Free File Alliance & IRS Launch "Free File" for 2016, Offering Free Industry-Leading Tax Software with More Features than Ever

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Free federal tax preparation and e-filing software is now available at www.IRS.gov/FreeFile to all Americans with a 2015 adjusted gross income (AGI) of $62,000 or less. Powered by The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 13 industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Free File program gives eligible taxpayers free access to the industry's most innovative and secure tax software in order to easily prepare and e-file their federal tax returns.

More than 70 percent of all taxpayers — 100 million people — are eligible to use Free File, which is available now at www.IRS.gov/FreeFile.  Not only is the Free File income limitation $2,000 higher than last year for free federal tax services, but there are also more options for free state tax return preparation. Taxpayers can now visit www.IRS.gov/FreeFile and utilize the "Help Me Find Free File Software" tool to identify software options for both free federal and free state returns.

"If your income is $62,000 or less, Free File is there to take the guesswork out of doing your federal tax returns," said Tim Hugo, executive director of the Free File Alliance. "Our software offers step-by-step help to get your federal taxes done quickly, safely and at absolutely no cost, and we now offer more free state tax services than ever. Just visit www.IRS.gov/FreeFile and click 'Help Me Find Free File Software' to see what options are available to you."

Free File also helps taxpayers with the new health care requirements. Using Free File, most taxpayers will simply have to check a box to report health care coverage for the entire year.

Hugo continued, "The Free File program has provided almost $1.4 billion in free tax software over the last 13 years, and we hope to see even more taxpayers take advantage of the service in 2016. IRS.gov/FreeFile is the one place where taxpayers can choose from a variety of the industry's most innovative and secure tax software options."

Starting January 19, basic federal e-filing services, called Free File Fillable Forms, will also be available regardless of income level. Free File Fillable Forms allows taxpayers who are familiar with tax law and need no preparation assistance to complete and file their federal income tax electronically.

Also new this year is a partnership between the Free File Alliance and Operation HOPE, a global non-profit organization providing financial literacy empowerment and economic education. The new partnership will focus on raising awareness of the Free File program among low-to-middle-income and underserved communities nationwide.

"Operation HOPE has brought financial literacy to millions of people," said Steve Ryan, Operation HOPE board member and general counsel for the Free File Alliance. "The partnership between Free File and Operation HOPE will help free tax services reach more taxpayers, especially low-income and underserved Americans who need them the most."

By making industry-leading tax software available at no cost, Free File has introduced millions of Americans, many of whom could not otherwise afford tax software, to the efficiency and ease of e-filing. The program has continually advanced the IRS' e-filing initiative, while meeting a critical need for affordable, quality tax software options. Responding to a recent IRS survey, 96 percent of users said they found Free File easy to use, while 98 percent said they would recommend the program to others.

About the Free File Alliance
The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 13 industry-leading tax software companies, has partnered with the IRS since 2003 to help low and middle-income Americans prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns online. The Free File Alliance is committed to giving 70 percent of taxpayers free access to the industry's top online tax preparation software. More than 46 million returns have been filed through Free File since its inception. For more information, visit www.freefilealliance.org.  

SOURCE Free File Alliance