IfG.CC - The Potsdam eGovernment Competence Center

The Treasury Department, Office of Management and Budget and the Internal Revenue Service in Washington launched a new Web site Jan. 17 featuring private-sector partners who will allow eligible taxpayers to prepare and file their taxes online for free. A substantial number of citizens will be able to use this service. President Bush proposed free online tax filing last February as one of his e-government initiatives. Less than one year later, millions of Americans will benefit from free online tax filing services if they are eligible. Treasury, OMB and IRS officials have made this possible through a public-private partnership with some tax software companies known as the Free File Alliance.

According to information found on the IRS Web site, Free File is an easier, faster and secure way for citizens to file taxes and will also allow Americans to get refunds in half the time, said officials.

"No one likes paying taxes," said Kenneth W. Dam, acting treasury secretary. "It's too confusing and time consuming. The launch of this new Web site is great news for millions of Americans. Free File makes it easy. Now they can save time, money and get their refunds in half the time by filing their taxes online for free."

Each FFA member company sets taxpayer eligibility requirements for its own program. These requirements will differ from company to company. Generally, eligibility will be based on factors such as age, adjusted gross income, state residency, military status or eligibility to file a Form 1040EZ or for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Taxpayers can review the list of companies, found on the Free File section of the IRS Web site, where eligibility requirements are shown company by company.

The primary candidates for Free File are those taxpayers who prepare their own taxes and still file paper returns. Last filing season, the IRS received nearly 85 million paper returns, while nearly 47 million e-filed returns.

"Free File puts e-file within reach of more taxpayers than ever," said acting IRS Commissioner Robert Wenzel. "They'll soon discover what the 47 million taxpayers who e-filed last year already know: e-file is quicker, e-file is more accurate, e-file is the best way to confirm the IRS received your return, and it's the fastest route to a refund."

E-government is an integral part of the president's management agenda to make it easier for citizens and businesses to interact with the government, save taxpayer dollars and streamline citizen-to-government transactions. A copy of the president's e-government strategy, which includes information on each of the e-government initiatives, is available on the OMB Web site

A Free File initiative fact sheet, which includes list of the FFA members and frequently asked questions, can be found on the IRS Web site at www.IRS.gov.

Quelle: dcmilitary