Free and Low-Cost Options for Filing Taxes

Just last week, the IRS announced that Free File is officially open for business for the 2010 tax season. No matter what your filing status or income level, you can use Free File.

The most commonly-touted services under Free File are tax preparation software packages, the product of a public-private partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, LLC. You can read more about the services and the partnership (including a list of the tax preparation software providers) at www.irs.gov/freefile. Under the partnership, at least 70% of taxpayers are eligible to use the software to file federal income tax returns for free.