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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. 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.

  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/.