The main income documents you need to file taxes are W-2s from employers and 1099s from business clients. You may also have investment income and retirement income to report from your brokerage.

Since I have a separate bank account, keeping track of my business income and spending is easy. Instead of plugging the numbers into complicated accounting software, I use a simple spreadsheet.

CNBC explains how to file your taxes for free with IRS-sponsored programs and no-cost options from top tax software companies and nonprofit groups.

Breaking down the process of filing your tax return into 10 steps will help you confidently navigate tax season and make filing your taxes a manageable experience.