Saturday, January 29, 2011

File Your Tax Return For Free - Here's Where to do it


It's time to get busy on your tax return. There are several ways you can accomplish this. You can have a professional do it, I have my accountant do mine because it's quite lengthy and I don't mind paying someone to. If yours is very complicated I recommend you do the same. Some people buy a piece of software and do it that way. But the newest way to do it is online.


For simple to average complexity tax returns the online process is the way to go. Best part is that it could at no charge. There are requirements of course. Firstly you can't have an adjusted gross income of more than $58,000. There are other requirements which the individual website will state.

If you have never tried to file your taxes online, don't worry because during the whole process they make it so easy and the price is free, what do you have to lose. Give it a try.

I have compiled a list of the IRS’s Free File Alliance providers. These are providers that have met rigid standards to participate.

As you use the service of these websites you will be asked many times to upgrade to the paying side of the service. For simple to average tax returns this is not necessary. But if you have some out of the ordinary tax deductions you may have to. 

Being that these sites are free you can try more than one or if you have trouble with on there is always another to go to. Don't worry your data during the process is incrypted and safe.

Here's the list:

Free TaxACT: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 19 through 55. This federal offer is valid in all states. Free extensions.

TaxSimple: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 66 or younger and you live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV or WY. Free extensions.

OnlineTaxPros.com: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $4,000 and $58,000 and you live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI or WV. Free extensions.

H&R Block Free File: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 51 or younger. This federal offer is valid in all states.

eSmart Tax powered by CompleteTax: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $32,000 or less. This federal offer is valid in all states. Free extensions.

123 Easy Tax Filing, LLC: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 70 or younger and you live in one of the following states: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV or WY. Free extensions.

FreeTaxUSA® IRS Free File Edition: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 22 through 64 years old. This federal offer is valid in all states. Free extensions.

Free1040TaxReturns.com: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 72 or younger and you live in one of the following states: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, WI or WV. Free extensions.

EfileTaxReturns.com: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $4,000 and $58,000 and you live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, UT, VA, VT, WI or WV.

ezTaxReturn.com: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, GA, IL, LA, MA, MI, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA or WI.

TaxSlayer: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 25 or younger, or age 65 or older. Free for all Active Military with AGI of $58,00 or less. Also your return is free if you qualify for Earn Income Tax Credit or if your AGI is 10,000 or less regardless of age. This federal offer is valid if you live in one of the following states: AL, AZ, AR, GA, ID, IA, KY, MI, MN, MS, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, UT, VT, VA and WV. Free extensions.

Online Taxes at OLT.com: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 51 or younger. This federal offer is valid in all states. Free extensions.

1040NOW.NET: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $58,000 or less and you are age 64 or younger and you live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI or WV. Free for all Active Military with an AGI of $58,000 or less. Also qualify if your AGI is 9,000 or less and you live in one of the following states: AK, FL, NV, SD, TX, WA or WY.

ICANFREEFILE: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $31,000 or less or if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. This federal offer is valid in all states. Free extensions.

TurboTax® Freedom Edition: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $31,000 or less or if you are active military with an AGI of $58,000 or less or you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. This federal offer is valid in all states. Free extensions.

FileYourTaxes.com: Free federal online tax return preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $10,000 and $58,000 and you live in one of the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV or WY. Free extensions.

Before you begin...


  • Free File companies have their own eligibility criteria, but none offer Free File to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of more than $58,000.
  • Other eligibility criteria may include your: age, state, eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, and military status.
  • Check the company's website for details because the companies' offers may differ. For example, some companies charge a fee for state tax returns and some may not support a particular form you need to file.
  • Remember to begin your Free File return on IRS.gov or you may be charged a fee or asked to buy additional products and services.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for the unpleasant reminder that it is tax time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your blog. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into it. I would like to award you another Stylish Blogger award. Please stop by my blog to grab it!
    http://budgetconfidential.blogspot.com/2011/01/stylish-blogger-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. TaxAct is free, no matter what your income. My AGI was above $60,000 but I just completed my federal return with them at no cost, including e-filing. In fact, I entered their website through MyPoints and picked up 400 points in addition to the free return.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Grace, Thanks for the info. The MyPoints is a nice bonus.

    ReplyDelete


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