Filing Taxes — The Map

The Truth About Filing Taxes

Filing your taxes is simpler than most people expect, at least for the majority of situations. The reason it sounds intimidating is that everyone talks about taxes like they're complicated, and for some situations they are. But most young adults filing for the first time have straightforward situations that take very little time.

If you worked a regular job, you have a W-2. That's really all you need to start.

What You'll Need

W-2 Form

Your employer sends this by January 31st each year. It shows how much you earned and how much was withheld for taxes. You'll receive it in the mail or electronically.

Social Security Number

Required to file. Keep this number secure.

Bank Account Info

Your routing and account number for direct deposit of any refund you're owed.

Last Year's Return (if applicable)

Not required your first time, but helpful as a reference going forward.

How to Actually File

The filing process is essentially: answer questions about your situation, enter numbers from your W-2 when prompted, review, and submit. The website tells you exactly which box on your W-2 it's asking about.

Choose a filing platform

Many free options exist. The IRS maintains a list of free filing partners at IRS Free File. TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA, and Cash App Taxes all have free tiers for simple returns.

Follow the prompts

The platform will ask yes/no questions about your situation. If you've never heard of the thing it's asking about, it probably doesn't apply to you. Read carefully and answer honestly.

Enter your W-2 numbers

The platform will ask for specific box numbers from your W-2. Just type the number shown in that box. That's it.

Review and submit

When it asks you to review everything, actually review it. Look for typos in numbers. Then submit. You'll get a confirmation.

Important Dates

April 15 — Tax Deadline

The standard deadline to file your federal return each year. If it falls on a weekend or holiday, it shifts to the next business day.

Need more time? File an extension.

Filing an extension (Form 4868) gives you until October 15. However, it extends the time to file, not the time to pay. If you owe money, you still need to estimate and pay by April 15 or you'll owe interest.

Refund vs. Owing Money

A refund means your employer withheld more taxes than you owed. The government is returning your own money. It's not a bonus.

Owing money means not enough was withheld throughout the year. You can adjust your withholding through your W-4 at work to avoid this in the future.

Watch out

TurboTax's "free" tier has been criticized for steering users toward paid upgrades. If your situation is simple (W-2 only, no investments, no self-employment), FreeTaxUSA or Cash App Taxes may be cleaner free options.

Special Situations

If any of these apply to you, your taxes may be more involved, but still very manageable:

Freelance or gig work (1099 income): You'll owe self-employment tax and may need to make quarterly payments.
Multiple jobs: You may owe more than expected if your withholding at each job doesn't account for your total income.
Student loan interest: Deductible in some cases.
First time filing: You can still file for free and the process is the same.

Disclaimer: Tax laws change annually. This page reflects general guidance and may not account for your specific situation. Consider consulting a tax professional for complex returns.