WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taxpayers can
get a head start on preparing their tax returns as Free federal tax
preparation and e-filing software is now available at
www.IRS.gov/FreeFile to all Americans with a 2021 adjusted
gross income (AGI) of $73,000 or
less. Powered by The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 8
industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS), the Free File program gives eligible
taxpayers free access to the industry's most innovative and secure
tax software in order to easily prepare and e-file their federal
tax returns.
Free File members for tax season 2022 are: 1040Now, Inc.;
ezTaxReturn.com (English and Spanish); FileYourTaxes.com; Free Tax
Returns.com; On-Line Taxes, Inc.; TaxAct; TaxHawk Inc; and
TaxSlayer (English and Spanish).
With the tax filing season not officially opening until
January 24th, eligible taxpayers can
get a head start on their taxes by e-filing utilizing the Free File
software. More than 70 percent of all taxpayers — approximately 100
million people — are eligible to use Free File, which is available
now at www.IRS.gov/FreeFile. The Free File income limitation
is $1,000 higher than last year for
free federal tax services. Taxpayers can visit www.IRS.gov/FreeFile
to find free federal return options that match their situation.
Taxpayers also have an early opportunity to claim credits like
the Advance Child Tax Credit, Recovery Rebate Credit and other
credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) through the
Free File Program.
Taxpayers can also use their smart phones or tablets to
electronically prepare and file their federal and state tax returns
through IRS Free File. Taxpayers may access the products using
mobile devices in two ways: (1) Use the IRS2Go app, which has a
link to the Free File Software Lookup Tool or (2) use the device's
browser to go to www.IRS.gov/freefile. The IRS2Go app is available
for Android and iOS devices.
"If your income is $73,000 or
less, Free File is there to take the guesswork out of doing your
federal tax returns," said Tim Hugo,
Executive Director of the Free File Alliance. "Our software offers
step-by-step help to get your federal taxes done quickly, safely,
securely and at absolutely no cost. In addition, active-duty
military personnel with incomes of $73,000 or less may use Free File software
product offered by all of the tax preparation companies without
regard to criteria."
The Free File Alliance and its members continue to make a
priority the protection of taxpayers' personal information through
its participation in the Security Summit Initiative. The
Alliance and its members, along with the IRS, state tax agencies
and others in the tax industry, are active participants in the
Security Summit Initiative in order to provide additional identity
theft safeguards for tax filing. To learn more about the
Security Awareness campaign, visit the IRS webpage at: Taxes,
Security, Together.
Hugo continued, "The Free File program has provided over 65
million returns valued at an estimated $1.95
billion in free tax software over the last 19 years, and we
hope to see even more taxpayers take advantage of the service in
2022. IRS.gov/Free File is the one place where
taxpayers can choose from a variety of the industry's most
innovative and secure tax software options."
Starting January 24, basic federal
e-filing services, called Free File Fillable Forms, will also be
available regardless of income level. Free File Fillable Forms
allows taxpayers who are familiar with tax law and need no
preparation assistance to complete and file their federal income
tax electronically.
By making industry-leading tax software available at no cost,
Free File has introduced millions of Americans, many of whom could
not otherwise afford tax software, to the efficiency and ease of
e-filing. The program has continually advanced the IRS' e-filing
initiative, while meeting a critical need for affordable, quality
tax software options. Responding to a 2021 survey, 97 percent of
users said they would use the Free File program again.
Remember, the best way to access Free File and its free federal
tax return preparation options is by visiting
IRS.gov/FreeFile.
About the Free File Alliance
The Free File Alliance, a
coalition of 8 industry-leading tax software companies, has
partnered with the IRS since 2003 to help low and middle-income
Americans prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns
online. The Free File Alliance is committed to giving 70 percent of
taxpayers free access to the industry's top online tax preparation
software. Over 65 million returns have been filed through Free File
since its inception. For more information, visit
www.freefilealliance.org.
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SOURCE Free File Alliance