Filing Taxes Free For Some
The Internal Revenue Service is joining forces with several tax software companies to provide online filing services free of charge for those who qualify.
The service is called Free File and can be accessed through the IRS website, http://www.freefile.irs.gov/index.html.
According to the IRS, Free File is offering access to free tax preparation software and free e-filing, or electronic submission, for those who make $57,000 per year or less.
For those who make more than $57,000, the IRS is offering online fill-able forms. According to the IRS, these files are electronic versions of IRS paper forms that perform the necessary calculations. These files can also be e-filed for free.
A general manager of Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, Tom Baltuskonis, said taxes filed electronically can yield tax returns in under two weeks.
?It goes through the provider that you?re using and then they send it to the IRS. You should get something back within 24 hours letting you know whether the IRS accepted it or not,? said Baltuskonis.
Baltuskonis said several tax return specialists, including Jackson Hewitt, provide free simple tax return preparations for those who qualify.
Baltuskonis did tell KRDO Newschannel 13 there are few big changes filers will notice on the 2011 tax return forms. He said the one big change will be the expiration of the ?Make Work Pay? credit.
?That was a $400 to $800 credit, depending whether you?re married or single and that has gone away. So, refunds may be a little bit smaller this year,? said Baltuskonis.
