With hundreds of tax preparation software programs available, it can be a challenge to find a simple solution for filing your federal tax return. You don’t have to invest in an expensive tax software program of suite of office products with some of the convenient options available. Filing your federal tax return online is the easiest and cheapest way to manage your project, and you have a number of free services to choose from. If your income is $54,000 or under, here are the best ways to file your federal tax return at little or no cost:
File Taxes with TaxACT
TaxACT tax preparation software programs are competitively priced, and there is one option that is completely free of charge; the Standard services allow you to prepare, print, and file online for free, and you don’t have to install any type of program to get started. It’s accurate, convenient, and very user-friendly.
File Taxes for Free with H&R; Block FreeFile
This is another online tax preparation service that few people realize exists. H&R; Block offers premium-priced tax products and services, but the free option is available for anyone with an adjusted Gross Income of $54,000 or less, and those who are 50 years of age or younger. You’ll simply answer a series of questions, and the program will calculate your taxes and fill out the form accordingly. The site is simple to use, and you’ll be asked to set up a username and password to save and store information for future visits.
File Taxes at Little or No Cost with FreeTaxUSA
FreeTaxUSA offers free federal tax return preparation and filing for 24 states across the U.S., and a price of $9.95 if you live in a state not listed. The process is very simple and secure, and can be completed in less than an hour. Your information is also stored on a secure server for next year, so you won’t have to go through the entire process of filling out personal information in great detail. State tax returns are also available for $9.95, and are a convenient option if you don’t want to enter all of your information twice.
File Taxes with TurboTax Freedom Edition
Few people realize that TurboTax by Intuit does offer a free option for qualified states. Instead of jumping right into the fee-based services, make sure you check to see if you qualify. If you earned $30,000 or less, qualify for the Earned Income Credit, or served active duty in the military in 2007, you will qualify for free federal filing. You may also qualify for free state filing if you live in a designated Free File Alliance state. You’ll be using the TurboTax Online program to fill out a questionnaire and can fill out your federal tax return with ease.
When you’re choosing between free filing services, the only real ‘cost’ you will incur is your time and effort. If the free tax software program or tools are poorly designed, you could spend hours just trying to figure out how to complete the forms. You can determine which tax program will be a good match for your income and state by filling out basic information on the IRS website for a guide to even more companies. Pick from these quality sites and options instead, and save yourself the time and hassles of filing your federal tax return this year.
