Gather the following to prepare to file your return:

• email address
• copy of last year’s tax return or your prior year federal adjusted gross income (FAGI)
• photo ID
• driver license or state-issued non-driver ID (for you and your spouse, if filing jointly)
• birth dates and Social Security numbers for you, your spouse, and your dependents
• proof of income (wages, interest and dividend statements):
• Forms W-2, 1098, 1099
• any other documents showing additional income
• Forms 1095-A, B, or C, Affordable Healthcare Statement
• information related to any credits you’re claiming
• your banking information (the account number and the routing number for your bank, which you can find on a blank check)

• If you’re using the software for the first time, the average tax return takes about an hour and a half to complete.
• If you’re a returning user, the average return will take about an hour, as the software saves your information from year to year.

When you create your account, you’ll need to:

1. Decide on your user name. It must be at least six characters.
2. Create a password. It must:
• be at least eight characters,
• include at least one uppercase letter,
• include at least one lowercase letter,
• include at least one number, and
• include at least one special character ($,#,%, or !).
3. Choose three security questions and answers (each question must have a different answer).

After you file your return, you need to:

• Complete and save Free File Software Account Information and keep it in a safe place. You will need this information to login to  your account in the future.
• Keep a printed copy of the return and confirmation page, if applicable, for your records.
• Check your email to ensure your return is accepted.
• If your return is rejected, follow the instructions provided in the email to resolve the issue and re-submit.

By clicking on any of the provided links, you are leaving the City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue’s site. As such, this office makes no claim and accepts no responsibility regarding the quality, nature or reliability of third party links or sites. This information is being provided to you as a convenience and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office. You are responsible for viewing and abiding by the privacy statements and terms of use posted on any third party sites. For technical issues, please contact the third party for assistance as the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office is unable to assist you with such matter.

Neither the Commissioner of the Revenue nor the City of Fairfax and any of it's employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately-owned rights.

The Commissioner of the Revenue or the City of Fairfax are not responsible for the contents of any off-site pages referenced through links. The responsibility for content rests solely with the organizations that are providing the information. Specific details regarding a document should be directed to the appropriate organization and not to the Commissioner of the Revenue, the City of Fairfax or any of its employees. All support issues should be addressed to the provider you select.

Please note that online filing providers may charge a fee for their service.