Getting Started in the US

Filing your first US tax return

Who has to file, why filing often pays you back, and where to get free help.

4 min read

If you worked in the US, you probably need to file a tax return. Often, filing gets you money back.

  1. 1January to DecemberYou work. Your employer takes tax out of each paycheck.
  2. 2By January 31Each employer sends you a W-2. It shows what you earned and how much tax was taken out.
  3. 3By mid-AprilYou file your tax return for the year before.
  4. 4A few weeks laterYou get a refund if too much tax was taken out. If too little was taken out, you pay the rest.

Why filing often pays you

The tax taken from your paycheck is only a guess, based on your W-4. Your tax return works out the real amount. Many people never get a refund they are owed, only because they did not file.

What you need

  • Your tax ID: an SSN or an ITIN.
  • A W-2 from each employer.
  • Any 1099 forms. These cover contract work, freelance work, interest, and investment income.
  • Records of anything you may be able to deduct.
  • Your bank details, so your refund can go straight to your account.

Ways to file for free

  • VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). Free help from trained volunteers. It is for people under an income limit and people with limited English. Many sites speak your language.
  • IRS Free File. Free tax software at irs.gov, for people under an income limit.
  • Free File Fillable Forms. Free online IRS forms that you fill in yourself. There is no income limit.

Paid tax preparers are fine. But avoid a preparer who:

  • charges a percentage of your refund,
  • promises a refund before seeing your papers, or
  • won't sign the return they prepared.

Tax residency is a separate question

Your tax residency is not the same as your immigration status. It decides which form you file and which income the US taxes. Get help from VITA or a professional if you:

  • moved to or from the US during the year,
  • have a visa with special tax rules, or
  • have income, property or bank accounts in another country.

File even if you can't pay it all. Not filing and not paying have separate penalties. You can avoid the penalty for not filing at no cost.

This is general information, not tax advice.

Keep reading

Opening your first US bank accountWhat to bring, which fees to avoid, and why a bank account saves you money.SSN or ITIN: which number you needThe two US tax ID numbers, who can get each one, and what each one lets you do.Reading your first US paycheckWhy your paycheck is smaller than your salary, and how to check that it is right.Credit scores: start from zeroYour credit history doesn't move with you. How to start one, what moves your score, and how long it takes.
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These articles are general financial education, not tax or investment advice. Contribution limits and income thresholds are shown for the 2026 tax year and are adjusted annually. Check irs.gov for current figures, and talk to a qualified professional about your own situation.