A Senior’s Step-by-Step Guide to E-Filing Taxes in the U.S. for 2025

Step 1: Choose Your E-Filing Method

In the U.S., you don’t file directly on an IRS website. Instead, you use an IRS-authorized third-party provider. You have several great options:

• DIY with Tax Software: User-friendly programs like TurboTax or H&R Block guide you with a simple question-and-answer format. They are perfect for those comfortable using a computer.
• IRS Free File: If your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is below a certain annual threshold (it was $79,000 for 2024), you can use a free version of brand-name tax software through the IRS website.
• Free Assisted E-Filing: This is an excellent choice for many seniors. Programs like AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and the IRS’s TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) have trained volunteers who will prepare and e-file your return for you, for free.
• Use a Tax Professional: A CPA or Enrolled Agent will prepare your return and will almost always e-file it for you, giving you professional expertise and the benefits of electronic submission.

Step 2: Gather Your Essential Documents

Before you sit down to file, get all your paperwork in order. Having everything in one place makes the process smooth and easy. You’ll need:

• Personal Information: Social Security numbers and dates of birth for yourself, your spouse, and any dependents.
• Income Statements:
  • Form SSA-1099 for Social Security benefits.
  • Form 1099-R for pensions, annuities, and IRA/401(k) distributions.
  • Form 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B for investment income.
• Deduction Information: Records of medical expenses (including premiums), property taxes paid, and receipts for charitable contributions. The software will help you determine if you should itemize.
• Bank Account Information: Your bank’s routing number and your account number for a fast and secure direct deposit of your refund.

Step 3: Follow the Software’s Lead

Think of modern tax software as a friendly interview. It won’t just show you a blank tax form. Instead, it will ask you simple, plain-language questions one by one, and it will fill in the complex forms in the background based on your answers. You’ll go through sections for personal information, income, deductions, and credits at a comfortable pace.

Step 4: The Critical Final Review

Before you submit, the software will provide a summary of your return. Take a moment to review it carefully. Double-check that all names and Social Security numbers are correct, your income totals match your documents, and the final refund or amount due looks correct based on what you entered.

Step 5: Sign and Submit Securely

To sign your electronic return, you’ll typically use your prior year’s AGI as a form of electronic signature. The software will walk you through this simple verification step. Once you click “Submit” or “Transmit,” your return is sent to the IRS through an encrypted, secure connection. You will receive an email confirmation, usually within 48 hours, that your return has been accepted.

Step 6: Get Your Refund Fast with Direct Deposit

If you are owed a refund, providing your bank account information for direct deposit is the fastest and safest way to get your money. The IRS states that 9 out of 10 e-filers who choose direct deposit receive their refund in 21 days or less.