits people who are mostly comfortable filing on their own but want backup on the harder lines.

Free Online Filing

Maryland iFile

The Comptroller’s iFile system lets you file Form 502 directly through a state portal at no charge, with no income limit. You will need to create an account on the Comptroller’s Online Service Center before you can log in.6Comptroller of Maryland. Individual Interactive Services Application Selection iFile handles only your Maryland return, so complete your federal return first. Maryland taxable income starts from your federal adjusted gross income, and you’ll need those figures to proceed.

IRS Free File

If your 2025 adjusted gross income is $89,000 or less, IRS Free File gives you no-cost access to brand-name tax software for your federal return.7Internal Revenue Service. 2026 Tax Filing Season Opens With Several Free Filing Options Available Some software partners include a free Maryland return, and some don’t. Use the “Find your trusted partner” tool on the IRS Free File page to check Maryland coverage before you commit to a provider.10Internal Revenue Service. File Your Taxes for Free If your partner leaves out the state return, pair it with iFile.

IRS Direct File

Maryland participates in IRS Direct File, which lets eligible taxpayers file their federal return directly with the IRS through a guided interview at no cost.11Comptroller of Maryland. IRS Direct File It works best for relatively straightforward returns. After you finish the federal side in Direct File, head to iFile for Maryland.

Returns Free Preparers Cannot Handle

VITA and TCE volunteers are trained for common tax scenarios, and certain returns fall outside what they’re allowed to do. Checking this list before you book saves a wasted trip. Returns that free preparers generally cannot take include:

  • Self-employment with employees, contract labor, cost of goods sold, or Schedule C expenses over $50,000
  • Business use of a home (the home office deduction on Schedule C)
  • Rental income, which typically involves depreciation
  • Returns that actually generate alternative minimum tax
  • Any return where you must answer “Yes” to the Form 1040 digital asset question
  • Net investment income tax from complex portfolios
  • Household employment taxes for a nanny or housekeeper

These limits come from IRS training standards for the VITA and TCE programs.12Internal Revenue Service. Publication 4491-X W-2 income, retirement distributions, basic investment income, and common credits are all fair game. Once a small business, rental property, or complex investment enters the picture, plan on paying a professional.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

Showing up without the right paperwork is the fastest way to burn an appointment slot. Gather these before you go:

  • Government-issued photo ID for you and your spouse if filing jointly
  • Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return, including dependents13Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN)
  • W-2s from every employer and 1099 forms for interest, dividends, retirement distributions, unemployment, and freelance income
  • Form 1095-A if you enrolled through Maryland Health Connection, so the preparer can reconcile any advance premium tax credits on Form 8962. The 1095-A is mailed by January 31 and is also in your online Maryland Health Connection account.14Maryland Health Connection. Taxes
  • Routing and account numbers for direct deposit of your refund
  • Last year’s return, which helps verify prior-year AGI for e-file authentication
  • Your IRS Identity Protection PIN if you have one. The IP PIN is a six-digit number that changes every year and is available in your IRS online account from mid-January through mid-November. Without it, the IRS will reject your e-filed return.15Internal Revenue Service. Get an Identity Protection PIN

Maryland Credits a Free Preparer Will Claim for You

The most valuable state-specific credit for low-to-moderate income households is the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, which equals 50% of your federal EITC.16Maryland Department of Human Services. Earned Income Tax Credit If your federal EITC is $4,000, Maryland adds another $2,000. You have to file a Maryland return and complete the EITC section to get it, even if you already claimed the federal credit.17Comptroller of Maryland. Earned Income Tax Credit

Maryland also layers a local income tax on top of the state tax. Local rates run from 2.25% to 3.30% depending on your county or Baltimore City.18Comptroller of Maryland. Maryland Income Tax Rates and Brackets It’s calculated on the same return, so there’s no separate form, but it means your real Maryland rate is higher than the state brackets alone suggest. Free preparers handle this automatically.

If You Need More Time or Can’t Pay

Maryland grants an automatic six-month extension as long as you’ve filed a federal extension and expect to owe no Maryland tax. In that case you don’t need to file a separate Maryland extension form.19Comptroller of Maryland. Payment Voucher Worksheet for Estimated Tax and Extensions If you do owe, submit Form PV with your payment by April 15. The extension buys you time to file, not time to pay.

Late-payment penalties can reach 25% of what you owe, plus interest from the original due date.1Comptroller of Maryland. Penalty and Interest Charges If you can’t pay in full, the Comptroller offers individual payment agreements. Set one up through the Online Service Center using the notice number from a recent tax bill, or call the Collections Section at 410-974-2432 or 1-888-674-0016 if you don’t have a notice.20Comptroller of Maryland. Individual Payment Agreement

Free Help If the IRS Comes Back Later

Free preparation ends when the return is filed. If the IRS later audits you, sends a collections notice, or opens an account problem, Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) provide pro bono representation. To qualify, the amount in dispute generally has to be under $50,000, and your income must fall below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines.21Taxpayer Advocate Service. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics For a single person in 2026, that ceiling is $39,900, with higher limits for larger households. LITCs also run tax rights education for people whose first language isn’t English. They’re separate from VITA and TCE: VITA prepares your return, an LITC represents you if something goes wrong after you file.