How to Prepare Your Taxes Online for Free
Filing your taxes online is much easier than filling out endless forms. There are many sites that now offer free filing services for those with fairly straightforward returns. Find one that will work for you, gather up the necessary paperwork and get started. It will be easier than you think.
The IRS is the best place to start when looking for free tax filing options. They now offer FreeFile which is a service that makes filing your taxes free and everyone if eligible for it. It is safe, secure, and very quick to use.
TaxACT, H&R Block and TurboTax also offer free options of their software and they all include submission to the IRS e-file program for free. Generally, users need to have more simple tax situations. If you have a lot of assets or a home business, you will probably want to pay to get their more extensive and thorough software.
Once you have decided which online program to use, it is time to get started. All of these programs are very user friendly and do most of the calculations for you. Have all of your W-2s and other documentation ready. You will be prompted to input information and amounts in the boxes provided. If you are unsure about what something is, there are help menus to assist you.
Once you have finished, you will have the option of submitting the forms electronically or printing them out and mailing them to the appropriate department. Either way, print out a copy for your records.