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Free e-filing for 2001 Taxes?

Posted by Cliff on from the it's-getting-to-be-that-time-of-year-again dept.

chipperdog asks: "I know this gets asked every year about this time, but are there any free alternatives for e-filing tax returns? In previous years, HD Vest offered free filing, but has discontinued it this year. I can't justify spending more than $10 for filing a return that I can send through the post office and IRS data entry people for approx $0.50-0.75. It would be nice if the IRS would just publish a standard submission format, so open source developers can work with it.."

2 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. Would be nice... sort of already tried... by pease1 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The IRS has an amazingly complex process for processing their data into the different centers around the country. They like to very tightly control who has access (for good reason) to send them data, both for quality control and security.

    Nonetheless, what is proposed might be possible. I worked at an govt. agency in 1995/6 that developed a web interface to allow filing of EZ1040's and 1040a's and from some popular tax programs. We tested end-to-end - from a browser and a tax product into IRS's mainframe systems. Total cost was something like $30 million.

    The project was killed by Congress, specifically by Congressman Ted Stevens. He used GAO to nitpik the system to dealth on technical details (PKI wasn't really around back then) and rapid development/procurement practices used by the project. The GAO Report is here. But hell, we did it in six months!

    I think IRS is still gun shy on the issue.

  2. They do have a standard format by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 5, Interesting

    But you have to send them your fingerprints to be able to use it. I'm working on an open-source (QingPL) e-filing program. It probably won't be finished until next year without help, but it is available for your examination at http://sourceforge.net/projects/tax/.