Majority Of Tax Payers Can E-File For FRE (NAPSA)—Saving time and moneyis almost always a priority, especially during tax season. This year, more than 60 percent of Americans can do both as a result of Free File. Taxpayers who qualify for this new program can pre- pare and electronically file their taxesfor free. Free File Free File is the result of a unique partnership between the federal government and tax software companies. It offers no-cost, electronic filing resources through the IRS Website. Each participating software companysets its own Free File criteria. To determineeligibility, visit the Free File page on www.irs.gov or www.firstgov.gov andclick on the “Start Now” button. Browse through each company’s requirements or fill out a questionnaire to find out if Free File services are available to you. You will need to provide the following: Age Spouse’s age, if applicable State of residence Adjusted Gross Income Form 1040EZ eligibility Earned Income Tax Credit eligibility Military status “Last year, nearly 50 million people took advantageof the conveniences of IRS e-file,” said Terry Lutes, IRS Director of Electronic Tax Administration. “We believe that millions more will experience IRS e-file benefits with the introduction of Free File.” Happy Paperless Trails Besides the new Free File service, minimizing paper clutter and More than 60 percent of Americans are eligible to file their taxes online—forfree. making the mostof time are benefits of using IRS e-file. E-filers receive their refunds in about half of the time of those whofile with paper forms, and people opting for direct deposit will have refund checks deposited in as few as 10 days. If you owe, payment can be delayed until April 15. E-filers also have the comfort of knowing the status of their return. Within 48 hours of click- ing “submit,” taxpayers receive a proof of receipt, letting them know if their return is being processed or if more information is needed. Because e-filed returns are scanned automatically, the error rate is less than one percent. As security is top priority for the IRS, taxpayer information submitted when using IRSe-file is not shared andis used only for the processoffiling returns. For more information on IRS efile and Free File services, visit WWW.IIS.ZOV.
