Free Online Tax Return Filing

You can file your 2006 income tax for free through the IRS website. Here, the IRS offers a program known as Free File Alliance. This program consists of a partnership between the IRS and a wide variety of service providers who offer their tax preparation software for you to use. Last tax year over 5 million taxpayers filed their tax returns electronically through the Free File Alliance program. That amount is expected to only increase. Why not file for free? Here is some more information on the Free File Alliance program for you to know about.

Access. You gain access to Free File Alliance through the e-filing logo on the bottom left corner of the IRS homepage. It is easy and quick to gain access to this section.

Criteria. Each service provider has their own set of qualifying criteria they require users to meet. For instance, the most popular criteria that taxpayers must meet is based on adjusted gross income. It is also known as the income criteria. Some service providers, for instance, do not allow taxpayers with an adjusted gross income greater than a certain amount use them. That is no problem; when you are unable to meet one service provider's criteria, go on to the next. You are bound to find a service provider that meets your individual tax situation.

Other qualifying criteria set by IRS-approved efilers include: age and military status.

Selection. Upon entering the Free File Alliance area, you can find which service provider is best suited to you. You are not required to choose any on in particular. You just need to be certain that you meet the IRS-approved efilers criteria. Be certain you choose a service provider that you are comfortable with.

Approved IRS e-filers. All of the service providers involved in Free File Alliance are known as IRS-approved e-filers. This means that the service providers go through stringent testing and security measures prior to obtaining the IRS approval.

Security and privacy. The service providers are required to meet the IRS security and privacy certification criteria. Third party providers administer the certification programs. The purpose of the certification programs is to protect your tax return information from being accessed by an unauthorized means during the tax preparation process.

Also, you can be assured that the IRS-approved service provider you choose uses proprietary software to prepare your tax return. The IRS approves this software. An additional security measure is found when your return is submitted to the IRS through the established IRS e-file online system.

Under the IRS required security and privacy provisions, you can also be assured that the rules prohibit the service providers from using any of your tax return information for purposes that you do not specifically authorize.

You also need to know that the IRS continually monitors the progress of each of their approved service providers. If any are found in noncompliance, they will be kicked out of the Free File Alliance (or IRS e-filers) program.

No cost. The Free File Alliance Program is truly free to you if you meet the criteria. There are no hidden costs.

Convenience. The entire tax preparation process is online.

Accuracy. Efiling is known to cut down on the errors found on tax returns submitted to the IRS. This is due to the double check system found when you are going through the tax preparation process.

Receipt confirmation. Upon completing your tax return preparation and submitted it, you will receive a receipt confirmation from the service provider. Be sure to print a copy of this for your records.