Washington, DC – March 6, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents the 13th Congressional District of New York that includes Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, encouraged all eligible New Yorkers to use the IRS and New York Free File programs to save money when filing their taxes. The Free File programs, available at www.IRS.gov/freefile, enable every taxpayer who earned $60,000 or less in 2014 to prepare, complete, and e-file their tax returns at no cost. Free File also provides basic online e-filing services, called Free File Fillable Forms, to all taxpayers regardless of income.
On Tuesday, March 10th at 10 AM, Rangel will be joined by community leaders at the Food Bank for New York City Tax & Financial Service Center for a public briefing to make people aware of the free tax filing services available in Harlem, including Free File.
“The Free File program is an essential resource for every New Yorker. The free tax filing service helps millions of people save money every year and claim credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of our most important anti-poverty tools,” said Rangel, who fought for the biggest ever expansion of the EITC in the Tax Reform Act of 1986. “This program, which doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime, takes the confusion out of tax preparation and keeps money in working people’s pockets. I strongly urge everyone to use this easy and convenient program.”
Free File is made possible through a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, a coalition of industry-leading tax software companies. Since its inception in 2003, the program has helped people file 43 million returns and save more than $1 billion by providing access to leading commercial tax preparation software from Free File Alliance member companies. Over 70 percent of taxpayers qualify for the free tax filing service.
Users with a 2014 Adjusted Gross Income of $60,000 or less may either choose the software offering that fits their needs or utilize the “Help Me Find Free File Software” tool. After selecting a company, users will be transferred to the company’s website to prepare, complete and electronically file their federal income tax returns. For the 2015 tax season, Free File has been updated to help Americans navigate tax changes related to the Affordable Care Act.
Free File Fillable Forms, a basic federal e-filing service with no income limitations, allows taxpayers who are familiar with tax law and need no preparation assistance to complete and e-file their federal income tax return at no cost. Both services are available in Spanish.
New York is one of 22 states plus the District of Columbia that sponsors a state Free File program, allowing residents to easily and accurately complete both their federal and state taxes for free with the software product they choose.
