FreeFile Your Taxes

Do you have to file taxes this year, but you're not sure where or how to get started? Since 2003, the IRS has partnered with a consortium of private tax software companies to provide free electronic tax filing services to select populations.

You qualify for a free federal tax e-file if your Adjusted Gross Income is less than $52,000, but read carefully - most companies have additional qualification stipulations, so check individual company websites.

For example, TaxSlayer.com offers free state tax filing, and free federal tax filing services to filers who are: age 25 and under; 65 and older; active military; or qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit. And those who have a red baseball cap, a brown pony, or a yellow submarine too! Okay, I'm kidding about the pony, the cap, and the submarine, but you get the idea...free e-filing could get complicated.

Last year, I used TaxAct, and ended up paying $15 to file my state return. (I should have paid more attention, but my excuse: it was my first year filing on my own, and reading all that tax jargon made my head hurt. Bad excuse, I know.) But this year will be better; I'll start early, collect all my tax forms, and I'll probably use TaxSlayer.com, where I can file both federal and state taxes for free.

So kick off your taxes by checking the IRS website for the list of participating e-file companies, and happy free Filing!