Free tax help from the IRS

February 23, 7:43 PMLouisville City Hall ExaminerThomas McAdam

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Hard as it might be to believe, our friends at the Internal Revenue Service have set up a free program for taxpayers who want to file their returns electronically.

Free File is a free federal income tax preparation and electronic filing program for eligible taxpayers, developed through a partnership between the IRS and a group of private sector tax software companies. Taxpayers who have a 2008 Adjusted Gross Income of $56,000 or less may prepare and file their federal income tax returns using free online software provided.

In 2001, President Bush established a task force designed to improve IRS electronic filing capabilities. The IRS was directed to provide free and secure online tax return preparation and filing services to taxpayers, and began working in partnership with the tax software industry to develop a solution. The result was the formation of the Free File online tax preparation and electronic filing services.

Free File asks simple questions, puts your answers on the right forms, does all the math for you, checks for accuracy, and covers the most commonly filed Federal tax forms and schedules. The program includes Federal e-file – to enable you to get your refund in as little as 10 days with Direct Deposit. The program is even available in Spanish.

The IRS figures that over 24 million returns have been e-filed through Free File since 2003, and almost 5 million were filed last year using the program. An estimated 98 million Americans – 70% of all taxpayers – are eligible for Free File, and 98% of users would recommend Free File to others (2008 IRS survey).

And, yes, it’s free.