Free Income Tax Online preparation and filing services can offer speed and convenience for tax filers.
Individual taxpayers, including first-time filers, Schedule C filers, and military personnel, can take advantage of a wide variety of tax preparation and e-file options. You can file online or download software from the convenience of your home, or you can work with a tax professional. Schedule D software is offered that can easily export data into leading e-file software. All of these options are available to you! Take a look to find out about these existing opportunities!
Verify the tax preparers identity. Work with a company you are familiar with or one that has been recommended by family, friends or colleagues. If you cannot find basic information such as, name, address and telephone number, do not deal with that company. Look for a reliability seal such as BBBOnLine. Talk to someone who has used the company's service. Were they satisfied?
Look for credentials. If a tax preparers web site makes claims such as "certified public accountant" or "enrolled agent before the Internal Revenue Service", verify that information. Certified public accountants are licensed by the various states. Most enrolled agents are members of their state's society of enrolled agents.
Consider security and privacy issues. If you do decide to prepare and file your taxes through an online service, be certain that the electronic forms and payment pages are secure. The URL at the top of your web browser should read "https://". The "s" is important. If it is not there, you are not at a secure site. The information you submit is not encrypted and it could be intercepted. Or, look for the key or closed padlock symbol on the web site. If you are not sure that you are visiting a secure site, do not type sensitive personal financial information into any part of the electronic form on the web page. Also, check for a privacy policy on the site and review it thoroughly to make certain you agree with how your personal information will be used.
Keep good records. Print out and keep a hard copy of any information that you type into an electronic form, before you click the "submit" button. You should also print out a copy of any guarantees or promises of help if you are audited. Keep in mind that an Internet-based tax preparer in another state may not be willing to come to your location if your taxes are audited.
The majority of American taxpayers will be eligible for free online tax preparation and free electronic filing through a partnership agreement between the Internal Revenue Service and the Free File Alliance, LLC, a private-sector consortium of tax software companies.
Each Free File Alliance member sets taxpayer eligibility requirements for its program. Requirements will differ company to company. Generally, eligibility will be based on factors such as age, adjusted gross income, state residency, military status or eligibility to file a Form 1040ez or for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
