If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, you can file your tax return electronically by going to the IRS website and selecting the option “Free File.” There you will find tax preparation and filing software made available as a result of the Free File Alliance, a partnership between the IRS and private companies in the tax software industry. This alliance was formed based on a government directive to provide free electronic filing to as many taxpayers as possible who need to file an individual income tax return.

Some of the advantages of filing online include:

• For the majority of taxpayers, this option is free.
• If you have a personal computer, modem, and Internet access, you can e-file at any time, day or night, from your home.
• If you don’t have a personal computer, you can go to an Authorized IRS e-file Provider and have your return filed electronically.
• Filing electronically may reduce the time it takes to prepare your tax return.
• You can get a refund quicker, by direct deposit in as few as 10 days.
• If you owe tax, you can E-pay by authorizing an electronic funds withdrawal or by credit card. Payment can be scheduled as late as April 15th.
• You can prepare and file federal and state returns together. The tax preparation software automatically transfers relevant data from the federal return to the state return.
• Your return is automatically checked for arithmetical errors, missing data, or inconsistencies, or the system simply does the calculations for you, based on the information you enter.
• You can sign electronically using a PIN and get electronic acknowledgement of acceptance within 48 hours.
• There is no need to send in W-2’s.
• Your security and privacy are protected by strict IRS standards.
• The chance of an audit of an e-filed return is no greater than with a paper-filed return.