If you meet certain income qualifications, you can file your federal income tax return online for free. This is a great option for those people who are a little wary of going the paper and pencil route and cannot afford an accountant to walk them through the tax preparation process.http://www.irs.gov/efile/index.html
Filing electronically also increases the accuracy of your return and guarantees that any refund you are owed will be sent out in as little as 10 days via direct deposit. Contact the IRS or a professional financial advisor for the most up-to-date and complete information regarding state and federal tax law.http://www.irs.gov/efile/index.html
Getting Started
Free File is a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies, which allows qualified taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax return for free online. Many of the Free File partners are companies like H&R Block and TaxACT. In order to take advantage of the Free File program, you must start with the IRS' own website and meet the program's qualifications.http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
When filing your taxes, you qualify for the Free File service by having earned an adjusted gross income of $54,000 or less in the previous fiscal year.http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
Taking the Right Steps
Free File is a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies, which allows qualified taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax return for free online. Many of the Free File partners are companies like H&R Block and TaxACT. In order to take advantage of the Free File program, you must start with the IRS' own website and meet the program's qualifications.http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
When filing your taxes, you qualify for the Free File service by having earned an adjusted gross income of $54,000 or less in the previous fiscal year.http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
Filing a State Return Online for Free
Some states offer online filing for free through their Department of Revenue or Taxation websites. Other states, like Alaska, Texas and Florida, do not levy a personal income tax at all. For more information about your state's income tax filing procedures, visit the appropriate Department of Revenue, Finance or Taxation website.
Alabama Department of Revenuehttp://www.ador.state.al.us
Alaska Department of Revenuehttp://www.revenue.state.ak.us
Arizona Department of Revenuehttp://www.revenue.state.az.us
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administrationhttp://www.state.ar.us/dfa
California Franchise Tax Boardhttp://www.ftb.ca.gov
Colorado Department of Revenuehttp://www.revenue.state.co.us
Connecticut Department of Revenue Serviceshttp://www.ct.gov/drs
Delaware Division of Revenuehttp://www.state.de.us/revenue
District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officerhttp://cfo.dc.gov/main.asp
Florida Department of Revenuehttp://www.state.fl.us/dor
Georgia Department of Revenuehttp://dor.georgia.gov
Hawaii Department of Taxationhttp://www.state.hi.us/tax/tax.html
Idaho State Tax Commissionhttp://tax.idaho.gov
llinois Department of Revenuehttp://www.revenue.state.il.us
Indiana Department of Revenuehttp://www.ai.org/dor/index.html
Iowa Department of Revenue and Financehttp://www.state.ia.us/tax
Kansas Department of Revenuehttp://www.ksrevenue.org
Kentucky Revenue Cabinethttp://revenue.ky.gov
Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxationhttp://www.rev.state.la.us
Maine Revenue Serviceshttp://www.state.me.us/revenue
Maryland Comptroller of the Treasuryhttp://www.comp.state.md.us
Massachusetts Department of Revenuehttp://www.dor.state.ma.us
Michigan Department of Treasuryhttp://www.michigan.gov/treasury
Minnesota Department of Revenuehttp://www.taxes.state.mn.us
Mississippi State Tax Commissionhttp://www.mstc.state.ms.us
Missouri Department of Revenuehttp://dor.mo.gov
Montana Department of Revenuehttp://www.state.mt.us/revenue
Nebraska Department of Revenuehttp://www.revenue.state.ne.us
Nevada Department of Taxationhttp://tax.state.nv.us
New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administrationhttp://www.state.nh.us/revenue
New Jersey Division of Taxationhttp://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation
New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Departmenthttp://www.state.nm.us/tax
New York Department of Taxation and Financehttp://www.tax.state.ny.us
North Carolina Department of Revenuehttp://www.dor.state.nc.us
North Dakota State Tax Departmenthttp://www.nd.gov/tax
Ohio Department of Taxationhttp://www.state.oh.us/tax
Oklahoma Tax Commissionhttp://www.oktax.state.ok.us
Oregon Department of Revenuehttp://www.oregon.gov/DOR/
Pennsylvania Department of Revenuehttp://www.revenue.state.pa.us
Rhode Island Division of Taxationhttp://www.tax.state.ri.us
South Carolina Department of Revenuehttp://www.sctax.org
South Dakota Department of Revenuehttp://www.state.sd.us/revenue/revenue.html
Tennessee Department of Revenuehttp://www.state.tn.us/revenue
Texas Comptroller of Public Accountshttp://www.cpa.state.tx.us
Utah State Tax Commissionhttp://www.tax.utah.gov
Vermont Department of Taxeshttp://www.state.vt.us/tax
Virginia Department of Taxationhttp://www.tax.virginia.gov
Washington Department of Revenuehttp://dor.wa.gov
West Virginia State Tax Departmenthttp://www.state.wv.us/taxdiv
Disclaimer: The content in this page is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Please contact a finance professional before using the information presented here.
References
How to File Taxes Online for Free Tips
- Visit the IRS website for the Free File portal.
- Make sure you understand what fees you are being charged if you use a tax professional.
- Check out your state's tax websites for more information regarding free online filing.
