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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.."

8 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. Specs & Info by FredtheDead · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here is the IRS's "IRS e-file For Tax Professionals, Software Developers and Transmitters" page.
    and here is the "IRS e-file Technical Publications" page which has the e-file file layout spec.

    1. Re:Specs & Info by markhb · · Score: 4, Insightful

      On the first of those pages, I found a link to their progress report on e-filing. Their stated intermediate goal by next year is for 100% of returns prepared electronically to be submitted electronically; overriding goal is that by 2007 80% of all returns (taken as 80% each of individual, commercial, and informational returns) to be filed electronically. Personally, I don't see how they can get to the 80% for individual returns without getting to "If you didn't pay to prepare the return, you don't need to pay to E-file."

      --
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    2. Re:Specs & Info by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Insightful
      > Personally, I don't see how they can get to the 80% for individual returns without getting to "If you didn't pay to prepare the return, you don't need to pay to E-file."

      Real easy. Allow things like the AMT to filter down into the middle class tax brackets, add more goofy deductions and credits, further complicate the "long-term/short-term" capital gains situation by adding an "ultra-long-term" capital gains rate, just keep patching on layer after layer of complexity to the code.

      The goal is that by 2007, nobody will be capable of filing their return without the assistance of a tax preparer.

  3. Quicken has free filling... by biohazard99 · · Score: 4, Informative

    For people whose AGI was under 25000 here. I used it last year and it was great, but it is a large web app so doing it over a 56k could mean a long night downloading instead of looking at tax tables and reciepts.

    --
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  4. www.taxactonline.com by haystd · · Score: 4, Informative

    E-File is $7.95, paper return is free. Used them this year and they worked ok. Not quite as much hand-holding as you'd get with Tax Act or Turbo Tax, but fine for most tax returns if you're used to filing your own taxes.

  5. 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/.

  6. Re:Need a Web-based solution by Havokmon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Does anyone know how many EZ forms are used? That's about the only thing that could be done via the web... You're supposed to send copies of all your deductions along with the form. In my case have a mortgage, property taxes, consolidation loan (Never do one of those), 3 kids (ok, can't send them, though sometimes I'd like to), and 401k crap that needs to be sent... If you WANT to be audited, then I suggest taking a lot of deductions, and not sending any proof..

    --
    "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)